EL 3221: Literary Stylistics 10th (Online) Tutorial (With lots of thanks to Dr Peter Tan!)

Discussion date: 8^th November 2005

Relevant lecture notes: 22, 23 & 24. This was an examination question for the year 1990-91, when Dr Tan co-lectured this course with me.

Attempt a stylistic analysis of the following passage from Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, commenting on its significant linguistic and/or literary features. In particular, you should attempt to answer at least some of these questions:
1) How are Gus and Ben characterised by their use of language?
2) How useful is a knowledge of Gricean principles and speech act theory in elucidating the passage?
3) What is the meaning of the passage? Are there any difficulties in your analysis of its meaning?

Note that questions 1) and 3) cover more ground than just pragmatics. You may use anything that you know from this module to answer question 1). Question 3) covers what you know of meaning in general, and what you may have learned from your other courses, in addition to this module. Both Austin and Searle are relevant for a discussion of speech acts; in fact, for this question, you should put more weightage on the later Searlean incarnation of the concept.
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        Pause. An envelope slides under the door, right. GUS sees it.
        He stands, looking at it.

GUS. Ben.
BEN. Away. They're all playing away.
GUS. Ben, look here.
BEN. What?
GUS. Look.

          BEN turns his head and sees the envelope. He stands.

BEN. What's that?
GUS. I don't know.
BEN. Where did it come from?
GUS. Under the door.
BEN. Well, what is it?
GUS. I don't know.

          They stare at it.

BEN. Pick it up.
GUS. What do you mean?
BEN. Pick it up!

          GUS slowly moves towards it, bends and picks it up.
          What is it?
GUS. An envelope.
BEN. Is there anything on it?
GUS. No.
BEN. Is it sealed?
GUS. Yes.
BEN. Open it.
GUS. what?
BEN. Open it!

          GUS opens it and looks inside.

          What's in it?

          GUS empties twelve matches into his hand.

GUS. Matches.
BEN. Matches?
GUS. Yes.
BEN. Show it to me.

          GUS passes the envelope. BEN examines it.

          Nothing on it. Not a word.
GUS. That's funny, isn't it?
BEN. It came under the door?
GUS. Must have done.
BEN. Well, go on.
GUS. Go on where?
BEN. Open the door and see if you can catch anyone outside.
GUS. Who, me?
BEN. Go on!

GUS stares at him, puts the matches in his pocket, goes to his bed and brings a revolver from under the pillow. He goes to the door, opens it, looks out and shuts it.

GUS. No one.