Microsoft Word Seminars on stylistics

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHARACTERS AND SETTING
What are the characters names and what do 
they look like? Does this have any significance? Are 
the characters round or flat? Does the narrator 
employ interior monologue to render the thoughts 
and feelings of the characters? Are the characters 
credible? Do they act consistently? If not, why not? 
With what main problem is the protagonist faced? Is 
it a conflict with another individual? With society? 
Within himself? In the course of the story do the 
characters change as a result of their experience? 
Does the narrator sympathize with the characters? 
Remains aloof and detached? Is the particular setting 
essential or could the story have happened anywhere 
at any time? Has the narrator emphasized certain 
details? Which? Why? What functions does the 
setting have? 
 
THEME AND ARTISTIC EFFECT
What is the general effect achieved? Has the 
writer caused characters, and settings to come alive? 
What was the conflict and how was it solved, if at all? 
Were there any striking repetitions of actions, words, 
thoughts or symbols? Has the protagonist learned 
anything? Has he or she squired a greater knowledge or 
insight or reached a new awareness? Does the title of 
the story indicate anything about the theme? Are the 
theme and story fused and inseparable? How does the 
word choice and syntax contribute to the atmosphere? 
Does the story abound in tropes or does the narrator 
use them sparingly? .What images lend the story a 
lyrical, melancholy, humorous effect? Are they 
genuine, poetic, fresh, trite, hackneyed stale? Is the 
general tone matter-of-fact, sentimental, moralizing, 
bitter, ironical, and sarcastic? What attitude to life does 

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