Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts Honours
School
School of Arts and Humanities
First Supervisor
Debra Dudek
Abstract
So why is grammar an unsung hero that rarely receives acknowledgement? And why do the first two sentences of this abstract start with coordinating conjunctions? This thesis will explore elastic grammar: a term I coined to recognise style devices that are traditionally thought of as grammatically incorrect but are used to create a deeper level of meaning within fiction. The analysis of the elasticity of grammar will be conducted through close readings of three children’s books and three elastic grammar devices. Since each novel’s primary focus is storytelling, this thesis analyses elastic grammar that relates to storytelling. The three elastic grammar devices—sentence fragments, comma splices, and starting a sentence with a coordinating conjunction—will be analysed in Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990) by Salman Rushdie, Inkheart (2003) by Cornelia Funke, and A Monster Calls (2011) by Patrick Ness. This thesis argues that the use of these three elastic grammar devices emphasises how characters connect or disconnect with themselves and others.
Recommended Citation
Lomas Glendenning, K. (2020). So how does elastic grammar create meaning in children’s literature?: Storytelling and elastic grammar in Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990), Inkheart (2003), and A Monster Calls (2011). Edith Cowan University. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1555