- “This is a valley of ashes- a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” (24).
Fitzgerald’s use of a dash adds emphasis to the bleak, desolate area that the city is. The constant addition of clauses and phrases speeds up the rhythm creating an antithesis with the “smoke” and “grotesque” images the author creates. The contradiction in the sentence can seem to be surreal due to how natural the depressing ashes naturally grow in the city.
- “Occasionally a line of gray cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-grey men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight” (24).
With the use of independent and dependent clauses, Fitzgerald allows them to imitate Nick’s thought process as he goes through the city. The multiple commas used in this sentence allow the thought process to move from place to place. This thought process may also acknowledge Fitzgerald’s thought process due to his complicated life with his wife.
- “The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic- their retinas are one yard high” (24).
This short sentence is used by Fitzgerald to demonstrate the stunning, awe-dropping image by the Doctor. The dash in this sentence allows the interruption of thoughts by Nick to demonstrate the tension in the air. Fitzgerald’s very formal and serious tone in this sentence only accumulates to the magnificent attention of detail that seems to detract from the purpose.
I think that you did a successful job in choosing examples from the novel that represents syntax. The way that the author puts together words and phrases to present a certain style is sometimes difficult to detect, but I think you have a great understanding of the concept. The way that you analyze the examples after stating the quote gives the reader of your blog a simple way to try to comprehend the idea of syntax. In addition, your commentary is simple, yet thorough, which is also extremely helpful to the reader's attempt to understand the reason behind the incorporation of that particular style. Overall, I believe that your examples and explanation for Fitzgerald's syntax in this novel is impressive and helpful.
ReplyDeleteExcellent job overall with your choice of quotes from the novel. Fitzgerald uses a lot of syntax in his novel to reveal the thought process, like you said, of characters in the story. Your recognition of that thought process is one example that really stuck out for me as impressive and sophisticated. Great job.
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