Passage 178 · 1992
"The English Patient"
Main effectThrough intransitive standing-up, relative where-working background, present perfect sensing, existential there-is announcement, appositive buckle-of-noise synesthesia, and coordinate tall-cypresses-swaying, Ondaatje creates syntax of attentive stillness—grammar that moves from human rising and sensing to environmental response, connecting character to landscape through accumulated sensory details.
Device index
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Tropes
Implicit comparison.
Human qualities to abstractions.
Mixing sensory modes.
Syntax
"She stands up"—phrasal verb of motion. Syntax shows vertical movement.
"in the garden"—spatial preposition with definite article. Syntax establishes outdoor setting.
"where she has been working"—locative relative with present perfect progressive. Syntax provides prior context.
"and looks into the distance"—coordinating conjunction with prepositional vision. Syntax adds observation to rising.
"has sensed"—present perfect. Syntax shows completed perception with present relevance.
"a shift in the weather"—indefinite article with abstract noun. Syntax makes change non-specific but palpable.
"There is another gust"—existential construction. Syntax announces wind's arrival.
"a buckle of noise"—appositive phrase with unusual genitive. Syntax adds synesthetic description.
"in the air"—locative preposition. Syntax situates sound in atmosphere.
"and the tall cypresses sway"—coordinating conjunction with intransitive verb. Syntax adds trees' response to wind.
"tall cypresses"—adjective emphasizing vertical. Syntax makes trees' elevation significant.
Close reading
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Intransitive Rising
"She stands up"—phrasal verb of motion. Syntax shows vertical movement.
Prepositional Location
"in the garden"—spatial preposition with definite article. Syntax establishes outdoor setting.
Relative Clause Background
"where she has been working"—locative relative with present perfect progressive. Syntax provides prior context.
Coordinate Looking
"and looks into the distance"—coordinating conjunction with prepositional vision. Syntax adds observation to rising.
Present Perfect Sensing
"has sensed"—present perfect. Syntax shows completed perception with present relevance.
Indefinite Shift
"a shift in the weather"—indefinite article with abstract noun. Syntax makes change non-specific but palpable.
Existential There
"There is another gust"—existential construction. Syntax announces wind's arrival.
Appositive Metaphor
"a buckle of noise"—appositive phrase with unusual genitive. Syntax adds synesthetic description.
Prepositional Medium
"in the air"—locative preposition. Syntax situates sound in atmosphere.
Coordinate Swaying
"and the tall cypresses sway"—coordinating conjunction with intransitive verb. Syntax adds trees' response to wind.
Adjectival Height
"tall cypresses"—adjective emphasizing vertical. Syntax makes trees' elevation significant.
Stylistic Effect
Through intransitive standing-up, relative where-working background, present perfect sensing, existential there-is announcement, appositive buckle-of-noise synesthesia, and coordinate tall-cypresses-swaying, Ondaatje creates syntax of attentive stillness—grammar that moves from human rising and sensing to environmental response, connecting character to landscape through accumulated sensory details.