Passage 173 · 1982
"The House of the Spirits"
Main effectThrough intransitive came-to-us arrival, instrumental by-sea means, definite child-Clara attribution, possessive delicate-calligraphy manner, and embedded narration structure, Allende creates syntax of magical chronicle—grammar that makes dog's arrival mythic through maritime journey while grounding fantastic in specific narrator's voice, characterized by youth and refined penmanship.
Device index
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Tropes
Human qualities to abstractions.
Associated term for thing.
Two descriptions for one thing.
Syntax
"Barrabás came to us"—intransitive verb with dative. Syntax makes arrival active, deliberate.
"by sea"—instrumental preposition. Syntax makes ocean the vehicle.
"the child Clara wrote"—definite article with appositive and reporting verb. Syntax introduces narrator.
"the child Clara"—noun-name apposition. Syntax marks narrator's youth.
"in her delicate calligraphy"—instrumental preposition with possessive. Syntax makes handwriting visible.
"delicate"—adjective describing writing. Syntax shows character through penmanship.
Sentence exists as Clara's written words. Syntax creates layered narrative voice.
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Intransitive Arrival
"Barrabás came to us"—intransitive verb with dative. Syntax makes arrival active, deliberate.
Prepositional Means
"by sea"—instrumental preposition. Syntax makes ocean the vehicle.
Reporting Verb
"the child Clara wrote"—definite article with appositive and reporting verb. Syntax introduces narrator.
Appositive Age
"the child Clara"—noun-name apposition. Syntax marks narrator's youth.
Prepositional Manner
"in her delicate calligraphy"—instrumental preposition with possessive. Syntax makes handwriting visible.
Adjectival Character
"delicate"—adjective describing writing. Syntax shows character through penmanship.
Embedded Narration
Sentence exists as Clara's written words. Syntax creates layered narrative voice.
Stylistic Effect
Through intransitive came-to-us arrival, instrumental by-sea means, definite child-Clara attribution, possessive delicate-calligraphy manner, and embedded narration structure, Allende creates syntax of magical chronicle—grammar that makes dog's arrival mythic through maritime journey while grounding fantastic in specific narrator's voice, characterized by youth and refined penmanship.