Style
We are all aware from our jobs as shoppers and observations of the consumer society that products become desirable both from their utiliy - useful items for transportation or warmth, for instance - and from their style - a sleek Camero, or fur-collared coat, for example. Weoften identify people and things by their style:
He lumbers along the hallway.
She skips through the halls.
He swaggers; she slinks.
Each individual, each group, each nationality strives to create its own style of dress, mannerisms and behaviors. Writers are no different; each crafts his own style according to his view of purpose in his writing.
In analyzing style it is useful to pay attention to certain elements, to be able to describe these elements and to be able to tell how these elements contribute to the overall meaning of the piece. We all know that it is not just what is said, but HOW it is said that makes the great difference. Also, certain things are ordinarily said in particular ways. Certainly, a sentence handed down by a judge requires a formal, very stern, serious manner and tone. If the judge were to use a comic or ironic delivery, it would be difficult to believe he just fined the defendant $12,000 and handed him a three month jail term!
When we analyze style we primarily look at:
Diction
Syntax
Point of View or purpose
Figurative language
Structure and Purpose
Use of symbols
