periodic sentence: a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. after all introductory elements such as words, phrases, and dependent clauses. The effect is to add emphasis and structural variety; e.g., "Across the stream, beyond the clearing, from behind a fallen tree, the lion emerged."
"Without such purpose on her part, and subconsciously on his, she made the House of the Seven Gables like a home to him, and the garden a familiar precinct."
-The House of the Seven Gables
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Hawthorne wants to show the relationship between Holgrave and Phoebe. He uses the periodic sentence to emphasize its transition and growth. They go from strangers to acquaintances, to friends, and then to close friends, as Phoebe provides a feeling of stability and love to Holgrave. Hawthorne is emphasizing that they make each other comfortable and are drawn to each other, and is again showing the vitality and potential of the youth, as they are just starting out in life and have a great future ahead of themselves. He is providing the reader with hope in a rather grotesque book.
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