1. Tone and Figurative Language
The Indirect Ways That Writers Communicate

2. Understanding the Author’s Purpose
In many texts, the writer’s purpose is fairly clear.
However, sometimes a writer will express an opinion indirectly.
Writers use tone, style, diction, imagery, and other features of language to achieve the results they want.

3. Understanding Tone
Refers to the author’s attitude toward his/her subject.
Think of how you interpret the tone of a speaker’s voice.
Pay attention to word choice, types and length of sentences (syntax), and detail.
Tone is important in determining the author’s purpose…aka- Theme.
Examples of Tone
Instructive
Sympathetic
Persuasive
Humorous
Nostalgic
Angry
Insensitive
Naive

4. Style and Intended Audience
Style may be defined as the characteristics that make a writer unique.
Depending upon whom the writer is addressing, he/she will change the level of language, method of presentation, and word choice.

5. Express attitudes, feelings & opinions
Language
Objective
factual
Subjective
Express attitudes, feelings & opinions
Authors use language in special ways to help the reader understand and create a picture of a situation.
Create Descriptions
Making comparisons
Using symbols

6. Word Choice Connotative Meanings Denotative Meanings
Opposite of Denotation
Implied Meaning
A Word’s Nuance—ideas associated with the word’s usage
May be Favorable or Unfavorable
Denotative Meanings
Literal Meaning
found in the dictionary
Factual, exact
No added meanings

7. Connotation positive vs. negative
Request, demand, command, appeal, plead, claim, ask
Gaudy, showy, flashy, tawdry, glitzy, jazzy
Glance, stare, look, glimpse, peek, peer, examine, gaze, scan
Take, snatch, grasp, pocket, steal, borrow
Crowd, mob, gang, audience, class, congregation
Slim, skinny, slender, slight, wiry, scrawny
Intelligent, brainy, nerdy, smart, gifted
Particular, picky, fussy, meticulous, precise, exacting

8. Figurative Language
Describes something that makes sense on an imaginative level but not on a factual or literal level.
Example:
Sam eats like a horse.
The wilted plants begged for water.

9. Making Comparisons Similes and metaphors
Compare one object or living thing with another
Questions to ask yourself:
What two things is the author comparing?
Why did the author choose that comparison?
What do those two things have in common?
What are the connotations?

10. Figurative Language-Comparison
The purpose of figurative language is to paint a word picture—to help the reader visualize how something looks, feels, smells, sounds, and tastes.
The red sun was pasted in the sky like a wafer.
I will speak daggers to her, but use none.
Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee.

11. Using Symbols
Symbols can be either pictures or objects that stand for ideas, people, concepts, or anything else the author decides.
Symbols are a communication shortcut—make ideas more understandable by connecting them with things the reader can see.
Common symbols: U.S. Flag (loyalty to country), Statue of Liberty (freedom), dove (peace), weight scales (law/justice), storm (foreshadowing chaos/indecision)