Carlyle's highly idiosyncratic style is often called 'Carlylese'. Which of the following best describes the stylistic characteristics of this prose?
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Correct answer: Fragmented German syntax, biblical cadence, capitalized nouns, and sudden exclamations.
Carlylese is a deliberate rebellion against the elegant, measured prose of the 18th century. It is characterized by its intense energy, frequent compound words, heavy capitalization, and a rhapsodic, prophetic rhythm heavily influenced by his work translating German Romantic literature. This stormy style was designed to shock Victorian readers out of their comfortable complacency.
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