Formal and informal diction
1. Define the word diction and offer an example of formal and informal diction from one of the stories posted? (In the files)
2. Define tone and explain the tone of one of the stories?
3. Define denotation and offer an example of the term?
4. Define connotation and offer an example of the term?
5. Offer an example of imagery used to describe the grandmother in Parker's "Snapping Beans"?
6. What diction does Hayden use in "Those Winter Sunday's" to describe the difficulties of the father's life?
7. How would you define the tone of Updike's "Dog's Death" and why?
8. Explain the use of personification in "Poetry Should Ride The Bus"?
9. What is the theme of "Poetry Should Ride The Bus"?
10. Witch of the poems do you most connect to and why?
Sample Solution
- Diction is the choice of words used in writing or speech. It can be formal or informal, depending on the context. For example, the diction in a legal document would be formal, while the diction in a conversation between friends would be informal.
Full Answer Section
is an example of formal diction from the story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson:"It was towards the end of June, and the village was preparing for the lottery."Here is an example of informal diction from the story "Snapping Beans" by Dorothy Parker:
"She was a little old lady with a face like a withered apple."
- Tone is the attitude or feeling that a writer or speaker expresses in their work. It can be conveyed through the diction, imagery, and structure of the writing. For example, the tone of "The Lottery" is dark and ominous, while the tone of "Snapping Beans" is humorous and ironic.
- Denotation is the literal meaning of a word. For example, the denotation of the word "house" is a building that people live in.
"The black box grew slowly larger."The word "black" has a literal meaning of being the absence of light. In this context, the word "black" is used to describe the color of the box, but it also has a symbolic meaning of death.
- Connotation is the emotional or associative meaning of a word. It is the meaning that is implied by the word, but not explicitly stated. For example, the word "house" has a connotation of safety and security.
"She was a little old lady with a face like a withered apple."The word "withered" has a connotation of decay and death. In this context, the word "withered" is used to describe the grandmother's face, but it also has a symbolic meaning of her declining health.
- Imagery is the use of figurative language to create a sensory experience for the reader. It can be used to describe sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings. For example, the story "Snapping Beans" uses imagery to describe the grandmother's appearance:
"She was a little old lady with a face like a withered apple."The word "withered" is a simile that compares the grandmother's face to an apple that has dried up. This imagery creates a visual image of the grandmother's face that is both accurate and evocative.