A uthor’s Style in Prose How to analyse style Lesson objectives After going through these slides, you should be able to ● Annotate for style in terms of literary devices in a given prose passage Contents 1. What is style in prose? 2. The effects of author’s style on readers 3. How to annotate for style What is style in prose? In literature, style is the way in which an author writes and/or tells a story. When we analyse for style, we primarily look for literary devices. What is style in prose? In prose, authors tend to use literary devices like ● Metaphor ● Simile ● Imagery ● Diction The effects of author’s style on readers The use of style helps readers picture the story better. For characters, style helps the reader imagine what the character looks like. The effects of author’s style on readers For example, the following passage uses diction to describe the character. “Harry had a thin face, knobbly knees, black hair and bright-green eyes. He wore round glasses held together with a lot of Sellotape because of all the times Dudley had punched him on the nose. The only thing Harry liked about his own appearance was a very thin scar on his forehead which was shaped like a bolt of lightning.” Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone The effects of author’s style on readers As a result, artists’ impressions of what Harry looks like are influenced by the specific words used. “a very thin scar on his forehead which was shaped like a bolt of lightning.” “ black hair” “ thin face” “He wore round glasses” “ knobbly knees” The effects of author’s style on readers Without images, the author’s style is all you have for you to picture what characters look like. How to annotate for style Annotation Basics 1) Highlight/ underline/ note down the word or phrase 2) Note down the type of literary device 3) Note down the effect the literary device has on you (the reader) How to annotate for style 1) Highlight/ underline the word or phrase Still trembling, reeling from pain as much as fear, Gregory forced himself to get up on his knees. His head felt light and his vision, blurry. At least the general was gentlemanly enough not to go for the kill when he was down, that much he had to concede. It was weird, though, to see his own arm, coldly detached and utterly lifeless like a chicken wing or a leg of lamb, as the first gush of blood slowed to a trickle. He had never thought it possible that his body could hold so much blood. How to annotate for style 2) Note down the type of literary device Still trembling, reeling from pain as much as fear, Gregory forced himself to get up on his knees. His head felt light and his vision, blurry. At least the general was gentlemanly enough not to go for the kill when he was down, that much he had to concede. It was weird, though, to see his own arm, coldly detached and utterly lifeless like a chicken wing or a leg of lamb, as the first gush of blood slowed to a trickle. He had never thought it possible that his body could hold so much blood. diction simile How to annotate for style 3) Note down the effect the literary device has on you (the reader) Still trembling, reeling from pain as much as fear, Gregory forced himself to get up on his knees. His head felt light and his vision, blurry. At least the general was gentlemanly enough not to go for the kill when he was down, that much he had to concede. It was weird, though, to see his own arm, coldly detached and utterly lifeless like a chicken wing or a leg of lamb, as the first gush of blood slowed to a trickle. He had never thought it possible that his body could hold so much blood. Diction Gregory determined Simile Unsettling, detached meat Activity! In your designated groups of 5, access the respective link below, Group 1 https://padlet.com/imahmad88/tq449qpi1mpmvkil Group 2 https://padlet.com/imahmad88/i0lg8qkn16p0udtf Group 3 https://padlet.com/imahmad88/b6q4z98h2ryvpzhv Group 4 https://padlet.com/imahmad88/376i0h2cquai2v7s