Structure and Style in Literature
Structure
•
Structure refers to the framework, the general plan or outline of the work.
•
It involves the conflict, climax and outcome of the plot.
A.
Organization of material maybe by:
1.
Chronological order
2.
Topical order
3.
Location order
4.
Flashback
5.
Stream-of-consciousness
B.
Plot Structure:
1.
Conflict–nature of (human vs human, human vs self, human vs society, human vs
environment)
2.
Antecedent action, initial incident, complications (rising action), climax, denouement (falling
action)
3.
Subplots
Style
•
Style refers to how the writer uses words/language and sentences to make the work effective.
C.
Word Use (diction):
1.
To create images (imagery) in the reader’s mind
a.
Comparisons: similes, metaphors, personification
b.
Sound: onomatopoeia, alliteration, rhyme
c.
Word choice
2.
Length and difficulty of word choice
3.
Formal vs informal or casual word use
4.
Mature vs childlike choice
5.
Use of local colour
D.
Sentences:
1.
Sentence Length: short and choppy–suspenseful; long and detailed; descriptive and calm
2.
Varied in style and complexity (e.g. simple, compound, complex, compound-complex, etc.)
E.
Other Techniques
1.
Foreshadowing
2.
Coherence–through organization, transition phrases, repetition, relative pronouns, etc.
3.
Unity–through characters, structure, symbols, repetition, relative pronouns, etc.
4.
Contrast–e.g. characters, circumstances, etc.
5.
Satire: the criticism of society through a humorous manner, in order to instruct and bring
about change.
6.
Caricature
7.
Humour
8.
Hyperbole (exaggeration)
9.
Understatement
10.
Repetition
11.
Suspense–through foreshadowing, description, climactic structure, etc.
12.
Point of View: First person, third person limited, third person omniscient, third person
objective
13.
Allusion–biblical, mythology of Greeks and Romans, history, literature
14.
Symbols
15.
Irony
16.
Coincidence
17.
Mood