LEECH AND SHORT’S MODEL: A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF SHAFAK’S THE ISLAND OF MISSING TREES

Abstract

The objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive stylistic analysis of Shafak’s novel The Island of Missing Trees by examining the various figures of speech employed throughout the text. Stylistics, as a field of study, plays a vital role in understanding the diverse forms and expressions that writing can take, making it of significant interest to linguists. The novel, The Island of Missing Trees explores profound themes of love, identity crisis, human nature relationship and nostalgia, encompassing distinct six parts such as the  How to Bury a Tree, Roots, Trunk, Branches, Ecosystem, How to Unbury a Tree. To analyze the text effectively, the study employs the heuristic checklist of linguistic and stylistic categories devised by Leech and Short (2007), allowing for a critical assessment of linguistic descriptions. Through this examination, the study reveals that the author skillfully employs various figures of speech, including simile, metaphor, anaphora, Onomatopoeia, personification, and alliteration to vividly portray ideas and thoughts within the novel. By providing an in-depth analysis of these stylistic elements, this study sheds light on the literary techniques employed in The Island of Missing Trees and their impact on the reader's interpretation and engagement with the text.