The Transitivity Analysis of John Green's the Fault in Our Stars

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

More often than not, various constraints have significantly affected the ELT's approach to teaching literature, limiting the learners' engagement into the basic levels of reading only; thus, depriving them of the reading that taps their higher order thinking and more profound comprehension resulting to poor scores in reading assessments. Consequently, this study presents a formalistic approach to deciphering a body of literature; hence, unfold the deep-seated ideologies in texts that help to promote critical reading among the English language learners. The present study aims to examine the character type of the main character in the novel The Fault in Our Starsby John Green. It also aims to unfold the development of the character type through analyzing the text's linguistic features in the light of Transitivity theory proposed by M.A.K/ Halliday.

METHODS

Descriptive method was used in the study. There were 30 clauses from the book, which were systematically and randomly sampled. These were grouped accordingly based on the recorded participants.

RESULTS

It was found in the study that the chosen clauses present varying participants and circumstances contributing to the main character's development. These were divided into parts. The first part contains 15 clauses that involved Hazel Grace, the main character in the novel. Second contains Augustus Waters, the main character's love interest with 7 clauses. The third part doesn't have a common participant but rather Abstract concepts that described what cancer has done to the main character. The fourth part included the people who greatly influenced that main character's perspective and being. The transitivity analysis unfolded Hazel's development as a character as well as her world view in the perspective of a cancer patient which is evident in the processes and circumstances of the clauses examined. Her character evolved; thus, annotated as a round type as she progressed from a distressed teenage cancer patient to a person manifesting lightheartedness and a hint of happiness despite her condition.

DISCUSSIONS

The linguistic choice of the author also highlighted the battle of Hazel, a fictional entity yet a resemblance of reality, which constructs her worldview. It is noted as well that her acts, words, and way of thinking were made evident by her material, verbal, and mental processes. These ideologies are representations of how people with cancer, in reality, deal with their situation every day.