STYLE. In life style is everywhere around us: in dresses, cars, buildings, dancing, and music and even in courtship. Style is anything that reflects a distinctive manner of expression or design. You cannot mistake Alick Macheso’s ‘Madhuve’ orchestra for System Tazvida we Zaka’s ‘Smoko moto’ bang. Similarly, authors have different styles, typical and idiosyncratic to themselves. Style refers to the distinctive manner in which a writer arranges words to achieve particular effects. The arrangement includes word choice (diction), sentence structures, tone and the use of irony. This choice of words is useful in controlling the reader’s response. Style reveals tone, the author’s implicit attitude towards the characters, places and events in the story. In speech tone is conveyed by voice inflections, the wink of an eye or other gestures. As an example, when the teacher says, “You’re going to fail the exam”, he may indicate concern or frustration or sympathy or alarm or humour or indifference depending on the tone of his voice. Also note that my repetitive use of ‘or’ in the latter sentence is stylistic, to highlight emphasis. In literature texts this spoken voice is not there, so we have to rely on the context in which the statement is said in order to interpret the tone correctly. If we are sensitive to the tone, we can get behind a character and see him or her from the author’s perspective. Irony is one of the enduring themes in literature. The many unexpected complexities that often surprise us in life are the fertile ground for the use of irony. Irony is a device that reveals a reality different from what seems to be true. There is verbal irony which consists of saying one thing but meaning the opposite. Verbal irony which is calculated to hurt someone by false praise is called sarcasm. Situational irony, on the other hand, occurs when there is an incongruity between what is expected and what actually happens. The other form of irony which occurs when the author allows the reader to know more about a situation than the character knows is dramatic irony. This can be an effective way for a character to unwittingly expose himself. Good candidates are sensitive to these. ELEMENTS: QUESTIONS FOR RESPONSIVE READING Plot Is it predictable or does it conform to a formula? What is the source of conflict for the protagonist? What is the significance of the title? What does the exposition reveal? Are flashbacks used? Any foreshadowing? With what effect? Where is the climax? Is the conflict resolved at the end? Is the ending happy/unhappy etc? Is the plot unified – is each incident related to other elements? Character Do you identify with the protagonist? Did your response to any character change as you read? Why? Do any characters change or develop? How? Are round, flat or stock characters used? How are characters revealed by the author? Are their names used to mean anything? What is the purpose of minor characters – individualised or typified? Setting Is it important in shaping your response? If changed would it affect response/ meaning? Is it used symbolically? Are time, place, atmosphere related to the theme? Is the setting used as an antagonist? Point of view Who tells the story? First, second or third person narrator? Status? Major or minor character? How much does the narrator know? Does the point of view change in the course of the story? Is the narrator reliable and objective? Too innocent emotional or self-decided to be trusted? Does the author directly comment on the action (authorial intrusion)? If told from another point of view would anything be lost? Symbolism Any symbols? Are they actions? Characters? Settings? Object? Word? How do they contribute to the theme? Theme Any theme(s)? Is it stated directly or simplicity? Is the theme confirming or challenging your values? Is it restricted or universal? In the case of novels what is the dominant informing ideology? Aesthetic ideology? Authorial ideology? Style, Tone, Irony Is style consistent and appropriate? Do the characters use the same language? Is language formal or informal? Is language intense? Relaxed? Sentimental? Nostalgic? Humorous? Angry? Sad or remorse? Summary A good answer should meet specific demands of the question. The candidates should confront rather than avoid any difficulties. A good answer shows sensitivity to the language, tone and any outstanding literary qualities of the passage. These include all the elements which have been discussed. Above all, an informed personal response and the presentation of the passage as a whole rather than in fragments must be evident. Good candidates will be rewarded for these: originality, relevance, analysis of tone, attitude, argument, character, form, and language structure, quotations and critical terminology should be used economically. Fluency and organisation cannot be over-emphasised. A.M. Tirivangana is currently a National Programme Leader for BAECS/BASHCMS/BASHLIT/ MLIT (Zimbabwe Open University). He also an O and A-Level English Expert. Contact him on 0772253746 or e-mail: tirivangana@yahoo.com.