Passage 193 · 2018
"The Overstory"
Main effectThrough superlative best-arguments-in-the-world maximization, future won't-change impossibility, restrictive only-thing exclusion, relative that-can-do-that unique capacity, and copulative is-a-good-story revelation with indefinite accessible article, Powers creates syntax of narrative apologetics—grammar that uses absolute claims and exclusive restriction to argue story's superiority over argument for changing minds, the sentence performatively doing what it describes by being memorable maxim.
Device index
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Tropes
Exaggeration.
Understatement.
Schemes
Balanced opposition.
Syntax
"The best arguments in the world"—definite superlative with universal scope. Syntax makes maximum claim.
"in the world"—spatial hyperbole. Syntax adds global scope.
"won't change"—negative modal contraction. Syntax asserts impossibility.
"a person's mind"—generic singular possessive. Syntax makes claim universal.
"The only thing"—definite with exclusive adjective. Syntax narrows possibilities to one.
"that can do that"—restrictive relative with modal ability. Syntax asserts unique capacity.
"is a good story"—copula revealing answer. Syntax performs declaration.
"a good story"—indefinite with simple adjective. Syntax makes solution accessible, not rare.
Close reading
1Close Reading
Superlative Subject
"The best arguments in the world"—definite superlative with universal scope. Syntax makes maximum claim.
Prepositional Maximum
"in the world"—spatial hyperbole. Syntax adds global scope.
Future Negative
"won't change"—negative modal contraction. Syntax asserts impossibility.
Indefinite Mind
"a person's mind"—generic singular possessive. Syntax makes claim universal.
Restrictive Subject
"The only thing"—definite with exclusive adjective. Syntax narrows possibilities to one.
Relative Potential
"that can do that"—restrictive relative with modal ability. Syntax asserts unique capacity.
Copulative Reveal
"is a good story"—copula revealing answer. Syntax performs declaration.
Indefinite Article
"a good story"—indefinite with simple adjective. Syntax makes solution accessible, not rare.
Stylistic Effect
Through superlative best-arguments-in-the-world maximization, future won't-change impossibility, restrictive only-thing exclusion, relative that-can-do-that unique capacity, and copulative is-a-good-story revelation with indefinite accessible article, Powers creates syntax of narrative apologetics—grammar that uses absolute claims and exclusive restriction to argue story's superiority over argument for changing minds, the sentence performatively doing what it describes by being memorable maxim.