Topic 10 (session A) - Prose analysis > Bilgewater: Grammar > Task C

Bilgewater: Grammar

Task C - Listing constructions

As there is not much complexity, we will not examine that aspect in detail, and we have already examined 'but' coordination at different linguistic levels when looked at grammatical parallelism in Task B on the Foregrounded features page. Instead, we will concentrate briefly on listing structures here.

There are a number of significant listing constructions in the passage. We quote three sentences involving listing below (the listing is highlighted in each case).

What grammatical category is involved in the list in each case? And what effects are associated with the uses of listing here?

(14) The first had been as she had expected - carping, snappish, harsh, watchful - unfriendly even before you had your hand off the door handle.

(47) A massive intelligence clicking and ticking away - observing, assessing, sifting, pigeonholing.

(48) Not a feeling, not an emotion, not a dizzy thought.

Our answer

Home ¦ Outline ¦ Contents ¦ Glossary