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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

The analyses of a text #1

"By-the-by, Wickfield," he said, stopping in a passage with his hand on my shoulder, "you have not found any suitable provision for my wife's cousin yet."
"No," said Mr. Wickfield. "No. Not yet."
"I could wish it does as soon as it can be done, Wickfield," said Doctor Strong, "for Jack Maldon is needy and idle, and of those two bad things, worse things sometimes come. What does Doctor Watts say," he added, looking at me, and moving his head to the time of his quotation, " 'Satan finds some mischief still, for idle hands to go,' "
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
I'd like to know why a question mark is omitted after "say."
And I'd like to know what "moving his head to the time of his quotation" means.
Thank you in advance for your help.
  

Top answer

It's a style choice by Dickens. Perhaps it was a common way of writing a rhetorical question at the time Dickens wrote. "moving his head to the time of his quotation" moving his head to emphasize the rhythm of he words.

— Clive

  • It's a style choice by Dickens.
  • Perhaps it was a common way of writing a rhetorical question at the time Dickens wrote.
  • "moving his head to the time of his quotation" moving his head to emphasize the rhythm of he words.
  • Clive
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1 Answers
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It's a style choice by Dickens. Perhaps it was a common way of writing a rhetorical question at the time Dickens wrote.

"moving his head to the time of his quotation" moving his head to emphasize the rhythm of he words.

Clive
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