Syntax In Kindred

Syntax is the specific arrangement and order of words and phrases in English writing. Changing just the position of one word can possibly change the meaning of an entire sentence. The syntax of the novel Kindred by Octavia E. Butler is short, clear, and direct. Butler conveys her images and ideas very straightforwardly and direct. She uses easy, readable language with no unnecessary dragging or words, using very few adjectives and adverbs. She gets to the point quickly. The graphic novel adaptation of Kindred, originally written by Octavia E. Butler but illustrated and adapted by Damian Duffy and John Jennings, is a comic version of the novel that is even easier to read and follow. The book is the first-person narration of a young African-American

The tone of the novel is very blunt and direct which makes it much easier for the reader to understand and get into. Tone refers to the author’s writing style and use of words to convey their attitude or feelings towards a topic. The tone of the author refers more to their attitude which is different from their voice, voice refers to their personality. Butler’s tone in the novel is very direct, but also melancholic. The story also includes a number of allusions, metaphors, symbolism, imagery, and more. Examples of these symbols and metaphors include the main character Dana being almost a caregiver to the character Rufus. She is a symbol of what keeps him alive throughout the whole novel. But, she later becomes the “object of his obsessive love” (Butler). Examples of allusions in the novel include the references historical references and literary references as well. California joining the U.S.A. is one example of an allusion the author uses in the novel, another is the reference to John Quincy

The masters or slave owners in the 1800s time period Dana would travel back to used violence as a means of control, conveying the feeling of fear to slaves at the time, forcing them to change and obey their masters to avoid being hit. The whips in Kindred are a large form of symbolism given to the reader by the author. Whips symbolize the white man’s power and capability, as well as willingness, for violence. To add, Butler seems to want the readers to understand the white men with their whips are really the men in the novel to be feared by the slaves. The novel continuously makes use of strong emotions. Dana comes to face with so many misfortunes throughout the novel, being continuously whipped and beaten, and almost even raped and killed. The way the author Butler tells the story relies on the main character Dana and her ability to time travel. The metaphor of time travel is used highly in this novel, it is used to show the passage of time but to also show how easy it is for people to get used to the idea and existence of slavery. All while Dana gets used to time travel and slavery as