Diction

Diction refers to the author’s choice of words.

When analyzing diction, consider such questions as: Is the language concrete or abstract? Are the words monosyllabic or polysyllabic? Do the words have interesting connotations (personal meanings)? Is the diction formal or colloquial (informal)? Is there any change in the level of diction in the passage? What can the reader infer about the speaker or the speaker’s attitude from the word choice?

Denotation means the literal, dictionary definition of the word plump and obese both mean calorically challenged. Connotation means the implied or suggested meaning attached to a word, or the emotional “tag” that goes along with the word. Corpulent, plump, obese, heavy set, fleshy, fat, paunchy, burly, over-weight, roly poly, bulky, portly, weighty, pudgy, weight challenged

Never, never, never, never, never say: “the author uses diction” do you mean – the author chooses words? Well, duh!!!!!! Try this instead – Miller’s diction . . . The scholarly diction of . . . demonstrates

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans. What feeling is created in this sentence?? What words did the author use to create the feeling of the sentence?

Bouncing into the room, she lit up the vicinity with a joyous glow on her face as she told about her fiancé and their wedding plans. Bouncing – lit – joyous – glow – fiancé - wedding What kind of words are these?

When discussing an author’s diction quote the words you want to discuss –The previous example used “joyous glow” “bouncing” and “lit up” to express the bride’s happiness When discussing diction take each significant word one at a time and really discuss the effect it has on the reader.

Around campus there has been a great deal of construction, leaving parking lots overcrowded, once grassy lawns dusty and rut-marred, and the campus perpetually noisy with sawing, hammering, and over-loud trucks and tractors. There is no escape from it, not even in the library.

The campus has been buzzing with the sounds of construction; workers have been clearing lots, driving pilings, and preparing foundations for soon to be erected buildings, and trucks and tractors bustle around the work areas. Even the library is being remade, its exterior now shining glass and bright new bricks.

“A redheaded woman was there with Trout “A redheaded woman was there with Trout. Kate could see her rummaging through the cabin, dumping drawers, and knocking things from the shelves of cabinets.” “A redheaded woman was there with Trout. Kate could see her searching through the cabin, emptying drawers, and taking things from the shelves of cabinets.”

Exercise one - create one sentence that shows a small boy making a mess in a restaurant (show don't tell).  Share with a partner and then with class. 

There was a scurrying sound and then eight of them snatched up their guns, formed up into twos, and marched out behind the office. He wheeled his horse about and trotted toward me. I jumped back and plunged for the tavern doorway.

Exercise two - use the word plunged not to show fear as in the example but excitement (again show don't tell).  Share with a partner and then with the class. 

1. What two adjectives in the first sentence inform the reader about Updike’s attitude towards progress? 2. What four adjectives in the third sentence inform the reader about Updike’s attitude toward the traditional beer can? 3. What diction in the fourth sentence builds on the positive tone/ (List six) 4. What technique is used in “pffff”? 5. What diction in sentence 6 contributes to the scornful tone regarding the new technology of tabs on cans. (He is referring to the first wave of new can tops in which a teardrop shaped tab was pulled completely off the can with a metal ring). List Nine 6. What is the overall tone of this passage? Explain 7. Is “like playing cards” in line 11 a simile or an analogy? 8. Translate the last line (put it in your own words)