The 72rd volume of “The Explicator”, a renowned source for literary criticism in the United Kingdom was published in the summer 2014. One of the most remarkable contributions, within the publication, titled “Caught in the act of greatness”, deeply analyzes Jane Austen’s renowned “Pride and prejudice”. The analysis takes an unconventional approach by strictly focusing on the syntax and writing style of the work in order to truly credit the genius of Jane Austen. However it is because of this unorthodox approach the author of this literary criticism is able to describe why Austen’s syntax directly influenced her enduring works.
Amy Baker begins by introducing Austen and her priceless contributions to English literature. She states, “Jane Austen is one of the most widely read and most praised authors of English literature” and “A lively combination of wit, satire, playfulness, and charm, her most popular novel, Pride and …show more content…
Baker states, “Austen tends to suggest social variants in speech by syntax and phrasing rather than by vocabulary” and “high-class characters speak with precision and perfect grammar, low-class characters often falter with subject/verb agreement” (170). Amy Baker further elaborates on this thought by comparing two crucial characters of the novel, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitz William Darcy. Baker explains, “Although the two major characters share a similar personality, they do not share a single voice” and “Elizabeth’s voice is marked by several patterns. First of all, she shows a greater variety of clauses than Darcy across the board. In three of the four sections of dialogue, she tops his percentage of relative clauses” (171). Baker’s ability to point out the deliberate syntax used by Jane Austen in “Pride and Prejudice”. Allows the reader to view and appreciate the beauty of such remarkable sentence
Amy Baker begins by introducing Austen and her priceless contributions to English literature. She states, “Jane Austen is one of the most widely read and most praised authors of English literature” and “A lively combination of wit, satire, playfulness, and charm, her most popular novel, Pride and …show more content…
Baker states, “Austen tends to suggest social variants in speech by syntax and phrasing rather than by vocabulary” and “high-class characters speak with precision and perfect grammar, low-class characters often falter with subject/verb agreement” (170). Amy Baker further elaborates on this thought by comparing two crucial characters of the novel, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitz William Darcy. Baker explains, “Although the two major characters share a similar personality, they do not share a single voice” and “Elizabeth’s voice is marked by several patterns. First of all, she shows a greater variety of clauses than Darcy across the board. In three of the four sections of dialogue, she tops his percentage of relative clauses” (171). Baker’s ability to point out the deliberate syntax used by Jane Austen in “Pride and Prejudice”. Allows the reader to view and appreciate the beauty of such remarkable sentence