The Body Snatcher

THE BODY SNATCHER

by: Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

Choose a short passage/poem from your favourite author. Look closely at their writing style. For example, What are their sentences like? What sort of words do they use? How do they describe people and events? Do they/How do they use dialogue?

Write a short passage in the style of this author on a topic of your choice. Be prepared to come to class on Monday 18th February, and:

  1. Read part of your chosen passage
  2. Explain what appeals to you about this author’s writing style
  3. Read out your own piece of writing
  4. Talk briefly about what you have chosen to copy and what you have decided to do differently

'Macfarlane!' he said somewhat loudly, more like a herald than a friend.
The great doctor pulled up short on the fourth step, as though the familiarity of the address surprised and somewhat shocked his dignity.
'Toddy Macfarlane!' repeated Fettes.
The London man almost staggered. He stared for the swiftest of seconds at the man before him, glanced behind him with a sort of scare, and then in a startled whisper, 'Fettes!' he said, 'You!'
'Ay,' said the other, 'me! Did you think I was dead too? We are not so easy shut of our acquaintance.'
I chose this particular passage because of its relative simplicity, in comparison to other passages in the story.   I thought it be more appropriate for the task, and allow me to focus more primarily on the sentence structure as opposed to the use of complex language and vocabulary.
The passage above was taken from the work of Robert Louis Stevenson: THE BODY SNATCHER.
Stevenson's sentences in THE BODY SNATCHER are quite long and where two sentences could exist, becomes instead one sentence in the form of separate clauses linked with the use of either a comma or semicolon.   This is basically his style, which allows him to better describe the subject as a whole: this could include a person, an object, some other people, and eventually... [continues]

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