Particular Use of Colloquial Constructions
Exercise 3.16. Point out the cases of ellipsis, one-member sentences, question-in-the-narrative, aposiopesis and represented/inner speech among the stylistic deices below. Speak about the message they render:
1.Well, weren’t they the trendiest of the trendiest, the yuppiest of the yuppies? The men in unstructured suits, hair gleamed back, some with tiny tight pigtails, shirt collars buttoned, not many with ties. The women, mainly in black, skirts generally as short and thigh-hugging as the legs would bear. /James HerbertCreed/2.“Wait there,” he called Ron. “Wait with Lockhart. I’ll go on. If I’m not back in an hour…” /J. RowlingHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets/3.She could rewrite the scene as many times as she liked, but nothing was changed. One foolish mistake had destroyed her. And yet – who said she was destroyed? The press? Di Silva? She had not heard about her disbarment, and until she did she was still an attorney. /Sidney SheldonRage of Angles/4.“Lawrence, this is…” He had completely forgotten the name of his companion. Had he ever known it? /Judy JamesSupermodel/5.Action! Shiny black shapes gliding solemnly through the gravestone estate, long hearse carrying Lily’s dead body leading the way. About bloody time. /James HerbertCreed/6.“It wouldn’t matter if I tried to hide. It wouldn’t matter if I went al the way to BOMBAY. He’d find me. And when he did –“ /Stephen KingNeedful Things/7.Creed secretly began pressing the shutter release, aiming, focusing, clicking, moving on. Okay, Sir John, is that a hint of a smile I see? Come on, don’t be so bloody enigmatic, you’re not on stage now. A little discreet grin is all I want. Cotcha. Thank you. Next. That one yeah, I know that face. Something Eliot. Is that a smirk I see? Well, well.Click. /James HerbertCreed/8.So it was Klara that was in trouble! What on earth could she have done? Refused the operation at the last minute? /Judy JamesSupermodel/9.In spite of everything, Todd felt the onset of doubt. He couldn’t be wrong, could he? Was there some mistake on his part? He didn’t think so, but this was not schoolroom exercise. It was real life. /Stephen KingApt Pupil/ (fromDifferent Seasonsby Stephen King/10.I’m not going to work for a few days, and –“ “Why not?” /John GrishamThe Street Lawyer/
Stylistic Use of Structural Meaning
Exercise 3.17. Analyse the cases of litotes in bold type and comment upon the effect produced by them:
1.“You are too sentimental about the past,” she said,not unkindly. “You think it was all brown ale and red roses.” /Tony ParsonsMan and Boy/2.All at once there was a scraping noise and the egg split open. The baby dragon flopped onto the table. Itwasn’t exactly pretty; Harry thought it looked like a crumpled black umbrella. /J.K. RowlingHarry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone/3.Chatting off the record like this with a juror wasnot improper. /John GrishamRunaway Jury/4.Under my hands the rungs were gritty with earth that had washed down from above, andnot a littleslippery. /Phyllis A. WhitneyThe Singing Stones/5.Because Martie was a diligent student,not too many yearspassed before they celebrated her graduation from veterinary school. /Dean KoontzFalse Memory/6.The baby’s balloon-string was unlike any other balloon-string Ralph had seen so far –not unhealthyin appearance but short, ugly, and no more than a stub. /Stephen KingInsomnia/7.He dropped off three rolls of film at one of the few remaining daily newspapers close to the once (in)famous street of shame, Fleet Street. To protect thenot-so-innocentwe’ll call the tabloid The Daily Dispatch. /James HerbertCreed/8.She was in pink, butpretty by no means. The ballgown’s skirt was hooped and foamy. Her shoulders were covered, but the neckline plunged obscenely for one of her age. /James HerbertCreed/
Exercise 3.18. Find the cases of litotes from the fragments below and speak about the author’s idea:
1.He had a smile just sweet enough – but not too sweet – to replace the vermouth in a not-too-dry martini. /Dean KoontzFalse Memory/2.“Mr. Dismas. The good thief, eh? Yer don’t look too dishonest.” /James HerbertOthers/3.He had a feeling that his skull was being invaded. This time, though, it was a softer exploration, a delicate probing of his thoughts rather than scouring. He shivered suddenly, and even that was not unpleasant. /James HerbertCreed/4.This bread is not too fresh. /John GrishamThe Street Lawyer/5.There was no way not to scream. /Stephen KingDesperation/6.She took a large swig and her eyes bulged with the attempt to stop herself coughing. The man laughed, but not unkindly. /Judi JamesSupermodel/7.My name was on a lease, in a computer somewhere, and I figured the police could find my loft without too much trouble. /John GrishamThe Street Lawyer/8.The request wasn’t unusual. It wasn’t unusual at all. Most celebs and pseudo-celebs went out of their way, even begged, to get their names and pictures in print. /James HerbertCreed/