What is hypotaxis?
A syntactic structure in which clauses are subordinated to one another.
Weaving Subordination: A Closer Look at Hypotaxis in Creative Writing
In creative writing, hypotaxis is a syntactic structure in which clauses are subordinated to one another, creating a layered effect that can both bolster the meaning of a work and highlight the writer's facility with language.
By placing dependent clauses next to independent clauses, writers can create complex sentence structures that convey both intricate thought and depth of feeling. This is particularly useful for developing character voice, as different characters will naturally have different levels of linguistic sophistication. For example, a professorial character might speak in long, intricate sentences, while a younger character might use shorter phrasing with more basic vocabulary.
As a writer, experimenting with hypotaxis can also help you identify new ways of playing with sentence structure and improving your grammatical understanding. Hypotaxis is one of many tools in a writer's toolbox, but it is one that can yield rich dividends.
Examples of hypotaxis in literature can provide a window into the stylistic choices made by authors across time and genre.
James Joyce’s masterpiece is full of winding streams of consciousness and intricate language; the famous phrase 'ineluctable modality of the visible' is a prime example of hypotaxis in action.
Joan Didion’s account of grief after the sudden death of her husband and illness of her daughter resonates with many readers. Her use of hypotaxis in the book’s prologue underscores the importance of connection in the human experience.