Date of Award
6-2-1933
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
First Advisor
Dr. R. Tyson Wyckoff
Keywords
Carlyle, Thomas, 1795-1881, Heroes and hero-worship, Carlyle, Thomas, 1795-1881, Sartor resartus, Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, 1933
Abstract
This study, as the title of the thesis suggests, proposes to give an analysis of Carlyle's diction, mechanics, and style as found in the two essays, Sartor Resartus and Heroes and Hero-Worship. An interest was aroused in Carlyle's essays through a graduate course in English, Nineteenth Century Prose Writer. The writer has selected the essays, Sartor Resartus and Heroes and Hero-Worship, for subjects of study, for they are probably highly representative of the author's works as a whole.
To prevent any misunderstanding of terms, it may be desirable at this time to set forth the definition of these three words - diction, mechanics, and style - as they are interpreted in this study. Diction applies to words selected to express ideas. In this analysis, diction includes Carlyle's selection of appropriate names of chapters, his unusual choice of words, his use of rare words and rare comparative forms, his employment of pictorial words and pairs, and his utilization of foreign phrases.
Mechanics refers to the devices or writing instruments employed to construct thoughts. In this study, mechanics applies to such devices as the kind of sentences, length of paragraphs and chapters, use of dash and italics, employment of compounds, capitals, and parentheses, and his choice of punctuation.
Style is the mode or manner of expressing ideas. A person's style, therefore, is his individual way of expressing his thoughts. Style, in this analysis, refers to Carlyle's use of vivid descriptions, power of contrast, employment of humor and satire, scarcity of quotations, lack of poetry, and utilization of figures of speech. From these definitions, there is an apparent overlapping in the use of these terms, for style seems to embody both diction and mechanics. [Taken from introduction]
Recommended Citation
Jones, Iona Elvira, "Analysis of Carlyle's Sartor Resartus and Heroes and Hero-Worship from the standpoints of diction, mechanics, and style" (1933). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 625.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/etd/625
