Complex sentences in Robert Coover's Chicago Cryptogram : a stylistic Study

Abstract EN

Complex sentences are grammatical features used by writers of literature, including short fiction, as means for achieving their themes, portraying their characters and describing their events.

This study is an attempt at making an analysis of Robert Coover's stylistically effective uses of complex sentences in his short story Chicago Cryptogram from his collection A Child Again 2005.

In other words, this study aims at investigating Coover's individual style of complex sentences.

In this study, each complex sentence in the above-mentioned short story is analysed according to the number of clauses it contains.

This analysis is based on Leech and Short's analysis model 1981.

It is concluded that by means of complex sentences, Robert Coover conveys his complex ideas.

Subordinate clauses have a higher ratio of clauses than main clauses because the supporting and modifying ideas are more than the principal ones.

Also, the most complex sentences are made use of to describe characters and their activities, besides key events in the story.