0
Olika Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Absolute construction is a syntactical unit, still does it produce any stylistical effect when faced in a literary work?
I'am reading William Saroyan's short stories and there are pretty many absolute constructions (like: Then he would try it over again, from the beginning, the drum rolling to make you feel how dangerous it was). I'm not a born English speaker but an English learner and I can't feel all the shades of the meaning. That's why I ask: is there some special effect that absolute constructions create? Some new shades of the meaning perhaps? And what do you actually feel when you meet such an unusual construction in a book?
Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance.
Top answer
Welcome to English Forums, Olika. No special meaning that I sense; an effect, perhaps. Absolute constructions are a technique of literary style, not daily conversation, and are to be enjoyed for the smooth efficiency of their grammar more than anything else.
- Welcome to English Forums, Olika.
- No special meaning that I sense; an effect, perhaps.
- Absolute constructions are a technique of literary style, not daily conversation, and are to be enjoyed for the smooth efficiency of their grammar more than anything else.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Welcome to English Forums, Olika.
No special meaning that I sense; an effect, perhaps. Absolute constructions are a technique of literary style, not daily conversation, and are to be enjoyed for the smooth efficiency of their grammar more than anything else.
No special meaning that I sense; an effect, perhaps. Absolute constructions are a technique of literary style, not daily conversation, and are to be enjoyed for the smooth efficiency of their grammar more than anything else.
00
to Mister Micawber:
Well, anyway I think absolute construction is something that attracts one's attention when encountered in a book, what do you think? As for me, I do pay attention.
For instance: "He went to sleep dreaming mournfully, the expression of his sleeping face one of long weariness, long unhappiness". I think author wanted to stress phychological condition of
Well, anyway I think absolute construction is something that attracts one's attention when encountered in a book, what do you think? As for me, I do pay attention.
For instance: "He went to sleep dreaming mournfully, the expression of his sleeping face one of long weariness, long unhappiness". I think author wanted to stress phychological condition of
00
You are overanalyzing. You must become aware that spoken English and written English (especially literary English) are simply composed differently.
0
Related Questions