Kaye Paler CE95 - EL 122 February 21, 2024

Some Features of Linguistic Stylistics

Lexical Repetition:

"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe (repetitive use of "nevermore")

● "Nevermore": This iconic refrain, echoed by the Raven, embodies the

narrator's descent into despair. Each repetition drives home the finality of

loss, shattering his hope for Lenore's return. The word's mournful sound

creates a chilling atmosphere, reflecting the narrator's escalating fear and

obsession.

Lexico-Semantic Level:

"Ode to a Nightingale" by John Keats (rich imagery and symbolism)

● "What happens to a dream deferred?”:

Lexical Aspects:

● Dream: This loaded noun symbolizes aspirations, hopes, and desires. Its

repetition emphasizes its central importance to the poem's message.

● Deferred: This verb implies postponement, denial, or suppression of the

dream.

● Happens: This simple verb denotes consequence and action, urging the

reader to consider the outcome of such postponement

Semantic Aspects:

● "Dream deferred" acts as a metaphor for unfulfilled aspirations, particularly

relevant to the African American community facing systemic inequality

and limited opportunities.

 ● The words evoke strong emotions – "dream" suggesting hope and

potential, while "deferred" hinting at frustration, anger, and even despair.

Syntactic Level:

"The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot (fragmented, shifting sentence structures)

Stanza 103 (lines 329-333):

● "He said: I am Lazarus come from the dead / Come back to tell you all, I

shall tell you all / Life and death is one."

○ Sentence structure: The speaker's words are broken into three

separate lines, each lacking a complete verb and independent

clause.

○ Parallelism: Repetition of "tell you all" creates a sense of rhythm and

urgency, but the lack of completion leaves the message hanging.

○ Elliptical statements: "Life and death is one" lacks a verb and

subject, further emphasizing incompleteness and ambiguity

This fragmented syntax serves several purposes:

● Disorientation: It reflects the fragmented state of the modern world,

mirroring the poem's overall theme of societal and spiritual barrenness.

● Emotional intensity: The incomplete statements convey raw emotion and

urgency, as if the speaker struggles to express their message.

● Ambiguity: The lack of clarity keeps the meaning open-ended, prompting

readers to actively interpret and engage with the text.

● Echoes of spoken language: The fragmented structure imitates how

people naturally speak, adding immediacy and a conversational tone.

 ● Juxtaposition: The fragmentation disrupts the flow of meaning, forcing

readers to consider contrasting statements like "Life and death is one" in a

new light.

Phonological Level (Sounds):

"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe (internal rhyme and rhythm)

Stanza 1:

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"’Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—

Only this and nothing more."

● Internal rhyme: The "apping" sound is repeated within each line, creating

a sense of musicality and drawing attention to the key word "rapping."

● Assonance: The use of "o" sounds throughout the stanza ("nodded,"

"suddenly," "door") adds further sonic unity and emphasizes the dark and

mysterious atmosphere.

● Atmospheric: The constant "apping" sound evokes the persistent tapping

at the door, drawing the reader into the narrator's tense and isolated

world.

● Emphasis: The repetition of "rapping" reinforces the importance of the

sound and its effect on the narrator's state of mind.

● Suspense: The consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme build anticipation

and suspense, keeping the reader engaged in what will happen next.
Graphological Level:

"Concrete Poetry" by various artists (poems arranged in shapes)

● Shape: The bird-shaped poem visually depicts its subject, reinforcing the

connection between form and content.

● Spacing: Words spread across the page like wings, physically mirroring the

bird's form.

● Orientation: Tilting the lines creates a dynamic image, mimicking a bird in

flight.

● Font size: Variations in font size can suggest specific parts of the bird's

anatomy, like the tail feathers.

● Visual reinforcement: The bird shape immediately communicates the

poem's theme, even before reading the words.

● Deepens metaphor: The physical arrangement becomes an extended

metaphor, further exploring the poem's ideas about freedom, flight, and

nature.

● Challenges convention: Breaking traditional text layout disrupts

expectations and encourages new ways of engaging with language.