Stylistics in Literature

Study Notes

Stylistics

Stylistics is the study of the effects of the message, the output of the act of communication, and its attention-compelling function.
It involves understanding how a reader or listener reacts to a message or text.

Nature of Stylistics

Every individual and writer has their own unique style of communication.
Stylistics enables understanding of literature as it is a special use of language that enhances appreciation and enjoyment of literature.
Stylistics involves analyzing how language is used to describe situations and portray characters.

Historical Background

Modern linguistics flourished with the rise of media such as newspapers, radio, and television.
Stylisticians studied the differences between literary and non-literary language, leading to the development of critical discourse analysis.
In the 20th century, stylistics became an extension of movements within literary criticism.

Influences on Stylistics

The development of stylistics in ancient Rome was influenced by the distinct styles of Caesar and Cicero.
Stylistic influences include the ideas of analogists and anomalists.

The Concept of Style

"Style is the man himself" (Buffon), implying that style is deeply intertwined with an individual's identity and personality.
"Style is deviation" (Enkvist), suggesting that style involves departing from norms or expectations.
"Style is form or expression" (Benedetto), emphasizing the structural and expressive elements of style.
"Style is depth" (Darbyshire), suggesting that style goes beyond surface-level characteristics and delves into deeper layers of meaning and interpretation.
"Style is a selection of non-distinctive language" (Bloomfield), implying that style is more about how language is used rather than the specific words or phrases themselves.

Types of Style

Individual Style: The peculiarities of a writer's individual manner of using language to achieve a desired effect.
- Composition of Phrasal Units: The construction of sentences and phrases contributes to an individual's style.
- Rhythm & Melody of Utterances: The arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables shapes the unique rhythm and tone of an individual's speech or writing.
- System of Imagery: The use of vivid and evocative imagery appeals to the senses.
- Stylistic Devices and Language Media: Employing rhetorical devices and linguistic tools enhances expression and imbues language with nuance and emotion.
- Interdependence of Language Means and His Personages: Language use is intimately connected to an individual's personality, beliefs, and experiences.
Functional Style: A system of interrelated language means serving a definite aim in communication.
- Emotive Style: Materializes the concept of a word and references the feelings and emotions of a speaker towards the thing.
- Nominal Style: Serves the purpose of singling out one definite and singular object of a whole class of similar objects.

Stylistic Context

Stylistic context reveals the maximum contextual links between words.
Defined by Raffaterre as a pattern broken by an unpredictable element, with contrast as a basic feature.

Linguistic Context

The encirclement of a language unit by other language units in speech.
Important in cases with polysemantic words.

Extralingual Context

Formed by extralingual conditions in which communication takes place, such as physical, abstract, temporal, and psychological contexts.

Expressiveness vs.

Description

Explore the concept of stylistics in literature, its effects on the reader, and the role of linguistics in communication. Understand how literary critics like Michael Riffaterre define and analyze stylistics. Test your knowledge of stylistics and its applications in literature.