Aspects of literary style: word order

Varied Word Order: Lucian uses flexible word order, as is common in Classical Greek, to emphasise certain parts of his sentences. This is a prime feature of Greek syntax.
Hyperbaton: In some instances, Lucian employs hyperbaton, a figure of speech in which words that naturally belong together are separated for emphasis or effect.
Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) Order: While the most common word order in Classical Greek is SOV, Lucian occasionally switches this up for dramatic effect.

Position of Adjectives: Lucian sometimes places adjectives after the noun they describe (postposition), or before the noun (preposition), depending on what he wishes to emphasise.
Emphatic Position: Greek syntax often allows important words to be placed either at the beginning or end of a sentence. Use the context to understand Lucian’s intended emphasis.

Anastrophe: Lucian uses anastrophe, a form of hyperbaton where the adjective appears after the noun, to create suspense or add emphasis.
Chiasmus: He sometimes uses chiasmus, a figure of speech that involves two or more clauses which are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to create a criss-cross pattern. This underlines his satirical writing style.

Indication of Relationships: Word order can help indicate relationships between words, particularly in determining what is the subject and object of a verb.
Participles Before the Words They Modify: Lucian often positions participles before the words they modify to provide more specific descriptions. Keeping an eye out for these patterns can provide additional context to the events described.
Context and Clarity: While word order can vary in Classical Greek, the context usually makes the meaning clear. Understanding Lucian’s style can enable a better grasp of the literary dynamics in Vera Historia.