Style: Reading
What to master
Style is the writer's characteristic use of diction, syntax, figurative language, and tone to achieve purpose. Analyze word choice (connotation, concreteness, formality), sentence structure (length, parallelism, fragments, cumulative vs. periodic sentences), and figures of speech (metaphor, irony, hyperbole, understatement). Connect every stylistic observation to effect on the reader and rhetorical purpose.
Notice juxtaposition and repetition as structural style choices. Ask: why this word, this rhythm, this image, for this audience?
Traps
- Naming devices without analyzing effect ("the author uses a metaphor").
- Confusing tone (attitude) with mood (reader feeling).
- Overreading irony where none is signaled.
- Ignoring syntax in favor of vocabulary alone.
- Assuming ornate style is always better; plain style can be powerful.
Worked example / rule of thumb
Sentence: "The river did not flood; it swallowed the road, the bridge, the town." The asyndeton (omitted conjunctions) and escalating list create a sense of unstoppable force, reinforcing a tone of awe or alarm.
Rule of thumb: for any stylistic feature, complete the sentence: "The writer uses ___ in order to ___, which makes the audience feel ___ ." If you cannot finish all three blanks, you have not analyzed style.