Functional Stylistic Analysis Of Barn Burning

As linguistics forms the theoretical basis of stylistics, the development of linguistic theories contributes to the development of new stylistics such as formal stylistics, functional stylistics and discourse stylistics which are the application of linguistic theories. Functional stylistics is based on the Hallidayan Systemic-Functional Grammar which goes beyond language itself and deals with the social environment of language and considers language system a meaning potential. The functional stylistics analyzes language in terms of Hallidayan three metafunctions, namely, ideational function, interpersonal function and textual function. It plays a more and more important role in analyzing language materials.William Faulkner (1897---1962) was a major writer in American literature and an important representative of Southern literature in that his works attracted lots of audiences'attention. All the novel writing techniques like the stream of consciousness, the multiple point of view, the narrative technique influence many writers at that time. The southerners'special humor, the unequal stand of the black and the white as well as the vivid images of the southerners are displayed in his works.The language under close examination is taken from Barn Burning written by William Faulkner in 1939 which won him the first O'Henry Memorial Prize. It is viewed as one of his famous short novels. However, the focus of the study of his works is mainly on a number of his more popular compositions, such as The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, Absalom, Absalom! Light in August, A Rose for Emily. The studies about Barn Burning are on the aspect of the image of fathers in the novel, the loyalty or betrayal attitude towards the South and the multiple point of view narration technique. Therefore, a systemic analysis with the application of functional stylistics is necessary.The first part of the thesis gives a generalization of the basic theories of systemic-functional grammar and functional stylistics. The author makes a tentative research on applying Hallidayan metafunctions to the stylistic analysis of Barn Burning, from the perspectives of transitivity system, mood system, modal system, thematic structure and cohesion system. The purpose is to show the mental transformation of the heroes and the power relationship between heroes, etc. Meanwhile it shows the functional analysis can provide linguistic proof for insight into the themes of the literary works. The narratology analysis forms a supplementary study into better understanding this novel.The study of this novel bears the three aims. In the first place, this research will analyze the personalities of the characters in the novel and furthermore, understand the deep meaning of the novel which is often ignored by readers. In this way, the stylistic features will be displayed. On the second place, this study implies the model of systemic- functional stylistics to the analysis of the literary language. The great number of analyses in the thesis will prove systemic-functional stylistics as a useful tool of explaining literary works. On the third place, the analysis of Barn Burning using the model of the systemic-functional stylistics should be helpful in better understanding this great work, and thus be helpful in learning English.