Language in Literature : An Introduction to Stylistics

Looking at the technique or craft of writing. Language in Literature examines the ways in which language is organized to create literary effect and meaning. An activity based introduction to literary stylistics, this book explains some of the core topics in literary linguistics and assists students in literary analysis. Focusing on poems, short stories, extracts from novels, advertisements and children's writing, it tries to understand and explain texts in linguistic terms.
Covering a range of topics - patterns of texture and representation, modality and evaluation, the structure of simple narratives, the recording of character speech and thought, the dynamics of dialogue, presupposition and textual revision - this introduction will be particularly useful to undergraduate students of English. Activities and end-of-chapter commentaries encourage a 'learning by doing' approach and equip the reader with the main linguistic terms necessary for the application of grammar in literary studies.