THE USE OF DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES
IN FITZGERALD’S ”
THE BRIDAL PARTY
’
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements
for the Degree of
Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
Disusun oleh
By
HARI AGUS PURNOMO
Student Number: 004214030
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA
“
The Liberated Mind Becomes the
Perfect Container of Total Awareness”
Oscar Ichazo
Arica’s Founder
This Undergraduate Thesis is dedicated to:
My Beloved Parents &
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Allah God Almighty for the endless love He has given to me, and also for showing me the best people in my life.
I am personally indebted to
1. Dr. Fr. B. Alip, M.Pd.,M.A., my major sponsor for the invaluable knowledge he has shared with me during my study in this campus, and also for his support, patience, and suggestion he has given to me during the process of this thesis writing.
2. Other lecturers, especially in the Department of English Letters, for all the knowledge, experiences, and moments they have shared with me during my study in this campus. Indeed, your professional contributions in my life are undeniable.
3. Adventina Putranti, S.S., M.Hum., my reader, for her patience in correcting my thesis.
4. Mbak Nik, Mas Parjo, Mbak Lies, and other staff in Sekretariat Sastra and SAC for helping me with administration matters.
5. Pak Santo, Pak John, and other staff of Sanata Dharma University library for their familiarity and professional assistance with the library services. 6. My beloved mother and father, for always encouraging me to finish my
7. Dhika, Andy, Vey, Thomas, Kristin, Willy, Maran, Sisca, Seno, Alley, and all my friends in English Letters Department, for the moments we have made together.
8. X’Tin “Goprex”, Xandra (without “l”), Donal, Bebe, Willy , Lisis, Dewi, Koko Budi, Vinco, Theo, Dauz, Ian Kassela, and other NATAS crews for the sweetest memories we have experienced together.
9. My dearest brother and sister for keeping our home cheerful with all those ridiculous jokes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ... i
APPROVAL PAGE ... ii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE ... iii
DEDICATION PAGE ... iv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ... v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ... vii
ABSTRACT ... ix
ABSTRAK ... x
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ... 1
A. Background of the Study ... 1
B. Problem Formulation... 4
C. Objective of the Study ... 4
D. Definition of Terms ... 4
E. Benefit of the Study... 6
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ... 8
A. Review of Related Studies ... 8
B. Review of Related Theories ... 10
B.1. Theory on Style and Stylistics ... 10
a. Style... 10
B.2. Theory on Adjectives ... 14
a. Definition... 14
b. Classification... 15
i. Descriptive Adjective ... 16
ii. Limiting Adjective ... 20
B.3. The Use of Descriptive Adjective ... 20
C. Theoretical Framework ... 23
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ... 26
A. Object of the Study ... 26
B. Approach of the Study ... 27
C. Method of the Study ... 29
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ... 32
A. The Categories of Descriptive Adjectives in “The Bridal Party”... 32
B. The Use of Descriptive Adjectives in "The Bridal Party" ... 48
C. Fitzgerald’s Style... 57
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS... 61
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 63
APPENDIX I... 65
APPENDIX 2... 69
ABSTRACT
Agus Purnomo, Hari (2007): The Use of Descriptive Adjectives in Fitzgerald’s “The Bridal Party”. English Letters Department , Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta.
"The Bridal Party" is one of Fitzgerald’s short stories written in 1930. In this story, Fitzgerald’s distinctive talent in cultivating his blessing gift for language is undeniable. Specifically, it can be seen from his ability in utilizing one particular linguistic feature in his work, the descriptive adjective.
Particularly, the objective of this thesis is to examine the use of descriptive adjective in the short story. In the first part, this thesis tries to identify the categories of descriptive adjective employed in the short story. Secondly, having classified the descriptive adjective Fitzgerald applies in his work, this thesis will also examine the use of these adjectives in the story. Finally, this thesis describes Fitzgerald’s style.
Stylistic approach is chosen in understanding the writer’s underlying reasons in applying a particular linguistic feature to achieve a certain effects on the text and the readers.
Based on the categories proposed by Dixon, it is found that there are seven categories of descriptive adjective used in the story. They are the descriptive adjective describing dimension, physical property, human propensity, colour, age, speed, and value. Fitzgerald applies this adjectives especially to help him: 1. creating a powerful character sketch, 2. providing a clear and specific information about persons or a things he creates in his story, 3. suggesting various sensory senses perceptible to his readers’ perceptions, 4. distinguishing or contrasting persons or objects he recounts in his story, 5. to convince or persuade his readers that the events he recounts in the story are really happened or might have happened, 6. expressing his subjective evaluation, comment, opinion or judgment.
ABSTRAK
Agus Purnomo, Hari (2007): The Use of Descriptive Adjectives in Fitzgerald’s “The Bridal Party”. Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sa nata Dharma, Yogyakarta.
"The Bridal Party" adalah cerpen karya Francis F. Scott Fitzgerald yang ditulisnya pada tahun 1963. Dalam cerpen tersebut, kepiawaian Fitzgerald dalam mengolah bakat satranya tak perlu diragukan lagi. Ini terlihat, terutama, dari kemampuannya memanfaatkan salah satu unsur bahasa dalam karyanya, yaitu kata sifat deskriptif.
Secara khusus, tujuan dari penulisan skripsi ini adalah mempelajari penggunaan kata sifat deskriptif dalam cerpen tersebut. Pertama, skripsi ini akan mencari tahu jenis-jenis kata sifat deskriptif apa saja yang digunakan dalam cerpen tersebut. Kedua, setelah mengklasifikasikan jenis-jenis kata sifat tersebut, selanjutnya, skripsi ini akan meneliti penggunaannya, terutama terkait dengan efek-efek tertentu yang ditimbulkannya pada karya tersebut atau pembacanya. Terakhir, skripsi ini juga akan mencoba menjelaskan gaya tulisan Fitzgerald.
Pendekatan stilistika sengaja dipilih untuk memahami alasan-alasan penulis menerapkan unsur bahasa tertentu untuk mencapai efek-efek khusus dalam karyanya serta pada pembacanya.
Berdasarkan kategori yang dikemukakan oleh Dixon, terdapat tujuh jenis kata sifat deskriptif yang digunakan dalam cerpen tersebut, yaitu kata sifat deskriptif yang memberikan keterangan tentang dimensi, ciri-ciri fisik, , karakter atau sifat manusia, warna, usia, kecepatan, dan nilai. Fitzgerald menggunakan kata sifat deskriptif tersebut terutama untuk membantunya: 1. menciptakan karakterisasi yang kuat dan menarik, 2. memberikan keterangan spesifik tentang tokoh-tokoh atau objek-objek dalam cerpennya, 3. menggugah rangsangan inderawi yang dapat dicerap oleh pembacanya, 4 membedakan atau membandingkan tokoh-tokoh atau objek-objek rekaannya, 5. meyakinkan pembacanya bahwa peristiwa-peristiwa dalam cerpen tersebut benar-benar terjadi, atau mungkin saja terjadi, 6. menyampaikan pengamatan, komentar, pendapat, atau penilaian subjektifnya.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Style, in the world of literary writing can be defined as the writer’s manner of expression in language. By the simplest meaning, style is how the writer says whatever he wishes to say. Schapiro, as quoted in Cunningham’s The Problem of Style, says that style is the constant form - and sometimes the constant elements, qualities, expression – in the art of an individual or a group. Style is a system of forms with quality and meaningful expression through which the personality of the artist and the broad outlook of a group is visible (Cunningham, 1996 : 11).
In particular, in studying the style of a certain text, or a certain writer, the researcher needs to know about the linguistic feature he is going to examine. It means, to respond or to understand a piece of work requires a particular attention to the language employed in the work. In specific, according to Richards in Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics (1985), when analyzing a piece of work, it is important to balance the question about the linguistic features, the author’s words choice, words combination, patterns of sound and rhythm, sentence construction and so on, with the consideration about the overall effects of the text. The study of that variation in language and the effect the writer wishes to create, is called Stylistics (Richards, 1985: 227).
all texts having their own qualities, the concept of good style is obviously relative until it is considered with a particular situation. John Grisham possesses his own style, so does Pramoedya, Rowling, Hemingway, and so on. In common, they all know how to cultivate their blessing gift of language. They know well how to involve and to delight their readers.
Further, Guth in his Words and Ideas states that one way to involve or to evoke the reader’s imagination is using the appropriate adjectives (Guth, 1969: 69). Adjectives suggest the description of the noun, thus make the writing clear by the description suggested. They help the reader to respond the work as exactly as possible, to make the events, settings, scenes, and characters come alive in the reader’s imagination.
Correspondingly, Francis Scott Fitzgerald was the one who was widely recognized for his brilliant achievement in cultivating his distinctive gift for language. By the long stretch of his writing career, he has successfully created the sense of intimacy to his readers. Almost from the start of his career, early in 1920, Fitzgerald was a famous and successful writer. For twenty years, he produced something like 160 short stories, mostly for the high-priced magazines (Mizener, 1963: 1). Most of them were praised by critics as an important works.
composition of dictions, in purpose that his reader can grasp his idea in a clearer and simpler way. Here is the Trilling’s comment concerning Fitzgerald’s work:
“Even in Fizgerald’s early, cruder books, or even in his commercial stories…there is tone and pitch to the sentences which suggest his warmth and tenderness, and , what is rare nowadays and not likely to be admired, his gentleness without softness.” (Mizener, 1963: 12).
The above passage suggests, Fitzgerald gave to his work the quality that distinguished it almost strikingly from the works of other good writers of his time, that is the sense of intimacy (warmth) he created to his readers. That such quality came as a result of his continuous writing. What is more, the voice of his prose is the essence of his success. Again, there is no doubt about Fitzgerald’s gift of language. His prose is polished and poetic. The language style he employed is considered more mature and artistic.
B. Problem Formulation
The quality of literary piece is observable. It may appear on the way the creator utilizes his particular linguistic feature(s) through his works. This thesis attempts to find the answers(s) to the following questions:
1. What kinds of descriptive adjectives Fitzgerald uses in “The Bridal Party”?
2. What are the uses of those adjectives in the short story? 3. What is Fitzgerald’s style?
C. Objective of the Study
Every analysis of style, in a certain respect, is an attempt to find the artistic principles underlying a writer’s choice of language. To be specific, we are looking for information about the author’s word choice, word-combination, use of patterns of sounds and rhythm, types of sentence construction, and so on.
Due to the attempt to find out the use of descriptive adjectives in Fitzgerald’s “The Bridal Party”, in the first part, this thesis ought to identify the kind of adjectives used in short story. Having classified the descriptive adjectives found in the text, in the next part, I will try to examine the use of those adjectives in the story. Lastly, I will also try to elucidate Fitzgerald’s prose style.
D. Definitions of Terms
the significant contribution of the use of descriptive adjectives found in the story. To avoid the misleading interpretations on the title cited, it is essential to provide a sufficient definition to the specific terms below:
1) Style. Without particular reference to language, according to Verdonk in
his Stylistics, the term style is one which we use so commonly in our everyday conversation and writing (Verdonk, 2002:3).
To be more specific, Schapiro as quoted in Cunningham’s The Problem of Style, states that style, in the world of literature is the constant form, and sometimes a constant elements, qualities,
expression, in the art of an individual or a group. (Schapiro, 1966:11). By the simple definition, it is said that style is the writer’s manner of expression in language.
2) Stylistics. Still, under the same title, Verdonk defines stylistics, or the
study of style, as the analysis of distinctive expression of language and the description of its purpose and effect. (Verdonk, 2002: 4).
Or, to put the meaning another way, Richards in Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics, states that stylistic, or the study of the variation in language (style) is concerned with the choices that are available to a writer and the reason why particular forms and expressions are used rather than others. (Richards, 1985: 227).
3) Descriptive Adjectives. A word that describes the thing, quality, state, or action which a noun refers to (Curme, 1966: 18). Or, a descriptive adjective is a word that is used with a noun or pronoun to describe or define or point out the living being or lifeless thing, designated by the noun or pronoun (Emolyn, 1950: 73).
E. Benefit of the Study
Literature is written to be understood and enjoyed. Unfortunately, understanding a piece of literary work is not an easy pleasure. In many respects, literature makes significant linguistic, intellectual, moral and emotional demands.
However, it might be a tiring and less effective attempt to observe all these requirements at a single limited discussion. Thus, I shall restrict my analysis on the linguistic device employed in the work under study, the adjectives. I believe that to understand and respond to a literary work requires a particular kind of attention to language. Needless to say , by exploring the linguistic feature of literary text , we can enrich our ways of thinking about the language of literary piece.
Whereas, the stylistic analysis, that takes a strong emphasis on techniques of creativity and invention in language, unfortunately, little enough.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
"The Bridal Party" is one of six short stories published in Fitzgerald’s fifth short stories collection, The Lost Decade and Other Stories. In this story, love is still becoming the dominant theme the writer loved to write about. The typical theme we easily found in most of Fitzgerald’s work.
By its very nature, the successful achievement of Fitzgerald’s literary writing can be attributed to his long, continuously writing habit. For nearly twenty years, he had written about 160 short stories, eleven novels (including his masterpiece, The Great Gatsby), and numbers of plays, sketches, and movie scripts. For short, he was a creative and productive writer.
Fitzgerald was not only a productive and creative writer, he was also known for the popularity of his works. Besides his novels, most of his short stories, including "The Bridal Party", were published by high priced magazines. However, while every attempt has been taken to trace the publicity of "The Bridal Party", it is barely hard for me to gather sufficient information on the particular title. But, in general, most of his works were praised by critics as important works.
examine the whole body of his works. This book was composed by Sergio Perosa, professor of English and American Literature at the University of Ca Fascari, Venice. F. Scott Fitzgerald was the second book published in 1963. The book enlisted some essays written by Arthur Mizener. Both these two books were so helpful for me to understand Scott’s works better.
Another response was issued by The New York Times, as cited in the fifth volume of Fitzgerald’s short story compilation, The Lost Decade, the volume in which "The Bridal Party" was published.
“ He was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented.” (Mizener, 1963: cover page).
Fitzgerald was well recognized for his brilliant and casual observations to build the sense of intimacy to his readers. He managed to employ a well organized composition of dictions (adjectives) to enable him presenting his idea clearly and easily. (Mizener, 1963: 1). The adjectives he used in "The Bridal Party" were both precise and carefully selected.
The use of adjectives in the literary or non-literary writing is certainly significant. Adjectives suggest the description of the noun. They also make the writing clear. Correspondingly, some attentions have been paid to examine the form and the use of these linguistic feature in textual pieces.
using stylistic approach. Running this approach, hopefully, the creative process of the work’s composition could be effectively observed.
B. Review of the Related Theories
1. Theory on Style and Stylistics
a. Style
By simple meaning, the term style refers to someone’s manner of expression in language. It is the word we use to describe how a writer or a speaker says whatever it is he says. In literature, according to J.V. Cunningham (1966), style is a system of forms with quality and meaningful expression through which the personality of the artist or the broad look of a group or are visible (Cunningham, 1966:11). It is said that everybody has his or her own style.
Traditionally, the study of style has been developed in literary criticism and particularly associated with literary texts. However, in its broader sense, style can be applied to spoken or written, literary or non-literary varieties of language. (Stott, 2001:5). A literary critic might study the style used in a particular text or the style of a particular author or the style of a particular period of literary history, say the style of Renaissance novel.
Further, Stott states that we can also study style in different contexts and for different audiences, writing for report, journalism, and advertising (2001:7). Of course, the style of the news reporting is not necessarily similar to the one used in garage sale leaflet. Also, to study the style of a particular writer or a particular text, we need to understand some general principles behind good, effective writing. So that the fair judgment could be taken from the text examined. Abcardian in his Literature says that a good work evokes the reader to respond to the author’s carefully crafted world, pleases our needs, and makes of our experience (Abcardian, 1998:1).
As Hans P. Guth says in his Words and Ideas (1969), a work of literature, by its very nature, is a blend of creativity and hard work (Guth, 1969: ix). Accordingly, due to Harry Teitelbaum’s How to Write a Book Reports (1995), a great literature, if it is truly effective, will give the reader new experience and insights (Teitelbaum, 1995: 95). He says that a good work enables its readers to respond the ideas and experiences in their minds. Thus, it will increase their delightys at the subject at hand. At this point, all good works or good writings are the representatives of the writer’s mastery of language.
b. Stylistics
Needless to say, knowing how to analyze the language of literary texts is surely beneficial. Referring to Mick’s opinion, the more we know how a good piece of writing works, the more we appreciate it (Short, 1996:355). He suggests, knowing how to analyze the language of literary text will provide us a better understanding on how many complex things the writer has managed and put together to form a successful piece. In other words, we may understand and respond to pieces of good writing in a deeper way, precisely.
stylistics (Richards, 1985: 227). Further, he explains that stylistics is concerned with the choices available to a writer and the reasons why particular forms and expressions are used rather than others. Stylistics often forms a core competent of many creative writing courses, emphasis on techniques of creativity and invention in language.
Essentially, the purpose of stylistics analysis, according to Simpson’s Stylistic (2004), is to explore creativity in language use. He says, the various forms, patterns and levels that constitute linguistic features are an important subject of the text. (Simpson, 2004: 3). Doing stylistics analysis thereby enriches our ways of thinking about language. Supporting Simpson’s opinion, Peter Verdonk (2002) believes very firmly that stylistic can provide strong support to literary critical appreciation by giving textual substation for the different kinds of literary effects a text may have on reader (Verdonk, 2002: xiii).
2. Theory on Adjectives
Before proceeding, it is worth remembered that this thesis employs stylistics approach in analyzing the work under study. As we previously discussed, stylistics is concerned with the choices available to a writer, and the reason why particular linguistic features are used rather than others (Richards, 1985: 277).
For this reason, I would not come into details with the grammatical aspects of the object examined (descriptive adjective). Though, some theories of adjective, especially the theories relating to the descriptive adjective would be further presented. These theories can help me in providing the sufficient information about its definition, category, and also its functions in (literary) writing.
a. The Definition
An adjective, as stated in Curme’s English Grammar is defined as a word that is used with a noun or pronoun to describe or define or point out the living being. (Curme, 1966:18). Accordingly, to be more specific, states that an adjective refers to a scribe qualities to entities, objects, and concepts. (Simpson, 2004: 55). It means, an adjective is not merely applicable to describe a real or a concrete things. It can also be used to define an abstract things as well. Thus, it is acceptable then, to have a phrase like a ridiculous idea.
is amazing. Similarly, it can also occur after a noun as in He makes the problem
clear. To avoid confusion between adjectives and adverb Simpson states that
many English adjectives can be graded by extending or modifying the degree or intensity of the basic quality which they express. In a simple way, to test whether an adjective is gradable or not, we can put the intensifier “very” in front of it. However, the test does not work for another group of adjectives, classifying adjectives, which specify more fixed qualities relative to the noun they describe. For example, such expression like very former and very strategic weapons are not quite familiar to our ears, thus unacceptable. Unlike adverbs, that often seem capable of taking places everywhere in a sentence, adjectives nearly always appear immediately before the noun or a noun phrase that they modify.
b. TheClassification of Descriptive Adjective
i. Descriptive Adjectives
As Curme rightly states in English Grammar (1966), a descriptive adjective expresses either the kind, condition, or state of the living being or lifeless thing such as a lovely sunrise, a magnificent landscape, and a gorgeous student (Curme, 1966, 18). He asserts that the participle of verbs in adjectival function are all descriptive adjectives, since they represent either an active or passive state, such as a challenging statement, and a charming supermodel (Curme, 1966: ibid.).
Correspondingly, in addition to Curme’s explanation, Emolyn in Descriptive English Grammar remarks that descriptive adjective shows an inherent quality, feature, physical state or characteristic of the thing modified (Emolyn, 1950: 74). Further, she states that descriptive adjective may branch into three categories. They arte called as proper adjective, participial adjective, and adjective compounds. In brief, proper adjective is a n adjective derived from a proper noun which is used to describe or define a being or a thing ((Emolyn, 1950: 80). The examples of this category are Spanish eyes, Andalucian pirates, Irish coffee, and so on.
In the second category we have participial adjective that take into two forms: the adjective which is formed by present participle such as an annoying
As Emolyn previously stated, descriptive adjective shows an inherent quality, feature, physical state or characteristic of the thing modified (Emolyn, 1950: 74). To make what Emolyn stated specific, R.H.W. Dixon in Where All The Adjectives Gone? (1982) classifies descriptive adjective into seven more detailed criterions (Dixon, 1982: 115). Nevertheless, in his book, the detailed explanation on the definition of each category of descriptive adjective is insufficient. For this respect, I have considered to find the more specific definition of each category from other relevant books and dictionaries. Here are the seven categories of descriptive adjective as proposed by Dixon:
1. Dimension. As its name implies, a descriptive adjective dimension
specifies the measurement of length, width , thickness, etc. of something (Hornby, 1958: 326). Essentially, it is not so difficult to consider whether an adjective can be classified into the descriptive adjective dimension category or not. As its name suggests, by its very nature, a descriptive adjective dimension tells us a particular information about the measurement or proportion of an object or a thing. Specifically, it characterizes a distinguishable features of something by referring to a certain proportions it possesses like the width (narrow , widened.), length (long, short, etc.), thickness (thick, thin, etc.) and any other measurable proportions it has.
2. Physical Property. the physical property adjective gives a specific
refers to something that can has material existence perceptible through our senses (Mich, 1993: 877).
Accordingly, to be perceptible through our senses means that the words (adjectives) must be appealed to our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch (Guth, 1969: 72). There are many examples that can be taken into this category such as bitter, smooth, cold, loud, rough, hard, soft, and many more. Basically, any particular qualities of an object or a thing that can be perceived by our sensory perceptions (the senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste) can be classified into this category of adjective.
3. Human Propensity. In a simpler term, the word propensity means a natural
tendency that people have to behave in particular way (Sinclair, 2001: 1230). Accordingly, the human propensity adjective can be defined as an adjective that refers to the natural tendency that human beings (people) have to behave in particular way (Sinclair, 2001: idem). There are many examples of adjectives that belong to this category like generous, happy, clever, cruel, proud, afraid, etc. (Dixon, 1982: 15).
4. Colour. As its name suggests, a descriptive adjective denoting colour
5. Age. Specifically, a descriptive adjective denoting age gives specific information about the length of time during which a being or a thing has existed or occurred (Guralnik, 1975: 27). The descriptive adjective denoting age that we commonly used are new, old, and young. Therefore, to say something is new, old, or young, we can refer to the length of time during which it has existed or occurred.
6. Speed. The descriptive adjective denoting speed tells specific
information about the rate of something at which it moves, travels, happens or done (Sinclair, 1995: 768). There are only few examples of descriptive adjective that can be categorized into this category such as: fast, slow, quick and few more items.
7. Value. In a simpler term, the descriptive adjective denoting value
expresses personal evaluation made from an individual or a specific point of view or situation (Gove, 1971: 2530). In other words, it refers to a personal evaluation like good, bad, poor, rich, etc. (Dixon, 1982:15). In addition, Dixon states that most of the adjectives referring to the hyponyms of good and bad like excellent, fine, well, right etc can be classified into the descriptive adjective of value (Dixon, 1982: 15).
ii. Limiting Adjectives
adjective is few enough. In brief, referring to what Curme stated, a limiting adjective restricts the application of the idea expressed by the noun to one or more individuals of the class, or to one or more parts of a whole (Curme, 1966: 18). The example of this class of adjective are these paradise, those papers, this part of the book, and so on.
B. 3. The Use of Descriptive Adjectives in Literary Work
Literature is written to be read and enjoyed. Unlike another genres of textual pieces, literature primarily uses techniques associated to fiction, narration, or story telling, and description, a way to make the events settings, scenes, and characters come alive in the reader’s imagination (Guth, 1969: 79).
Simon and Meyers as stated in The Longman Dictionary of Poetic Terms argue thatone way to make the description used in the story clear and alive is by using the appropriate adjectives. Adjectives modify the noun and produce the dramatic sense in the noun (1982: 182). In particular, adjectives suggest the description of the noun and make the writing clear by the description suggested. The use of adjectives may evoke an imaginative reader a response as exactly as possible, harmonious with the experience which filled the author’s mind as he wrote.
reader is intricated to see the person or scene described in a particular way, leading to the cumulative effects with the imagery and other stylistic devices (1969: 69). Guth also suggests that the effective description could be made through observation.
Correspondingly, to produce an accurate description, the observer, or in this case the writer, has to be able to capture scenes, people, and events effectively. A good description records things that the eyes of ordinary observer pass over. Also, an effective description could be produced by the careful use of language (descriptive adjectives). Hence, an effective description could be observed through its carefully selected diction ( descriptive adjectives), which are both precise and suggestive.
Referring to what S.H. Burton stated in The Criticism of Poetry (Burton, 1974: 11), to substitute adjective with another adjective will reduce the impact of sense and imagination. It implies then, any writing intended to evoke a strong emotional responses to its reader, must be composed in well selected language to build the appropriate emotional responses. To say another way, in this sense, language is then creatively manipulated to create particular emotion. Interestingly, employing the right descriptive adjectives, we may also express something we easily recognize but find hard to communicate.
character sketch, or profile, is the most pleasurable writing activity. Because every human being is like every other human being in some ways, and very different in others, we are always curious about people. This is like what Guth rightly stated in his book that we love to observe people, to make them our acquaintances, and to interact with them. Thus, it is equally interesting too, to read and write about them (Guth, 1969: 74).
Still, in the same book, Guth suggests that the use of adjectives to make a character sketch could be the best way to involve reader’s emotion quickly. He believes, there is something magical about capturing someone’s character in words. Using an appropriate adjectives, we can create a dynamic character, dramatize him, and make him come alive in the audience’s imagination (Guth, 1969: 79). Enough to say, it is interesting to read about people, because nothing can stir our emotions the way people can, we love to read about Potter, Bond, Holmes, Hamlet, an so on.
Moreover, Guth asserts that in literature, descriptive adjectives do not merely convey information, but build up a picture. They bring to mind sounds, textures, odours, and flavours (visual and auditory associations) through description. According to him, the functions of description can be formulated as follows:
Secondly, they help us develop our ability to sort out and select, to attract reader’s attention, and to convey the memorable experience. Lastly, they can also help us to put what we have observed into words, to choose the right words for something we easily recognize, but find hard to communicate (Guth, 1969: 72).
c. Theoretical Framework
To discover the categories and the use of descriptive adjectives in "The Bridal Party”, I operate some applicable theories suitable for the purposes. Considering that this thesis applies stylistic approach in studying the particular effects of the use of descriptive adjectives the writing, first of all, I need to take a closer look to these two particular subjects, style and stylistics. Thus, the various theories on style and stylistics will be brought into discussion. The theories are taken from Cunningham (1966), Short (1996), Stott (2001), Guth (1969), Simpson (2004), Verdonk (2002), and other corresponding theories needed to enrich the required information. All these theories will also be applied in defining the meaning of style and stylistics, knowing the purpose, the use and the principles of stylistics analysis. In particular, basing the theories proposed by Cunningham (1966), Short (1996), and Stott (2001), I can formulate the definition and the range of style. In addition, it is also important to know the definition, the purpose, and the principles in conducting stylistics analysis. In this case, the theories from Short (1996), Richards (1985), and Simpson (2004) would be further elaborated.
make the study specific, I will only be concerned with one particular linguistic feature in the story, the descriptive adjective. As we previously discussed, this thesis is aimed to study the descriptive adjectives used in Fitzgerald’s "The Bridal Party”. In particular, it seeks to find the answers to the following problems: what categories of descriptive adjectives employed in the story and what are the use of these descriptive in the story. Furthermore, in the third part, it is similarly interesting to examine Fitzgerald’s style.
To examine the descriptive adjectives employed in the story, I apply some theories related to the object examined. In the very beginning, it is important to give a brief explanation on the subjects under study, adjectives and descriptive adjective. For this purpose, I choose the theories proposed by Curme (1966) and Simpson (2004) Further explanation on this subject is also needed to make the definition clearer. Thus, to avoid confusion between adjective and other type of word class, an adverb, Richards includes some further characteristics of adjective that distinguish it with an adverb.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
"The Bridal Party" is a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the prominent writer of the 1920’s. written in 1930, this short story was brought to its audience by Penguin Books, England, three years after its first publication. It can be found along with five brilliant stories compiled in Fitzgerald’s fifth short story collection The Lost Decade and Other Stories. The publisher of this volume suggests that all the stories in this compilation are representative not only of the last ten years of Fitzgerald’s writing, but also of his life.
While every attempt has been taken to track the special records, unfortunately, there is not much to say about the work’s special achievements. It is due to the reason that most, if not all, of the attentions have been attributed only to the novels, or the movie versions of Fitzgerald’s works. The more detailed study or discussion concerning this very particular work is little enough. However, the popularity of these short stories are undeniable. Most of his short stories are published in high-priced magazines. One comment comes from the New York Times, as quoted in the opening page of the compilation book:
“He was better than he knew, for in fact and in the literary sense he invented” (Mizener, 1963: cover page).
emotion, employing his blessing gift for language. We are intricated by the powerful emotional touch he put in his work. In this short story, the author effectively illustrates Mick’s struggle to recapture his past love to a girl he had missed for two years. Unfortunately, again, he has to loose her, even for the rest of his life. The girl finally decides to marry the man she engaged to, Hamilton Rutherford. However, despite the irritating reality that Mick fails to regain his love, still, he is well enough to manage his broken feeling. He is eventually relieved as he realizes that the married couple are truly happy with their marriage.
B. Approach of the Study
This thesis is aimed to study the adjectives used in Fitzgerald’s "The Bridal Party”. In specific, the discussion in this thesis is intended to discover the author’s intentions of employing those adjectives to achieve certain stylistic effects to the work. Due to this purpose, I will focus my discussion on two main subjects, the adjective and the style. Considering the very nature of this study, the application of the appropriate approach is undeniably significant. In this case, I apply stylistics approach to analyze the subjects at hand.
In conducting stylistics analysis, it is important to look for information about linguistic features used in the work. In this case, the analysis can be focused on one or some linguistic features available in the text. The various types of linguistic features that can be analyzed are the author’s word choice, word combination, pattern of sound and rhythm, sentence construction and so on. In short, in doing stylistics analysis, it is important to balance the questions about the linguistic features with the considerations about the effects of the piece. (Stott, 2001: 10). The study of that variation in language (style) and the effects the writer wishes to create is called stylistics (Richards, 1985: 227).
To analyze the style of a particular writer or a particular text, the stylisticians should conduct their descriptions and analysis as detailed, as systematic, and as thorough as possible. (Short, 1996: 8). To be more specific, according to Simpson, in doing stylistics analysis, there are three basic principles that we should never fail to observe:
1. Stylistics analysis should be rigorous. It must be based on an explicit framework of analysis, how we process and understand various patterns in language.
3. Stylistics analysis should be replicable. The method should be sufficiently transparent, so that other researchers could verify them, either by testing them on the same text or by applying them beyond that text (Simpson, 2004: 3).
Ideally then, conducting such detailed and systematic analysis, the solution for all questions cited in the problem formulation could be effectively achieved.
C. Method of the Study
The analysis of this thesis was based on library research to collect the data needed in the analysis. There were two kinds of sources used in this thesis. They were primary source and secondary sources. “The Bridal Party”, a short story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald was the primary source used in this thesis. The secondary sources were taken from some books, dictionaries, and other supporting materials like comments and criticisms from experts. These theory were very helpful for me to understand the topic, the work and its author better.
purposeful. This prominent fact had led me to conduct stylistics analysis on adjectives used in the short story.
For the second stage, I collected all theories, comments, and criticisms required to analyze the problems proposed in the problem formulation,. In particular, I applied some theories of adjective, style, and stylistics. Theories on adjective were used in accordance with the two problems mentioned. In this case, I took theories from books like Curme’s English Grammar (1966),Dixon’s Where All the Adjectives Gone? (1982), Emolyn’s Descriptive English Grammar (1950), Richards’ Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics (1985), Guth’s Words and Ideas (1969), and other corresponding theories. These theories were aimed to provide a better understanding about the definition of adjective, or in particular, the descriptive adjective, its classification and also its functions in (literary) writing.
(1989) and other relevant theories could help me in formulating the function of adjectives in literary writing.
CHAPTER VI
ANALYSIS
This thesis seeks to examine the use of descriptive adjectives in Fitzgerald’s "The Bridal Party". To make the discussion in this thesis more systematic, I divide the analysis into three parts. For the first part, I classify the adjectives found in the text based on the categories proposed by Dixon.
Having classified the descriptive adjectives found in the text, in the second part, I will try to examine the use of those adjectives in the story. Lastly, in the third part, I attempt to examine Fitzgerald’s prose style in accordance with the choice of words (diction) of the descriptive adjectives he employed in his work. After all, having completed the analysis, I will try to draw the conclusion of this thesis.
A. The Categories of Descriptive Adjectives used in "The Bridal Party"
As Curme clearly stated in English Grammar (1966). Basically, there are two classes of adjectives, descriptive, and limiting (Curme, 1966: 18). It is stated that descriptive adjective expresses either the kind or condition or state of the living being or lifeless thing such as a good boy , a tall man, a sick girl, etc. (Curme, 1966: ibid). In other hand, Curme explained that a limiting adjective, without expressing any idea or kind or condition, limits the application of the idea expressed by the noun to one or more individuals of the class, or to one or more parts of a whole like, that boy , this book, this part of the country and so on (Curme et al, 1966:18).
Considering that literature is the representation of the writer’s expression of language, it is reasonable that the contribution or the use of descriptive adjective in literary writing is more significant rather than a limiting adjective. As Curme previously stated, a limiting adjective does not express any idea, kind, or condition of the noun. For this respect, the analysis of this thesis will only be concerned on the use of descriptive adjective in the story.
classified, and counted all descriptive adjectives used in the short story, I provided the data of the total number of the occurrence of each category of descriptive adjectives in the following table:
Table 1
The Occurrence of Descriptive Adjective in "The Bridal Party"
No Category Total Percent-age (%)
1 Dimension 20 09.95
2 Physical Property 39 19.40 3 Human Propensity 82 40.79
4 Colour 6 02.98
5 Age 20 09.95
6 Speed 5 02.48
7 Value 29 14.42
Total 201 99.97
1. Dimension
In the course of literary writing, the descriptive adjective can be creatively used to make the description of the noun clearer. One way to make the description of the noun clearer is by the proper use of descriptive adjective dimension. In particular , the descriptive adjective dimension specifies the measurement of length, width , thickness, etc. of something (Hornby, 1958: 326).
Having collected all descriptive adjectives used in the short story (see appendix 1), classified them based on the categories proposed by Dixon, and counted their distributions in the short story, it is found that Fitzgerald occasionally uses this particular kind of adjective in his work. Specifically, there are 20 adjectives (09.95 %) that can be classified into descriptive adjective dimension. To make the analysis of the examples used in the next discussion be more systematic, I managed to include the number of the page of all phrases provided in the tables. Below is the list of adjectives that can be classified into the descriptive adjective dimension.
Table 2.a. Dimension
Page Phrase/Sentence Containing Adjectives Total
90 Fat back 1
To say another way, the dimension descriptive adjective tells the specific information about the particular aspects of the proportion of an object, person, or any living being or lifeless thing like in a gigantic cocktail (p. 80) and the tall window (p. 90). In specific, gigantic and tall respectively specify the size of the cocktail and the height of the window.
Basically, it is not so difficult to consider whether an adjective can be classified into the descriptive adjective dimension category or not. As its name suggests, by its very nature, a descriptive adjective dimension tells us a particular information about the measurement or proportion of an object or a thing. Specifically, it characterizes a distinguishable features of a something by referring to a certain proportions it possesses like the width (narrow , widened.), length (long, short, etc.), thickness (thick, thin, etc.) and any other measurable proportions it has.
2. Physical Property
As its name suggests, the physical property adjective gives a specific information about the physical characteristics or properties (structure, shape, etc, ) of something that can be touched and seen (Sinclair, 2001: 1155). In addition, in Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary it is stated that the word physical also refers to something that can has material existence that perceptible especially through the senses (Mich, 1993: 877).
It implies then, to be perceptible through our senses means that the words (adjectives) must appeal to our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch (Guth, 1969: 72). There are many examples that can be taken into this category such as bitter, smooth, cold, loud, rough, hard, soft, and many more. Having classified all descriptive adjectives found in the story, it is found that there are 39 (19.40 %) physical property adjectives used in the story. Here are the list of this particular type of adjectives:
Table 2.b. Physical Property
Page Phrase/Sentence Containing Adjectives Total
75 His fine sharp profile 1
75 To be very dirty 1
75 Something pathetic, futile, shabby 1
81 Her cool and tender grey eyes 2
point clearer, here are the examples of adjectives that may represent each category of human’s sensory perceptions:
The Human Sensory Perceptions
Type of Senses
Example
Sight Dirty, shabby, attractive, handsome, bright, etc.
Smell Pungent, horrid, fragrant, odorous, etc. Taste Sour, sweet, bitter, salty, etc.
Hearing Loud, hoarse, tinkling, husky, etc.
Touch Cold, hot, rough, warm, etc.
However, the sense most appealed, of course, is the sense of sight. Because in our daily life, we experience most of our experiences through our senses of sight (eyes). Applying adjectives that may suggest various sensory responses, the description of the physical features of an object or a thing in the story can be made more effective and suggestive. In the story, this particular category of adjective are proportionally distributed to suggest a continuous sensory responses to the readers. Specifically, the physical property descriptive adjective could be easily found in the passages or sentences that Fitzgerald thinks necessary to put physical details of his characters or objects in his story.
3. Human Propensity
particular type of adjective is 40.79 % (82 adjectives), or almost a half of the total descriptive adjectives used in the text.
In a simpler term, the word propensity means a natural tendency that people have to behave in particular way (Sinclair, 2001: 1230). Accordingly, the human propensity adjective can be defined as an adjective that refers to the natural tendency that human beings (people) have to behave in particular way (Sinclair, 2001: idem). There are many examples of adjectives that belong to this category like generous, happy, clever, cruel, proud, afraid, etc. (Dixon, 1982: 15). Further examples of this particular type of adjectives can be seen in the following table:
Table 2.c. Human Propensity
Page Phrase/Sentence Containing Adjectives Total
75 Insincere note 1
75 Michael was afraid 1
75 His pleasant buoyancy 1
75 He would never be happy 1
75 Something pathetic, futile 2
76 Vitally attractive, confident, authoritative 2
82 I felt sorry 1
89 Michaels’s hungry, tragic, unpleading 3
79 Two confident men
1
In the story, Fitzgerald uses the human propensity descriptive adjective most frequently because he knows that the application of this category of descriptive adjective will make the characterization of the characters in his story be more alive and interesting. He believes that most of the readers love to read about people. Nothing can stir their emotions the way people can. It is relevant to what White rightly states that the best way to involve the readers’ emotions quickly is by making a dynamic and dramatic characters using vivid language (White, 1985:74). Applying this particular type of adjective, Fitzgerald can effectively capture the characters’ feelings or emotions along with their personal traits or tendencies.
4. Colour
complete list of these particular kind of adjectives can be illustrated in the following table:
Table 2.d. Colour
Page Phrase/Sentence Containing Adjectives Total
81 Her cool and tender grey eyes 1
From the table above, it is shown that the occurrence of this type of descriptive adjective in the story is few enough. Specifically, there are only 6 (2.98 %) adjectives denoting colour found in the text. Essentially, it is due to the reason that the power of this story lies in the character’s sketch the writer skilfully elaborated in the story. For this respect, it is reasonable then, if the writer will only select adjectives that may effectively help him to make the powerful and interesting characters in his story. Consequently, the application of descriptive adjective denoting colour itself is less significant, since it does not have so much to do with the character’s personal traits, tendencies, and feelings.
5. Age
27). The examples of this category of adjective that we commonly used are new, young, old and just a few more items (Dixon, 1982: 15). Accordingly, we can say something is young, old, or new, by pointing to the length of time during which it has existed or occurred. In particular, there are 20 (9.95 %) adjectives denoting age found in the short story.
Table 2.e. Age
No Phrase/Sentence Contained Adjectives Total
75 Her young heart 1
adjectives denoting age, Fitzgerald has been able to suggest a kind of variety in describing the characters and objects he created in his story.
6. Speed
The least frequently used of descriptive adjective in the text is the descriptive adjective denoting speed. This particular kind of adjective is scarcely distributed in the story. Totally, there are only 5 adjectives denoting speed (2.48 %) that are used in the story. As its name implies, the descriptive adjective speed tells specific information about the rate of something at which it moves, travels, happens or done (Sinclair, 1995: 768). A few examples that can be categorized into this kind of adjectives are fast, quick, slow, and few more items (Dixon, 1982: 15). The occurrence of this category of adjective can be examined in the following table:
Table 2.f. Speed
No Phrase/Sentence Contained Adjectives Total
76 A quick of series 1
91 Slow drift 1
75 Imminent marriage 1
82 A short telephone 1
93 The quick stream of champagne 1
Total 5
From the table above, The descriptive adjective imminent in imminent
In “The Bridal Party” love becomes the predominant theme in the story. For this reason, the details of the characters or the objects movements in the story might not become the writer’s primary concern. In other hand, the descriptive adjective denoting speed might be more creatively elaborated in other kinds of fictional writings, say for example, in an action story. For this reason, the distribution of this very kind of descriptive adjective in “The Bridal Part” is strictly limited.
7. Value
The last category of descriptive adjective used in the story is the descriptive adjective denoting value. Specifically, the descriptive adjective value expresses personal evaluation made from an individual or a specific point of view or situation (Gove, 1971: 2530). To say another way, it refers to a personal evaluation like good, bad, poor, rich, etc. (Dixon, 1982:15). In the story, the occurrence of this particular category of adjective is quite significant. Totally, there are 29 adjectives (14.42 %) that can be classified into this category of adjective. The list of this kind of descriptive adjective can be illustrated in the table below:
Table 2.g. Value
No Phrase/Sentence Contained Adjectives Total
75 His fine, sharp profile 1
79 The people were rich 1
79 Important role 1
80 The best of the world’s goods 1
83 They’re finer 1
B. The Use of Descriptive Adjective in "The Bridal Party”
This part of the analysis is intended to examine the use of descriptive adjectives in " The Bridal Party ". As it already discussed in the previous part, the data analysis show that totally, there are 201 descriptive adjectives used in the story. Descriptive adjective as its name implies, is used to describe or express any idea, kind, or condition of the nouns it modifies.
Furthermore, referring to the categories proposed by Dixon, it is found that there are seven categories of descriptive adjectives employed in the story. They are the descriptive adjectives dimension, physical property, human propensity, colour, age, speed, and value. Now, in this section, I will try to examine the use of these categories of descriptive adjectives in the story,
1. Dimension
The glasses were filled and emptied faster now, and men were shouting at one another across the narrow table. Against the hall, a group of ushers was being photographed and the flash light surged through the room in a stiffing cloud. (Fitzgerald, 1963: 85).
Fitzgerald intentionally chooses the dimension adjective narrow to make the description of the Ritz bar’s furniture more realistic or concrete. It verifies the specific proportion of the noun table. Using noun modifier narrow, it will be easier for the reader to imagine or to define what kind of table it is. The omission of the adjective narrow , consequently, will reduce the effectiveness of the description of the object depicted (table). In other words, there is no specific reference about the size or the proportion of the object described. Simply, there is nothing to say about the particular characteristic of the Ritz bar ‘s table. Therefore, in this case, the application of dimension adjective narrow is undeniably significant and purposeful. Also, the dimension adjectives can make the visualization of the object described clearer.
2. Physical Property
In composing "The Bridal Party", Fitzgerald can also make the description of the noun another way, by the proper use of physical property adjectives. It is assumed that the application of one kind of adjective alone is not sufficient in explaining all objects, characters, settings, and events found in the story. Thus, he may select these particular type of adjectives to refer to the structure and shape of something that can be touched, smell, heard, tasted, and seen using our sensory perceptions (Guth, 1969: 72). Let us see how this particular category of adjectives is creatively employed in the work:
Hamilton Rutherford blinked and his mouth felt ajar, then slowly the lips came together in a straight line and he said in a crisp voice. (Fitzgerald, 1983:86).
property adjectives will make the character’s action more dramatic and be alive in the readers’ imagination.
It is true then, by selecting the most appropriate physical property adjectives that may appeal to the reader’s imagination, Fitzgerald has been successfully created the sense of intimacy to his readers. To this extent, the readers are intrigued to be imaginatively involved in the fictional world he has created. Employing adjectives that appealed to the reader’s sensory perceptions, the reader may experience the character’s feeling and action. In addition, he can also make his reader to visualize objects, people, settings, and events in the story imaginatively.
3. Human Propensity
The greatest number of descriptive adjectives used in the story is found in the human propensity descriptive adjectives category. Totally, in the story, there are 82 (40.79 %) adjectives that can be classified into this particular category of descriptive adjectives. As its name suggests, this kind of descriptive adjectives is primarily used for the characterization in the story.
Accordingly, the characterization in “The Bridal Party” could be made effective by the proper use of human propensity adjectives. The application of this particular kind of adjectives could help him in portraying his characters interestingly and lively. To make this point clear, let us now take a closer look to the following example:
From the above passage, it can be seen that to make Caroline’s description more interesting and alive Fitzgerald chooses the human propensity adjective tired and upset to suit his purpose. Specifically, these adjectives are chosen to reveal Caroline’s feelings. Fitzgerald knows that there is something interesting about the character’s feelings or emotions. Because, there is nothing can stir the readers emotions the way people can (Guth, 1969: 74). It is relevant to what White rightly states that the best way to involve the readers’ emotions quickly is by making a dynamic and dramatic characters using vivid language (White, 1985: 74). Applying this particular type of adjective, Fitzgerald can effectively capture the characters’ feelings or emotions along with their personal traits or tendencies.
4. Colour
In The Bridal Party”, descriptive adjectives are not merely used to convey specific information about the nouns they modify. They also bring to the readers’ minds sounds, textures, smells, flavours, and sights through description (Guth, 1069: 72). Accordingly, it is impossible for Fitzgerald to describe anything in the story without appealing at last one of the five senses.
effectiveness of the description of the nouns they modify. The example of the application of this category of descriptive adjectives can be examined in the following passage:
She was lovely in a dress of thin ethereal blue, and the proximity of her crackly yellow hair, of her cool and tender grey eyes. (Fitzgerald, 1963: 81).
In the passage, the descriptive adjectives denoting colour yellow and grey are chosen to describe Caroline’s hair and eyes. Fitzgerald selects this kind of adjectives to suggest a sort of visual sensation to enable his readers distinguishing objects or thins by referring to the colours they have. As its name implies, the descriptive adjective denoting colour specify the aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources that may be described and specified in terms derivable wholly from one’s perception (Gove, 1981: 447). To put the point another way, it suggests a sort of visual sensation or perception that enables one to distinguish objects or things by referring to the colours they posses. Thus, from the above passage, it is possible then for the readers to distinguish Caroline’s distinctive appearance, with other characters in the story. Using this particular type of adjective, Fitzgerald has been able to encourage his reader to visualize Caroline’s appearance with great clarity.
5. Age
contrast the characters or objects found in the story. Specifically, Fitzgerald applies this kind of descriptive adjective to provide the readers information about the length of time during which a person or an object has lived, occurred, or existed. The data analysis shows that the descriptive adjective denoting age that are most predominantly used are new, old, and young. For a further illustration, let us consider the following passage:
Michael was surprised to find what a difference his new dinner coat, his new silk hat, his new proud linen made in his estimate of himself.
Now, let us consider the second passage:
Michael glanced nervously as four people came in,. He felt that his dinner coat was old and shiny, he had ordered a new one this morning.
The first passage depicts Michael’s feeling as he recognizes his new appearance. He has now be able to buy himself a better clothes to wear. Michael is now no longer a poor man with a shabby, old and shiny dinner coat (passage 2). By the inheritance he got from his grandmother, he is now be able to afford a new dinner coat, a new silk hat, and a new proud linen. Specifically, the descriptive adjective denoting age can be used to make the distinction about the state, kind, condition, of the characters and objects in the story be more clear.
6. Speed
that the events might have happened. Accordingly, to suit the purpose, the application of descriptive adjective denoting speed is undeniably significant to help him describing his characters’ gestures, movements, and actions.
Michael needed a drink. He couldn’t face the reception line without a drink. He asked for the bar. But. How did it happen? The bar was full. By and by Michael joined the long, slow drift of the receiving line. (Fitzgerald, 1963: 91).
The above passage illustrates the situation in the Georges-Cinq bar that was crowded by men and women from the wedding ceremony, all needing a drink. To depict such situation, Fitzgerald rightly chooses the descriptive adjective denoting speed slow to enable his readers to imagine the crowd of the receiving line in the bar. The crowd is effectively illustrated by the slow movement of the receiving line. In this respect, the readers are persuaded to believe that the event in the Georges-Cinq bar is really happened.
In the story, Fitzgerald applies this category of descriptive adjective particularly to describe the gestures, movements, and the actions of the characters or any objects he recounts in the story. Specifically, these adjectives may be elaborately used to give the readers information about the rate of something at which it moves, travels, happens, or done (Sinclair, 2001: 769).
7. Value
short story is by then different with those used in non-literary writing. In composing his work, Fitzgerald has more freedom in cultivating his blessing gift for language. He may chooses to write subjectively (unaffected by outside factors) using coloured (literary) language, rather than to write objectively ( not influenced by personal feelings), using plain language.
For this respect, Fitzgerald may creatively apply the descriptive adjective value to express his subjective or personal evaluation, comment, judgement, or opinion about the characters he recounts in the story. Specifically, he may select some adjectives like good, bad, fine, excellent, poor, rich , etc. to suit the purpose. The application of this particular kind of descriptive adjective can be examine in the following passage:
I could kill him without a qualm, ‘ he said pleasantly, ‘but he looks like a good man. He’s fine, what I want to know is, what happens to people like me who aren’t be able to forget? (Fitzgerald, 1963: 81).
However, Michael’s personal opinion on Rutherford’s characters is not necessarily implies Rutherford’s true personality. In other words, he might not as good and as nice as Michael says, because everybody might have different opinion or point of view on Rutherford’s personality. So to speak, Michael’s what Michael says about Rutherford is more personal rather than objective. In the imaginary writing, the writer has more freedom to elaborate a subjective evaluation on the characters or objects he creates in his fictional world. Accordingly, a descriptive adjective value can be richly cultivated to express an evaluation made from an individual or a special point of view or in an individual or special situation (Gove, 1981: 2530).
C. Fitzgerald’s Style
According to Peter Verdonk, essentially, the main purpose of the study of style is to find the writer’s underlying reasons in selecting a certain linguistic feature to achieve a particular effects in the writing (Verdonk, 2002: xiii). Accordingly this section will seek to examine Fitzgerald ‘s intentions of applying descriptive adjective in his writing, especially in concern with the particular effects it may suggest on the work.
