The Body Snatcher

THE BODY SNATCHER

by: Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

Choose a short passage/poem from your favourite author. Look closely at their writing style. For example, What are their sentences like? What sort of words do they use? How do they describe people and events? Do they/How do they use dialogue?

Write a short passage in the style of this author on a topic of your choice. Be prepared to come to class on Monday 18th February, and:

1. Read part of your chosen passage

2. Explain what appeals to you about this author’s writing style

3. Read out your own piece of writing

4. Talk briefly about what you have chosen to copy and what you have decided to do differently

'Macfarlane!' he said somewhat loudly, more like a herald than a friend.

The great doctor pulled up short on the fourth step, as though the familiarity of the address surprised and somewhat shocked his dignity.

'Toddy Macfarlane!' repeated Fettes.

The London man almost staggered. He stared for the swiftest of seconds at the man before him, glanced behind him with a sort of scare, and then in a startled whisper, 'Fettes!' he said, 'You!'

'Ay,' said the other, 'me! Did you think I was dead too? We are not so easy shut of our acquaintance.'

I chose this particular passage because of its relative simplicity, in comparison to other passages in the story. I thought it be more appropriate for the task, and allow me to focus more primarily on the sentence structure as opposed to the use of complex language and vocabulary.

The passage above was taken from the work of Robert Louis Stevenson: THE BODY SNATCHER.

Stevenson's sentences in THE BODY SNATCHER are quite long and where two sentences could exist, becomes instead one sentence in the form of separate clauses linked with the use of either a comma or semicolon. This is basically his style, which allows him to better describe the subject as a whole: this could include a person, an object, some other people, and eventually leading up to the main event. We see this used frequently in the passage below, taken from THE BODY SNATCHER. If instead of these semicolons, period, the tone of the reader's voice would not achieve...

It was but two steps from the small parlour to the door of the old George Inn; the wide oak staircase landed almost in the street; there was room for a Turkey rug and nothing more between the threshold and the last round of the descent; but this little space was every evening brilliantly lit up, not only by the light upon the stair and the great signal-lamp below the sign, but by the warm radiance of the bar-room window. The George thus brightly advertised itself to passers-by in the cold street. Fettes walked steadily to the spot, and we, who were hanging behind, beheld the two men meet, as one of them had phrased it, face to face. Dr. Macfarlane was alert and vigorous. His white hair set off his pale and placid, although energetic, countenance. He was richly dressed in the finest of broadcloth and the whitest of linen, with a great gold watch-chain, and studs and spectacles of the same precious material. He wore a broad-folded tie, white and speckled with lilac, and he carried on his arm a comfortable driving-coat of fur. There was no doubt but he became his years, breathing, as he did, of wealth and consideration; and it was a surprising contrast to see our parlour sot -- bald, dirty, pimpled, and robed in his old camlet cloak - confront him at the bottom of the stairs.

The words used in the top passage reflect a writing style, reminiscent of many great novelists during the 19th century. Words such as somewhat, which aren't frequently noted in todays society. Since the story was written, new names have been made for words that appear in the story and in fact right throughout the 19th century. For example, herald is a word which, today would mean the equivalent of a courier, or delivery person. Once one has accustomed ones self to the extensive use of these old words, it becomes far easier to understand the majority of what is written, especially since the use of such words is so frequent.

'Ay,' said the other, 'me! Did you think I was dead too? We are not so easy shut of our acquaintance.'

This is my favourite sentence of the passage. Stevenson has chosen words to build suspense: we are not so easy shut of our acquaintance. This one statement gives us a detailed image of their relationship, and sets the scene for the remainder of the story.

Stevenson describes people by simply attaching a title to their name. For example:

'EVERY night in the year, four of us sat in the small parlour of the George at Debenham вЂ" the undertaker, and the landlord, and Fettes, and myself. Sometimes there would be more; but blow high, blow low, come rain or snow or frost, we four would be each planted in his own particular arm-chair. Fettes was an old drunken Scotchman, a man of education obviously, and a man of some property, since he lived in idleness. He had come to Debenham years ago, while still young, and by a mere continuance of living had grown to be an adopted townsman. His blue camlet cloak was a local antiquity, like the church-spire. His place in the parlour at the George, his absence from church, his old, crapulous, disreputable vices, were all things of course in Debenham. He had some vague Radical opinions and some fleeting infidelities, which he would now and again set forth and emphasise with tottering slaps upon the table. He drank rum вЂ"five glasses regularly every evening; and for the greater portion of his nightly visit to the George sat, with his glass in his right hand, in a state of melancholy alcoholic saturation. We called him the Doctor, for he was supposed to have some special knowledge of medicine, and had been known, upon a pinch, to set a fracture or reduce a dislocation; but beyond these slight particulars, we had no knowledge of his character and antecedents.'

The undertaker (one whose business lies