Formalism In Robinson Crusoe

Register to read the introduction… The sophisticated lexis Defoe uses adds formality to the novel and especially in this extract there is a wide range of polysyllabic words mostly in the lexical set of Religion e.g. ‘spread my Table in the Wilderness’ and ‘Hand of God’s Providence’ as Crusoe starts to realise how good God has been to him since he arrived on the island. The abstract nouns ‘wilderness’ and ‘providence’ are consistent with the books formal register. Defoe’s use of linguistic features such as listing when Crusoe talks about all the things he wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for the help of God makes Crusoe seem more personal and real. By doing this, Defoe gives readers a deeper understanding of Crusoe’s situation and how he is feeling in that …show more content…
Because ‘Alive’ is a form of literary journalism, Read tries to tell the story as accurately as he can while being objective and impartial. He takes the role of the omniscient narrator as he gives us a profound insight into the survival story. Although the lexis used in ‘Alive’ isn’t as sophisticated as ‘Robinson Crusoe’, it is still quite a formal book as it is written in a journalistic style. It is written in a contemporary 20th century formal register that is accessible to generally wider reading public that early 18th …show more content…
Read’s use of adjectives and verbs are a very good indication of this sudden change in atmosphere. When describing Canessa eating the flesh Read says ‘...the horror of the act paralysed him. ...the revulsion which possessed him struggled with his stubborn will. ...he pushed the meat into his mouth.’ There are no modifiers in this sentence, it uses stripped down abstract nouns and dynamic verbs to create a still atmosphere. The use of the abstract nouns ‘meat’ and mouth’ are key as the there is slight alliteration that gives the sentence a rhythm and add to the effect Read was trying to make which is to shock the reader. The words Read uses in this part of the extract are a perfect reflection of how Canessa is feeling at that moment. Those words are what create the atmosphere for a reader and makes more of an impact on them. The verb ‘pushed’ suggests that even at the point of being seconds from eating the flesh, Canessa’s conscience was still trying to stop him from going through with it. The sour atmosphere this part of the extract creates is then reversed in Nicolich’s letter. The words he uses give a brighter outlook on their state of affairs and almost put a positive spin on things. ‘Today the weather was wonderful – a beautiful sun and very hot’. This simple sentence changes the whole tone of the extract as the modifiers ‘wonderful’ and