Stylistics Summary and Analysis

Stylistics is a system of approach to literature that relies on the science of linguistics for its methods and application. Linguistics studies language and structures to analyze how elements of a literary work give it meaning and effect. Liberal humanism and stylistics share an empirical bias, non-eclectic style and non-fluid meaning. Specifically, stylistics emphasizes specific texts not general theories, does not add theories to its analysis, and relies on firm meaning in language, i.e., not "innately fluid, indeterminate, and shifting." Stylistic methods can be used to analyze any written document including prose, political speeches and advertisements. Stylistics theory does not consider literary text as special. Stylistics develops through rhetoric which teaches structuring an argument, using figures of speech and making the greatest impact with writing or speech. Rhetoric is used in the medieval period for Church, law and political life...