syntax !

Blog #3: Syntax

= Short, fragmented sentences: “The story ran through the Bear Flag. It was told in the canneries. At La Ida drunks discussed it virtuously. Lee Chong refused to comment” (140).

= Loose sentences: “The frog pool was square—fifty feet wide and seventy feet long and four feet deep” (92)

= “Doc opened a bottle and poured gently into a glass, holding it at an angle so that very little collar rose to the top” (131).

= Revision of thoughts: “Mary, Talbot, Mrs. Tom Talbot, that is…” (151).

The majority of the novel is written with a specific syntax that reflects the tangential thoughts and actions of Steinbeck and his characters. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck makes use of short, fragmented sentences, loose sentence structure, and revision of thoughts to display this style. The fragmented sentences allow Steinbeck to paint a picture of the daily lives of those living in Cannery Row in a seemingly digressive manner, while the loose sentences allow him to elaborate on these images and create a broader illustration. Finally, Steinbeck’s constant revision of his own thoughts portrayed on paper contributes to a more realistic feel of the novel, for when we as readers can see the thought process of the author, his message becomes much clearer. Put together, these different sentence types make up a great part of Steinbeck’s descriptive and detailed writing style. Steinbeck meanders from the central plot on several occasions, but in doing so, provides detailed descriptions and uses imagery to give readers an extended, more authentic view of the older California lifestyle.