Composition (language)
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| - | :''[[first sentence]]'' | + | The term '''Composition,''' in written language, refers to the skill or art of creating written works or pieces of [[literature]]. This can be in the form of [[poetry]], [[drama]], [[essay]]s or [[prose]]. |
| - | At the beginning of a [[Composition (language)|composition]] stands the '''opening sentence'''. Considered "most important", the opening sentence needs to entice the reader and sets the subject, the tone and possibly the style for the whole work, although this does not have to be obvious. [[David Lodge (author)|David Lodge]] describes the opening sentence as the "threshold" of the novel. The opening line is part or all of the opening sentence that may start the [[lead paragraph]]. For older texts the Latin term "[[incipit]]" (it begins) is in use for the very first words of the opening sentence. | + | |
| - | As in speech, a personal document such as a letter starts with a [[Salutation (greeting)|salutation]]; this, however, tends not to be the case in [[document]]s, [[article]]s, [[essay]]s, [[poetry]], [[lyrics]], and general works of [[fiction]] and [[nonfiction]]. In nonfiction, the opening sentence generally points the reader to the subject under discussion directly in a matter-of-fact style. In journalism, the opening line needs to stimulate the reader's interest already aroused by the [[headline]]. It is in fiction where the art of the opening sentence flourishes as authors have much liberty in the way they can cast the beginning; they need, however, to attract attention, arouse curiosity, and entice, lest they lose their audience. | + | In [[fiction writing]], composition includes, but is not limited to, |
| - | Techniques to hold the reader's attention include keeping the opening sentence to the point, showing attitude, shocking, and being controversial. One of the most famous opening lines, "[[It was the best of times, it was the worst of times]] ...", starts a sentence of 118 words that draws the reader in by its contradiction; the first sentence of ''[[Yes (novel)|Yes]]'' even contains 477 words. "[[Call me Ishmael]]" is an example of a short opening sentence that grabs the reader immediately. Formulaic openings are generally eschewed, but expected in certain genres, thus "[[Once upon a time]]...". | + | *[[Outline]], the organization of thoughts and/or ideas which is used to determine organizational technique |
| + | *[[Plot (narrative)|Plot]], the course or arrangement of events | ||
| + | *[[Theme (literature)|Theme]], the unifying subject or idea | ||
| + | *[[Dialogue]], a reciprocal [[conversation]] between two or more persons | ||
| + | *[[Characterization]], the process of creating [[Fictional character|characters]] | ||
| + | *[[setting (fiction)|Setting]], the time and location in which the composition takes place | ||
| + | *Description, [[definition]]s of [[thing]]s in the composition | ||
| + | *[[stylistics (linguistics)|Style]], specifically, the linguistic style of the composition | ||
| + | *[[Setting tone]] or mood, conveying one or more emotions or feelings through words | ||
| + | *[[writer's voice|Voice]], the individual writing style of the [[author]] | ||
| + | *[[tone (literary)|Tone]], which encompasses the attitudes toward the subject and toward the audience | ||
| - | Inspired by the opening, "[[It was a dark and stormy night]]...", the annual tongue-in-cheek [[Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest]] invites entrants to compose "the opening sentence of the worst of all possible novels", and its derivative, the [[Lyttle Lytton Contest]], for its equivalent in brevity. | + | ==See also== |
| - | + | * [[Composition studies]] | |
| - | The opening sentence may sometimes be also used as the title for the work, e.g. ''[[Everything I Possess I Carry With Me]]''; [[papal encyclical]]s and [[papal bull|bull]]s are titled according to their incipits. | + | * [[Conference on College Composition and Communication]] |
| + | * [[Kishotenketsu]] | ||
| + | * [[Non-linear writing]] | ||
| + | * [[Writing process]] | ||
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Revision as of 07:57, 5 April 2010
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The term Composition, in written language, refers to the skill or art of creating written works or pieces of literature. This can be in the form of poetry, drama, essays or prose.
In fiction writing, composition includes, but is not limited to,
- Outline, the organization of thoughts and/or ideas which is used to determine organizational technique
- Plot, the course or arrangement of events
- Theme, the unifying subject or idea
- Dialogue, a reciprocal conversation between two or more persons
- Characterization, the process of creating characters
- Setting, the time and location in which the composition takes place
- Description, definitions of things in the composition
- Style, specifically, the linguistic style of the composition
- Setting tone or mood, conveying one or more emotions or feelings through words
- Voice, the individual writing style of the author
- Tone, which encompasses the attitudes toward the subject and toward the audience
See also
- Composition studies
- Conference on College Composition and Communication
- Kishotenketsu
- Non-linear writing
- Writing process
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Composition (language)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
