Stylistic Analysis: A Piece of Advice by William Somerset Maugham
SIW
Module 1
Variant 2
Theme: Stylistic Devices. Analysis of the text.
1. Point out three metaphors and three epithets used by the author to characterize the main character (Stephens) and comment on them.
Three metaphors : trifle embarrassed apologetic laugh forcible ring Three epithets: thick-set and stout a round red face bullet-shaped head
All these stylistic devices describe the main hero as a person who is very tired of life, he is passive, but he wants to change something in it, that is why to show us the antagonistic character of the visitor, the author uses an oxymoron “bright dark eyes”. Also we can see the despair of a stranger, because he uses “short, sharp sentences”, to emphasize it the author told us that they had “a forcible ring”.
2. Give synonyms of colloquial style to the following literary words: “to flounder”, “hazardous”, “content”, “a trifling indisposition», «errand”, “to perceive”.
To flounder – to struggle
Hazardous - dicey, chancy
Content – pleased
A trifling indisposition – reluctance
Errand – trip
To perceive – get, understand
3. What words and phrases are used to describe Stephens at the beginning and at the end of the story? How can the reader gather that Stephens was happy in Spain? What was it that attracted him to Spain?
The narrator used epithets, metaphors, oxymoron and other SD to describe Stephens. He used such constructions as “trifle embarrassed”, “…holding it in one hand absent mindedly stroked it with the other.”, “apologetic laugh” , “with a round red face from which shone small, dark and very bright eyes “ to give the description of a nervous, unconfident and passive person, but a man who wants to change its life. He likes Spain for “sunshine there, and there`s good wine, and there`s colour, and there`s air you can breathe.” And also the narrator likes Spain saying the it is a place where you can lead “ a wonderful life”
Module 1
Variant 2
Theme: Stylistic Devices. Analysis of the text.
1. Point out three metaphors and three epithets used by the author to characterize the main character (Stephens) and comment on them.
Three metaphors : trifle embarrassed apologetic laugh forcible ring Three epithets: thick-set and stout a round red face bullet-shaped head
All these stylistic devices describe the main hero as a person who is very tired of life, he is passive, but he wants to change something in it, that is why to show us the antagonistic character of the visitor, the author uses an oxymoron “bright dark eyes”. Also we can see the despair of a stranger, because he uses “short, sharp sentences”, to emphasize it the author told us that they had “a forcible ring”.
2. Give synonyms of colloquial style to the following literary words: “to flounder”, “hazardous”, “content”, “a trifling indisposition», «errand”, “to perceive”.
To flounder – to struggle
Hazardous - dicey, chancy
Content – pleased
A trifling indisposition – reluctance
Errand – trip
To perceive – get, understand
3. What words and phrases are used to describe Stephens at the beginning and at the end of the story? How can the reader gather that Stephens was happy in Spain? What was it that attracted him to Spain?
The narrator used epithets, metaphors, oxymoron and other SD to describe Stephens. He used such constructions as “trifle embarrassed”, “…holding it in one hand absent mindedly stroked it with the other.”, “apologetic laugh” , “with a round red face from which shone small, dark and very bright eyes “ to give the description of a nervous, unconfident and passive person, but a man who wants to change its life. He likes Spain for “sunshine there, and there`s good wine, and there`s colour, and there`s air you can breathe.” And also the narrator likes Spain saying the it is a place where you can lead “ a wonderful life”