Lesson 4: Language and Style

📚 Literary Appreciation of Novels and Short Stories

🟦 Introduction
Ever noticed how some writers make you feel like you’re inside the story—seeing, feeling, and even smelling what the characters do? That’s the power of language and style. Language refers to the writer’s word choices, while style is how those words are put together to create mood, tone, and meaning. In this lesson, you’ll learn to identify and explain how writers use language and style to enhance storytelling.

🟩 Key Concepts and Explanations

1. What is Language in Literature?

Language is the deliberate choice of words and expressions a writer uses to:

• Describe characters or settings

• Reveal emotions and ideas

• Create imagery

• Express tone or attitude

It can be simple or complex, formal or informal, descriptive or symbolic.

✅ Example: In The African Child, Camara Laye uses simple but rich language to reflect childhood innocence and African tradition.

2. What is Style?

Style is the writer’s unique way of expressing ideas. It involves:

• Sentence structure (short, long, repetitive, varied)

• Diction (word choice – is it plain, poetic, technical, informal?)

• Imagery and literary devices

• Narrative voice (first person, third person, omniscient, etc.)

• Tone (sad, joyful, ironic, hopeful)

✅ Example: In Faceless, Amma Darko uses a blend of journalistic and conversational style to address social issues and draw the reader into the urban realities of Accra.

3. Common Language Features in Prose

4. How to Comment on Language and Style in WASSCE

You’ll often be asked to discuss the writer’s use of language or style. Here’s how to approach it:

🧭 Sample Walkthrough: Language and Style in Action

Excerpt:
“The market buzzed with a thousand voices, frying oil sang in iron pans, and the heat rose from the ground like an invisible wave.”

Analysis:

• Language feature: Imagery (appeals to sound, sight, and smell)

• Effect: Creates a vivid, bustling atmosphere and immerses the reader in the setting.

Excerpt 2:
“She was a lion in the courtroom.”

Analysis:

• Language feature: Metaphor

• Effect: Highlights the character’s courage and aggression in defending a case.

🟨 Practice Exercises

Exercise A: Identify Language Features

“Rain slapped the windows as thunder grumbled in the distance. James sat alone, his tea cold, eyes fixed on the door.”

Questions:

1. Identify two language features.

2. What mood is created?

3. What do we learn about James from the description?

✅ Answers:

1. Imagery (sound, sight), personification (“thunder grumbled”).

2. A mood of loneliness and tension.

3. He is anxious or waiting for someone.

Exercise B: Style Evaluation

“I don’t care what they think,” Amina said, her chin lifted. “I know what I saw.”

Questions:

1. What does the dialogue reveal about Amina?

2. How does the sentence structure (short, direct) affect tone?

3. What kind of style is used here—formal or informal?

✅ Answers:

1. She is confident and assertive.

2. Creates a strong, bold tone.

3. Informal and conversational.

🔁 Recap

Let’s review what you’ve learned:

• Language is the specific words and expressions a writer chooses.

• Style is the overall way the story is told—including voice, structure, and tone.

• Common techniques include imagery, dialogue, figurative language, and symbolism.

• In exam answers, always identify, illustrate, and explain language and style features.

🪞 Reflection Prompt

Think of a scene from a story or novel you’ve read.

• What words or phrases made the scene vivid or emotional?

• How would the story feel different if it were written in a different style—like formal instead of casual?