Functional and stylistic features of C. S. Lewis' sermons

Abstract

The relevance of the article is due to the relatively small study of the issue of assessing the functional and stylistic features of C. S. Lewis' sermons in modern Russian science. The purpose of this article is to study the preaching addresses of C. S. Lewis from the standpoint of functional stylistics. The object of this work is the sermons of C. S. Lewis, delivered in various churches and at religious meetings, published subsequently as an essay in 1949, the subject is their features from the point of view of functional stylistics, manifested through various techniques. Such methods of work as analytical and descriptive were used in the study. The scientific novelty lies in the consideration of the functional and stylistic features of the texts of C. S. Lewis on the example of sermons, as well as the search for elements of appeal in these works. The conducted research indicates that the sermons of C. S. Lewis are characterized by certain functional and stylistic features expressed by a variety of techniques. Among them are various quotations (from Holy Scripture and fiction), allusions to the above-mentioned works, outdated and high-style forms of words, borrowings, various kinds of analogies and comparisons, as well as various rhetorical techniques (diacopes, hypophores), rhetorical questions, repetitions. In addition, these are various appellative constructions, including various verbs with imperative modality, the so-called "we-constructions", various types of complex conditional sentences. The analysis of these functional and stylistic features allows us to illustrate the position of C. S. Lewis and his understanding of the Christian faith in the context of contemporary life.