Ornate Writing
Ornate means elaborately or sumptuously adorned. It can also describe a style of writing, as in, "her writing is ornate." An ornate writing style is one that uses lengthy sentences and complex vocabulary to create a sense of grandeur and sophistication. The style can be overdone, or it can add to the story's appeal. The ornate style of writing is often associated with literary works, such as novels or poetry.
The ornate style of writing can be effective for describing settings, characters, and situations. It can also be used to convey emotions or ideas. However, it can also be overdone, which can cause the reader to become distracted or bored by the excessive use of language and details. The ornate writing style can be difficult to master, but there are some techniques that can help. One of the most important is to focus on the story and avoid unnecessary or flowery language. Another is to read the work out loud to ensure that it makes sense and that it is easy to understand.
A word that can be confused with ornate is florid, which means high-flown and poetic. Florid writing may be effective for expressing emotion or creating a sense of drama, but it can also detract from the meaning and clarity of the work. The ornate writing style is often associated with the literary genre of romance, although it can be found in other genres as well.
Novelists who write in a lush or ornate style often paint vividly detailed landscapes with their words, providing a rich sensory experience for readers. They might describe every leaf on a tree or ripple in the water, but they are careful to use only the most appropriate and meaningful words. The writers of purple prose, on the other hand, obfuscate meaning and flummox their readers with unnecessarily obscure or erudite vocabulary.
While the ornate style of writing is not to everyone's taste, some authors have mastered it. Here are five examples of works written in this style.
Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is a classic example of ornate literature. The author describes everything from the opulence of Victorian London to the morally complex nature of its elites in lavish detail.
Zafon's novel, The Shadow of the Wind, is set in post-war Barcelona. The ornate prose in this book vividly depicts the city's streets, bookshops, and mansions, allowing readers to become immersed in the world of the novel.
Morgenstern's novel, The Night Circus, is a masterpiece of magical realism. Her ornate descriptions of the phantasmagorical world of the circus, from cloud mazes to ice gardens, bring this fantasy to life for readers. The ornate style of writing in this novel is especially effective because it is paired with imaginative imagery and symbolism. This combination makes the story seem almost mystical and real at the same time.