ACADEMY OF JOURNALISM AND COMUNICATION

Faculty of Foregin Language

STYLISTIC DEVICES
In ‘Woman in Black’ by Susan Hill
‘The colonel’s lady’ by Patricia Oliver
‘The old man and the sea’ by Ernest Hemingway

( An assignment on Stylistic and English Newspaper Style)

By Cao Thu Hien – ETE38

Supervisor: Assoc. Prof Dr. Nguyen Thanh Huong

HANOI, 2020

Page 1 of 10
 WOMAN IN BLACK

Paragraphs Stylistic devices

1. I saw that it was quite dark but once my asyndeton

eyes were fully focused on I saw the Full form: … my eyes were fully focused on, I
moonlight coming in through the window, saw the moonlight coming in through the
for I had left the rather heavy, thick-looking window, …
curtains undrawn and the window slightly
ajar.
2. The moon fell upon the embroidered polysyndeton
counterpane and on the dark wood of (using conjunction and before each
wardrobe and chest and mirror with a cold component part)
but rather beautiful light…
3. The moon fell upon the embroidered ellipsis
counterpane [and on the dark wood of
wardrobe and] chest and mirror with a cold
but rather beautiful light...
4. At first, all seemed very quiet, very still, and parallel
I wondered why I had awoken. (repetition of word very)
5. Every hair of her body was on end, her ears parallel
were pricked, her tail erects, the whole of (repetition of word her)
her tense, as if ready to spring.
6. I sat up paralyzed, frozen, in the bed, enumeration
conscious only of the dog and of the pricking
of my own skin and of what suddenly
seemed d different kind if silence, ominous
and dreadful.
7. I sat up paralyzed, frozen, in the bed, enumeration
conscious only of the dog and of the pricking
of my own skin and of what suddenly
seemed d different kind if silence, ominous
and dreadful.
8. There were no footsteps, no cracking enumeration
floorboard, the air was absolutely still, the
wind did not moan through the casement.
9. There were no footsteps, no cracking parallel
floorboard, the air was absolutely still, the (repetition of the word no)
wind did not moan through the casement.
10. Only the muffled noise went on and the dog parallel
continued to stand, bristling at the door, (repetition of the syntactical design)
now putting her nose to the gap at the
bottom and snuffling along, now talking a
pace backwards, head cocked and like me,
listening, listening.
11. Only the muffled noise went on and the dog repetition
continued to stand, bristling at the door,

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 now putting her nose to the gap at the
bottom and snuffling along, now talking a
pace backwards, head cocked and like me,
listening, listening
12. And then, from somewhere within the the gap-sentence link
depths of the house – but somewhere not
very far from the room in which I was – I
heard the noise.
13. It was a faint noise, and, strain my ears as I parallel
might, I could not make out exactly what it (repetition of syntactical design)
was.
14. And, every so often, she growled again. detached construction
15. In the end, I suppose because I did have the emotional climax
dog to take with me, I managed to get out of
bed, though I was shaken and my heart beat
uncomfortably fast within me
16. But it took some time for me to find epithet
sufficient reserves of courage to enable me
to open the bedroom door and stand out in
the dark corridor
17. Very cautiously , listening , hardly breathing, rhyme
I ventured a few steps in that direction
18. Very cautiously, listening, hardly breathing, enumeration
I ventured a few steps in that direction
19. The passage led only to three other polysyndenton
bedrooms on either side and , one by one ,
regaining my nerve as I went, I opened them
and looked inside each one
20. The passage led only to three other alliteration
bedrooms on either side and , one by one ,
regaining my nerve as I went, I opened them
and looked inside each one
21. Nothing, only heavy old furniture and alliteration
empty unmade beds and, in the rooms at
the back of the house, moonlight
22. Nothing, only heavy old furniture and empty polysyndeton
unmade beds and, in the rooms at the back (using connective “and”)
of the house, moonlight
23. Down below me on the ground floor of the oxymoron
house, silence, a seething, blanketing,
almost tangible silence, and a musty
darkness, thick as felt.
24. Down below me on the ground floor of the asyndeton
house, silence, a seething, blanketing, (connection between 2 parts of sentences
almost tangible silence, and a musty without any fomal sign)
darkness, thick as felt.

Page 3 of 10
Full version of the story:
WOMAN IN BLACK

By Susan Hill

I saw that it was quite dark but once [my eyes were fully focused on I saw the moonlight coming in through
the window], for I had left the rather heavy, thick-looking curtains undrawn and the window slightly ajar. The
moon fell upon the embroidered counterpane [and on the dark wood of wardrobe and] chest and mirror with a
cold but rather beautiful light...

At first, all seemed very quiet, very still, and I wondered why I had awoken. Then, with a missed heart-beat,
I realized that Spider was up and standing at the door. Every hair of her body was on end, her ears were pricked,
her tail erects, the whole of her tense, as if ready to spring. And she was emitting a soft, low growl from deep in
her throat. I sat up paralyzed, frozen, in the bed, conscious only of the dog and of the pricking of my own skin and
of what suddenly seemed different kind if silence, ominous and dreadful. And then, from somewhere within the
depths of the house – but somewhere not very far from the room in which I was – I heard the noise. It was a faint
noise, and, strain my ears as I might, I could not make out exactly what it was. It was sound like a regular yet
intermittent bump or rumble. Nothing else happened. There were no footsteps, no cracking floorboard, the air was
absolutely still, the wind did not moan through the casement. Only the muffled noise went on and the dog
continued to stand, bristling at the door, now putting her nose to the gap at the bottom and snuffling along, now
talking a pace backwards, head cocked and like me, listening, listening. And, every so often, she growled again.

In the end, I suppose because I did have the dog to take with me, I managed to get out of bed, though I was
shaken and my heart beat uncomfortably fast within me. But it took some time for me to find sufficient reserves of
courage to enable me to open the bedroom door and stand out in the dark corridor...

After a while I heard the odd sound again. It seemed to be coming from along the passage to my left, at the
far end. But it was still quite impossible to identify. Very cautiously, listening, hardly breathing, I ventured a few
steps in that direction. Spider went ahead of me. The passage led only to three other bedrooms on either side and,
one by one, regaining my nerve as I went, I opened them and looked inside each one. Nothing, only heavy old
furniture and empty unmade beds and, in the rooms at the back of the house, moonlight. Down below me on the
ground floor of the house, silence, a seething, blanketing, almost tangible silence, and a musty darkness, thick as
felt.

This was the door without a keyhole, which I had been unable to open on my first visit to Eel Marsh House. I
had no idea what was beyond it. Except the sound. It was coming from within that room.

https://l.messenger.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmy.w.tt%2FKJ7Y9bnFN5&h=AT2zhFpLOdblH6p5eY7N-
4C5gj3kar4Dmb_iOBFFCWcQj64W_uzU4kxL8e81US1cT9-A-OcUhJH_njmudk5zPJbfJ_Fut6qFICrd2jLsfQ7pVOJqMvIq-wXruE-
dAIsVq_np8SroVhd5lZocMvkXGQ

THE COLONEL’S LADY

Paragraphs Stylistic devices

1. Though they were alone and the table was long Asyndeton
they sat at opposite ends of it. Full form: …was long and they sat…
2. There were several letters for the colonel, Enumeration
business letters, The Times, and small parcel for
his wife Evie.
3. “What’s that?” he asked. Represented Speech

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4. “Only some books.” Represented Speech
5. “Shall I open it for you?” Represented Speech
6. “If you like” Represented Speech
7. “But they’re all the same,” he said when he had Represented Speech
unwrapped the parcel.
8. “What on earth d’ you want six copies of the Represented Speech
same book for?”
9. “What on earth d’ you want six copies of the Rhetorical Speech
same book for?”
10. He opened one of them, “Poetry.” Represented Speech
11. “Have you written a book, Evie? You are a sly Question in the narrative
boot.”
12. “Have you written a book, Evie? You are a sly Epithet
boot.” The quality being expressed is ”boot”
13. “I didn’t think it would interest your very much. Represented Speech
Would you like a copy?”
14. “Well, you know poetry isn’t much in my line, The gap sentences link
but – yes, I’d like a copy; I’ll read it. I’ll take it
along to my study. I’ve got a lot to do this
morning.”
15. “Well, you know poetry isn’t much in my line, Parallel
but – yes, I’d like a copy; I’ll read it. I’ll take it (repetition of I’ll)
along to my study. I’ve got a lot to do this
morning.”
16. He gathered up The Times, his litters, and the Enumeration
book, and went out.
17. His study was a large and comfortable room, Epithet
with a big desk, leather arm-chairs, and what The quality being expressed is ”room”
he called “trophies of the chase” on the walls. The quality being expressed is ”desk”

18. On the bookshelves, were works of reference, Enumeration

books on farming, gardening, fishing, and Rhyme
shooting...
19. At the end of the war he had retired and Epithet
settled down to the life of a country gentleman The quality being expressed is ”gentleman”
in the spacious house, some twenty mile from The quality being expressed is ”house”
Sheffield, which one of his forebears had built
in the reign of George III...
20. At the end of the war he had retired and Break- in the narrative
settled down to the life of a country gentleman
in the spacious house, some twenty mile from
Sheffield, which one of his forebears had built
in the reign of George III...
21. He was a good shot, a golfer, and though now a Enumeration
little over fifty could still play a hard game of
tennis.
22. He was a good shot, a golfer, and though now a Epithet

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 little over fifty could still play a hard game of
tennis.
23. He was a good shot, a golfer, and though now a Periphrasis
little over fifty could still play a hard game of a little over fifty = the colonel
tennis.
24. He could describe himself... as an all-round Epithet
sportsman. The quality being expressed is ”sportsman”
25. He could describe himself... as an all-round Ellipsis
sportsman.
26. He had been putting on weight lately, but was Epithet
still a fine figure of a man; tall, with grey hair,
only just beginning to grow thin on the crown,
frank blue eyes, good features, and a high
color...
27. He had been putting on weight lately, but was Break- in the narrative
still a fine figure of a man; tall, with grey hair,
only just beginning to grow thin on the crown,
frank blue eyes, good features, and a high
color...
28. He had been putting on weight lately, but was Enumeration
still a fine figure of a man; tall, with grey hair,
only just beginning to grow thin on the crown,
frank blue eyes, good features, and a high
color...
29. He would have been pleased and at the same Epithet
time slightly embarrassed if someone had told The quality being expressed is ”fellow”
him he was a jolly good fellow.
30. He would have been an excellent father, kindly Enumeration
but strict, and would have brought up his son
as gentlemen’s sons should be brought up, sent
them to Eton, you know taught them to fish,
shoot, and ride...
31. He would have been an excellent father, kindly Rhyme
but strict, and would have brought up his son fish, shoot,
as gentlemen’s sons should be brought up, sent
them to Eton, you know taught them to fish,
shoot, and ride...
32. He would have been an excellent father, kindly Detached construction
but strict, and would have brought up his son
as gentlemen’s sons should be brought up, sent
them to Eton, you know taught them to fish,
shoot, and ride...
33. He would have been an excellent father, kindly Chiasmus
but strict, and would have brought up his son
as gentlemen’s sons should be brought up, sent
them to Eton, you know taught them to fish,
shoot, and ride...

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 34. Evie had been a sad disappointment to him. Epithet
The quality being expressed is
”disappointment”
35. Of course, she was a lady, and she had a bit of Parallel
money of her own; she managed the house (repetition of word she)
uncommonly well and she was a good hostess.
36. Of course, she was a lady, and she had a bit of Antithesis
money of her own; she managed the house
uncommonly well and she was a good hostess.
37. Of course, she was a lady, and she had a bit of Epithet
money of her own; she managed the house The quality being expressed is ”hostess”
uncommonly well and she was a good hostess.
38. She had been a pretty little thing when he Periphrasis
married her, with a creamy skin, light brown a pretty little thing = his wife
hair, and trim figure, healthy too, and not a bad
tennis player; he couldn’t understand why
she’d had no children; of course, she was faded
now, she must be getting on for five and forty.
39. She had been a pretty little thing when he Enumeration
married her, with a creamy skin, light brown
hair, and trim figure, healthy too, and not a bad
tennis player; he couldn’t understand why
she’d had no children; of course, she was faded
now, she must be getting on for five and forty.
40. She had been a pretty little thing when he Epithet
married her, with a creamy skin, light brown
hair, and trim figure, healthy too, and not a bad
tennis player; he couldn’t understand why
she’d had no children; of course, she was faded
now, she must be getting on for five and forty.
41. She had been a pretty little thing when he Rhyme
married her, with a creamy skin, light brown five and forty.
hair, and trim figure, healthy too, and not a bad
tennis player; he couldn’t understand why
she’d had no children; of course, she was faded
now, she must be getting on for five and forty.

Full version of the story:

THE COLONEL’S LADY

By Patricia Oliver

The Peregrines were having breakfast. Though they were alone and the table was long they sat at opposite
ends of it. From the walls George Peregrine’s ancestors, painted by the fashionable painters of the day, looked
down upon them. The butler brought in the morning post. There were several letters for the colonel, business
letters, The Times, and small parcel for his wife Evie. He looked at his letters and then, opening The Times, began
to read it. They finished breakfast and rose from the table. He noticed that his wife hadn’t opened the parcel.

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 “What’s that?” he asked.

“Only some books.”

“Shall I open it for you?”

“If you like”

He hated to cut string and so with some difficulty untied the knots.

“But they’re all the same,” he said when he had unwrapped the parcel. “What on earth d’ you want six
copies of the same book for?”. He opened one of them, “Poetry.”

Then he looked at the title page. When Pyramids Decay. He read, by E. K. Hamilton. Eva Katheryn Hamilton:
that was his wife’s maiden name. He looked at her with smiling surprise. “Have you written a book, Evie? You are a
sly boot.”

“I didn’t think it would interest your very much. Would you like a copy?”

“Well, you know poetry isn’t much in my line, but – yes, I’d like a copy; I’ll read it. I’ll take it along to my
study. I’ve got a lot to do this morning.”

He gathered up The Times, his litters, and the book, and went out. His study was a large and comfortable
room, with a big desk, leather arm-chairs, and what he called “trophies of the chase” on the walls. On the
bookshelves, were works of reference, books on farming, gardening, fishing, and shooting... At the end of the war
he had retired and settled down to the life of a country gentleman in the spacious house, some twenty mile from
Sheffield, which one of his forebears had built in the reign of George III...

He was a good shot, a golfer, and though now a little over fifty could still play a hard game of tennis. He
could describe himself... as an all-round sportsman.

He had been putting on weight lately, but was still a fine figure of a man; tall, with grey hair, only just
beginning to grow thin on the crown, frank blue eyes, good features, and a high color... He would have been
pleased and at the same time slightly embarrassed if someone had told him he was a jolly good fellow. That was
what he wants to be. He desired no higher praise.

It was hard luck that he had no children. He would have been an excellent father, kindly but strict, and
would have brought up his son as gentlemen’s sons should be brought up, sent them to Eton, you know taught
them to fish, shoot, and ride...

Evie had been a sad disappointment to him. Of course, she was a lady, and she had a bit of money of her
own; she managed the house uncommonly well and she was a good hostess. The village people adored her. She
had been a pretty little thing when he married her, with a creamy skin, light brown hair, and trim figure, healthy
too, and not a bad tennis player; he couldn’t understand why she’d had no children; of course, she was faded now,
she must be getting on for five and forty.

http://kissgrammar.org/Courses/Enl121/Anthology/Maugham_Colonels_Lady.html

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

Paragraphs Stylistic devices

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 1. The fish moved steadily and they traveled slowly epithet
on the calm water.
2. “I wish I had the boy,” the old man said aloud. Represented speech

3. “I’m being towed by a fish. ... I could make the break-in-the-narrative

line fast. But then he could break it. I must hold
him all I can and give him line when he must
have it. Thank God he is travelling and now
going down.”
4. What I will do if he decides to go down, I don’t parallel
know. What I’ll do if he sounds and dies I don’t (repetition of phrase What I will do if he
know. … I don’t know)
5. He was thirsty too and he got down on his knees cliche
and, being careful not to jerk on the line, moved
as far into the bowl as he could get and reached
the water bottle with one hand.
6. He was thirsty too and he got down on his knees comparison
and, being careful not to jerk on the line, moved as…as
as far into the bowl as he could get and reached
the water bottle with one hand.
7. If he doesn’t, maybe he will come up with the parallel
moon. If he does not do that, maybe he will (back up by repetition of phrase If he does
come up with the sunrise. not, maybe he will come up with)
8. I wish I could see him. I wish I could see him only repetition
once to know that I have against me. (back up by repetition of phrase I wish I
could see him)
9. The fish never changed his course nor his simile
direction all that night as far as the man tells
from watching the stars.
10. I was cold after the sun went down and the old polysyndeton
man’s sweat dried cold on his back and his arm (repetition of word and)
and his old legs.

Full version of the story:

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA

By Ernest Hemingway

The boat began to move slowly off toward the north-west. The fish moved steadily and they
traveled slowly on the calm water. The other baits were still in the water but there was nothing to be
done.

“I wish I had the boy,” the old man said aloud.

Page 9 of 10
 “I’m being towed by a fish. ... I could make the line fast. But then he could break it. I must hold
him all I can and give him line when he must have it. Thank God he is travelling and now going down.”

What I will do if he decides to go down, I don’t know. What I’ll do if he sounds and dies I don’t
know. But I’ll do something. There are plenty of things I can do.

He held the line against his back and its slant in the water and the skiff moving steadily to the
north-west.

This will kill him, the old man thought. He can’t do this for ever. But four hours later the fish was
still swimming steadily out to sea, towing the skiff, and the old man still braced solidly with the line
across his back.

He had pushed his straw hat hard down on his head before he hooked the fish and it was cutting
his forehead. He was thirsty too and he got down on his knees and, being careful not to jerk on the line,
moved as far into the bowl as he could get and reached the water bottle with one hand. He opened it
and drank a little. Then he rested against the bowl. He rested sitting on the unstopped mast and sail and
tried not to think but only to endure.

Then he looked behind him and saw that no land was visible. That makes no difference, he
thought. I can always come in on the glow from Havana. There are two more hours before the sun sets
and maybe he will come up before that. If he doesn’t, maybe he will come up with the moon. If he does
not do that, maybe he will come up with the sunrise. I have no cramps and I feel strong. It is he that has
the hook in his mouth. But what a fish to pull like that. He must have his mouth shut tight on the wire. I
wish I could see him. I wish I could see him only once to know that I have against me.

The fish never changed his course nor his direction all that night as far as the man tells from
watching the stars. I was cold after the sun went down and the old man’s sweat dried cold on his back
and his arm and his old legs.

http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/oldmansea.pdf

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