A SYNTACTICAL ANALYSIS OF COMPOUND SENTENCE FOUND IN “THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN” NOVEL BY MARK TWAIN

This study investigates the syntactic structure of compound sentences in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, emphasizing the types of connectors and their functions in sentence formation. The objectives are (1) to identify the types of connectors used in compound sentences and (2) to analyze their constituent structures—that is, the hierarchical arrangement of sentence elements— using tree diagrams. This research employs a qualitative method, utilizing the framework of Oshima and Hogue (1998) for categorizing coordinating conjunctions, although their work primarily focuses on academic writing—and Brown and Miller’s (1991) syntactic theory for analyzing sentence structure. To strengthen the syntactic foundation, additional linguistic sources were also incorporated. The data were collected through an observation technique and presented using both formal and informal methods. The findings indicate that the most frequently used connectors are coordinating conjunction “and” (45.32%), followed by “but” (18.23%). Other forms of connectors, such as semicolons and conjunctive adverbs, also appear in the data. The analysis demonstrates that compound sentences contribute to narrative coherence by mirroring spoken language structures and facilitating syntactic parallelism, which supports the stylistic rhythm and flow characteristic of Twain’s prose and enhances his storytelling style by creating a more natural, engaging, and vivid narrative voice. This study contributes to the understanding of syntactic complexity in literary texts, particularly at the intersection of syntax and stylistics, and serves as a reference for future research on compound sentence structures.