1. Literary Analysis
DIDLS

2. ANALYZING FOR TONE
WHAT IS THE SPEAKER’S ATTITUDE TOWARD A CHARACTER, PLACE, OR THING?
YOU WILL USE D.I.D.L.S TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR ANALYSIS.
Use diction to find tone. Use imagery, details, language and syntax to support tone.

3. DICTION: Word Choice
Adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs, negative words, positive words, synonyms, contrast.
Colloquial (slang)
Informal (conversational)
Formal (literary)
Connotative (suggested/association)
Denotative ( exact meaning)
Euphonious (pleasant sounding)
Cacophonous (harsh sounding)

4. DICTION: Words can be concrete (specific) or abstract (general)
General: “cat”, “car”
Specific: “Siamese cat”, “corvette”
The general, abstract words help move the pace quickly; concrete words show us more.

5. DICTION: Bill was unintelligent. (neutral)
Bill was a zipperhead. (lower IQ)
Ask yourself: Why did the author chose that word? What is it’s connotation?
Think word association chart!

6. IMAGERY: Appeals to senses
Imagery makes the passage feel “real” to the audience.
Example: The pond water, warm as a bath…
The pond water, like a boiling pot…
What is the difference in attitude?

7. Imagery:
Alliteration: repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together
Assonnance: Moths cough and drop wings.
Consonance: The man has kin in Spain.
Simile, metaphor ,hyperbole, personification, pun, symbol, oxymoron.
What types of images are used? What does the author focus on in that image?

8. DETAILS: facts
Details are not images as they do not have a strong sensory appeal.
Examples: the peeling paint, old hat
Ask what details the author chose to include or exclude? What do they imply? What connotations does this have?

9. Language: look at entire passage
Formal: long, technical, unusual
Informal: slang
Conversational
What is the impression? Does it reflect education? A profession? Is it plain? Clear? Figurative?

10. Syntax: Sentence structure
Word order: word at the end emphasizes what is important (periodic)
Important word at beginning of sentences (loose)
Ex: John brought flowers.
Flowers were brought by John.

11. Syntax: Short sentences: Intense, immediate, quickens the pace
Long Sentences: creates a distance between reader and story.
Spoken by character = thoughtful

12. Syntax: Placement of adjectives:
A noun before adjective – ANASTROPHE – adds weight to adjective. An adjective first isn’t as strong.
The 3 Ps: prominence (placement)
position (where is idea)
pace (fast or slow)

13. Syntax: Sentence types
What types of sentences are used?
Simple, compound, complex, compound- complex
Declarative, imperative, interrogative, exclamatory
Periodic: meaning is reached at end of sentence.
Loose: meaning is understood at any point in the sentence.

14. Syntax: Punctuation Ellipses: trailing off, dream like state
Dash: interruption of thought
Semicolon: piling up details, equal
Colon: list, a result
Italics: emphasis
Capitalization: emphasis
Exclamation: emotion/emphasis

15. Tone Shift:
The attitude about the topic can change by the end of a passage.
Key words to look for: but, although, however, nevertheless
Change in line length
Paragraph division
Punctuation (dashes, periods, colon)
Sharp contrast in diction