Edexcel GCSE English Literature: 19th-Century Novel – Language and Style

Unlocking the Language of 19th-Century Novels: A Tutorial for Edexcel GCSE English Literature

This tutorial will guide you through understanding the language and stylistic choices of 19th-century novelists, equipping you with the skills needed to tackle Edexcel GCSE English Literature Component 2.

1. Narrative Style: The Voice of the Story

• First Person: Think of the narrator as a character within the story. This allows for a more personal and intimate perspective.
  • Example: "I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. It was Mr. Rochester." (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë)
• Third Person: The narrator is an observer outside the story, often offering an objective viewpoint.
  • Example: "He had been a soldier in the Napoleonic Wars." (The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy)
• Omniscient: The narrator knows everything about the characters and events, even their thoughts and feelings. This creates a sense of depth and understanding.
  • Example: "She thought of her husband, and her heart sank." (Middlemarch by George Eliot)

2. Sentence Structure: Building a Rhythmic Flow

• Long Sentences: Often used for detailed descriptions, conveying a sense of grandeur or complexity.
• Short Sentences: Create a sense of urgency, speed, or emphasis.
• Repetition: Used to highlight key ideas, create a memorable phrase, or emphasize a specific feeling.
• Inversion: Reversing the typical word order for emphasis.
  • Example: "Powerful she was." (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë)

3. Figurative Language: Painting Vivid Pictures

• Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things, without using "like" or "as."
  • Example: "Life is a journey."
• Simile: A comparison using "like" or "as."
  • Example: "He was as strong as an ox."
• Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract concepts.
  • Example: "The wind whispered secrets."
• Symbolism: Objects, characters, or events represent something beyond their literal meaning.
  • Example: The color white often symbolizes purity or innocence.

4. How Language and Style Engage Readers

• Creating Atmosphere and Setting: Language and style can paint vivid pictures in the reader's mind, immersing them in the world of the story.
• Revealing Character: The way a character speaks or thinks can reveal their personality, motivations, and beliefs.
• Conveying Themes: Language and style are often used to emphasize the key themes of the novel, such as social injustice, love, or the passage of time.

5. Analyzing Language and Style in Exam Questions

• Identify Key Techniques: Underline or highlight examples of the techniques discussed above.
• Explain their Effect: Explain how each technique contributes to the overall meaning of the passage or the novel as a whole.
• Link to Themes and Context: Consider how the language and style reflect the social, historical, or cultural context of the novel, and how they connect to the main themes.

Practice makes perfect!

Work through examples from your chosen 19th-century novel. Analyze the language and style, and discuss their significance. This will help you understand the techniques and build your skills for the Edexcel GCSE English Literature exam.