A Stylistic Analysis in Literary Texts: Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis in Everett's James

Abstract

This study investigates the correlation between stylistic features and thematic development in Percival Everett's James (2024) through an innovative integration of traditional stylistic analysis with fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). The research examines four primary stylistic elements metaphors, symbolism, imagery, and sentence structure and their relationship to four thematic categories: struggle, hope versus despair, freedom, and confinement. Using a mixed-method approach, the study combines qualitative textual analysis with quantitative correlation analysis to evaluate the strength of stylistic-thematic relationships. Data analysis reveals strong to very strong correlations between specific stylistic features and themes, with metaphors most strongly correlated with struggle (r = 0.85), symbolism with hope versus despair (r = 0.80), imagery with freedom (r = 0.78), and short sentences with confinement (r = 0.76). The findings demonstrate that linguistic elements function as essential tools for thematic coherence rather than merely decorative devices, providing empirical evidence for systematic relationships between form and meaning in literary texts. By integrating fsQCA methodology with literary analysis, this research offers a replicable framework for future stylistic studies while contributing to methodological innovation in digital humanities and computational literary analysis.