Analysis of Diction and Syntax

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Analysis of Diction and Syntax

• Close reading strategy

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What is diction?

• In all forms of literature authors choose
  particular words to convey effect and meaning to
  the reader. Diction is employed to communicate
  ideas and impressions, to evoke emotions, and to
  convey an authors view of the truth to the
  reader.

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Levels of Diction

• High or formal diction usually contains language
  that creates an elevated tone. It is free of
  slang, idioms, colloquialisms, and contractions.

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Levels of Diction

• Neutral diction uses standard language and
  vocabulary without elaborate words and may
  include contractions.

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Levels of Diction

• Informal or low diction is the language of
  everyday use. It is relaxed and conversational
  and most often includes common and simple words,
  idioms, slang, jargon, and contractions.

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Types of diction

• Slang refers to a group of recently coined words
  often used in informal situations. These words or
  phrases pass in and out of use very quickly.
• That is a groovy sweater!

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Types of diction

• Colloquial expressions are nonstandard, often
  regional, ways of using language appropriate to
  informal or conversational speech and writing.
• Are yall going to the movies tonight?

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Types of diction

• Jargon consists of words and expressions
  characteristic of a particular trade, profession,
  or pursuit.
• I descended the poop and paced the waist. from
  The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad

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Types of diction

• Dialect is a nonstandard subgroup of a language
  with its own vocabulary and grammatical
  features.
• Sho, theres ticks a-plenty. I could have a
  thousand of em if I wanted to.
• Well, why dont you? Becuz you know mighty well
  you cant. This is a pretty early tick, I reckon.
  Its the first one Ive seen this year. from The
  Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

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Types of diction

• Concrete diction consists of specific words that
  describe physical qualities or conditions.
• The tears came fast, and she held her face in
  her hands. When something soft and furry moved
  around her ankles, she jumped, and saw it was the
  cat. He wound himself in and about her legs.
  from The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

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Types of diction

• Abstract diction refers to language that denotes
  ideas, emotions, conditions, or concepts that are
  intangible.
• Freedom is a concept that is inconceivable to
  those who are oppressed, yet those of us who are
  fortunate to have lived a life free from
  oppression can not fathom life without it.

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Types of diction

• Monosyllabic words are one syllable in length.
• Polysyllabic words have two or more syllables.

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Types of diction

• Euphonious words are pleasant sounding.
• Languid, murmur
• Cacophonous words are harsh sounding.
• Raucous, croak

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Types of diction

• Denotation is the exact, literal definition of a
  word independent of any emotional association or
  secondary meaning.
• Connotation is the implicit rather than explicit
  meaning of a word and consists of the
  suggestions, associations, and emotional
  overtones attached to the word.
• Consider house and home. Although both indicate a
  dwelling in which one resides (the denotation),
  home has a much warmer feel or connotation.

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What is syntax?

• In much the same way that authors consider their
  word choice very carefully they also consider how
  the words are arranged. The construction of the
  sentences is referred to as syntax.

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Sentence structure

• Telegraphic-shorter than five words
• Short-approximately five words on length
• Medium-approximately eighteen words in length
• Long and involved-thirty or more words in lentgh

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Sentence patterns

• A declarative sentence makes a statement e.g.,
  The king is sick.
• An imperative sentence gives a command e.g.,
  Cure the king!
• An interrogative sentence asks a question e.g.,
  Is the king sick?
• An exclamatory sentence expresses strong
  emotions e.g., The king is dead! Long live the
  king!

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Sentence patterns

• A simple sentence contains one independent
  clause e.g., The singer bowed to her adoring
  audience.
• A compound sentence contains two independent
  clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction or
  by a semicolon e.g., The singer bowed to the
  audience, but she sang no encores.
• A complex sentence contains an independent clause
  and one or more subordinate clauses e.g.,
  Because the singer was tired, she went straight
  to bed after the concert.
• A compound-complex sentence contains two or more
  independent clauses and one or more subordinate
  clauses e.g., The singer bowed while the
  audience applauded, but she sang no encores.

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Sentence patterns

• A loose or cumulative sentence makes complete
  sense if brought to a close before the actual
  ending.
• We reached Edmonton that morning after a
  turbulent flight and some exciting experiences,
  tired but exhilarated, full of stories to tell
  our friends and neighbors.

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Sentence patterns

• A periodic sentence makes sense fully only when
  the end of the sentences is reached.
• That morning, after a turbulent flight and some
  exciting experiences, we reached Edmonton.

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Sentence patterns

• In a balanced sentence, the phrases and clauses
  balance each other by virtue of their likeness of
  structure, meaning, or length.
• He maketh me to lie down in green pastures he
  leadeth me beside the still waters.

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Sentence patterns

• Natural order of a sentence involves constructing
  a sentence so the subject comes before the
  predicate.
• Oranges grow in California.

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Sentence patterns

• Inverted order of a sentence (sentence inversion)
  involves constructing a sentence so the predicate
  comes before the subject (this is a device in
  which normal sentence patterns are reversed to
  create an emphatic or rhythmic effect).
• In California grow oranges.

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Sentence patterns

• Split order of a sentence divides the predicate
  into two parts with the subject coming in the
  middle.
• In California oranges grow.

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Sentence patterns

• Juxtaposition is a poetic and rhetorical device
  in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or
  phrases are placed next to one another, creating
  an effect of surprise and wit.
• The apparition of these faces in the crowd /
  Petals on a wet, black bough.

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Sentence patterns

• Parallel structure (parallelism) refers to a
  grammatical or structural similarity between
  sentences or parts of a sentence in involves an
  arrangement of words, phrases, sentences, and
  paragraphs so that elements of equal importance
  are equally developed and similarly phrased
• He was walking, running and jumping for joy.

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Sentence patterns

• Repetition is a device in which words, sounds,
  and ideas are used more than once to enhance
  rhythm and create emphasis.
• government of the people, by the people, for
  the people, shall not perish from the earth

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Sentence patterns

• A rhetorical question is a question that expects
  no answer it is used to draw attention to a
  point and is generally stronger than a direct
  statement.
• If Mr. Ferchoff is always fair, as you have
  said, why did he refuse to listen to Mrs.
  Baldwins arguments?

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Sentence patterns

• A rhetorical fragment is a sentence fragment used
  deliberately for a persuasive purpose or to
  create a desired effect.
• Something to consider.

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Advanced syntax techniques

• Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or
  group of words at the beginning of successive
  clauses.
• We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on
  the landing-grounds, we shall fight in the fields
  and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills.

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Advanced syntax techniques

• Asyndeton is the deliberate omission of
  conjunctions in a series of related clauses.
• I came, I saw, I conquered.

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Advanced syntax techniques

• Chiasmus/Antimetabole is a sentence strategy in
  which the arrangement of ideas in the second
  clause is a reversal of the first.
• Ask not what your country can do for you ask
  what you can do for your country

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Advanced syntax techniques

• Polysyndeton is the deliberate use of many
  conjunctions for special emphasis to highlight
  quantity or mass of detail or to create a
  flowing, continuous sentence pattern.
• The meal was huge my mother fixed okra and
  green beans and ham and apple pie and green
  pickled tomatoes and ambrosia salad and all
  manner of fine country food but no matter how I
  tried, I could not consume it to her
  satisfaction.

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Advanced syntax techniques

• Stichomythia is dialogue in which the endings and
  beginnings of each line echo each other, taking
  on a new meaning with each new line.
• Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. /
  Mother, you have my father much offended.

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Advanced syntax techniques

• Zeugma is the use of the verb that has two
  different meanings with objects that complement
  both meanings.
• He stole both her car and her heart that fateful
  night.