... way of saying 'word choice.' That is, when someone tells you that you have 'good diction,' they're saying that you have a good vocabulary and you use it well. Having good diction is an essential part of writing well no matter what kind of writing you're doing. Diction is the key to developing your style, tone, and point of view. Don't Use ... 't actually make it better. For instance, 'James Blonde's dexterous machinations abetted his vanquishment of his disputant' is full of big, heady words and is also confusing and totally awful. Good diction requires you to strike a balance between th...

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• Grade Level: High School

... express the mood of the writing and how they feel about it. In The Secret Sharer and Other Stories the author, Joseph Conrad, uses diction to express an informed and descriptive feel. The use of formal language forms a trust in the author because of the intelligent mood it sets. Words such as opaque, elongated, and ... the author moving his head to view the whole man. While I read this line I could picture just how this scene played out which is exactly what the author wanted his diction to bring about. Another place where I could really feel the author was when he describer his reacti...

• Word Count: 423
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• Grade Level: High School

... , he must lure Fortunato into the vault. He pesters Fortunato until he follows him into the saltpeter wine basement. In this short story, The Cask of Amontillado, Poe used vivid diction and unorthodox syntax to give this story a mystifying character. The syntax of the short story can be seen as complicated and wordy. For instance, Montresor says, "How remarkably well ... of risk.", and "In this respect I did not differ from him materially; --I was skilful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could." His choice of diction is very old fashioned, which makes the sto...

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• Grade Level: High School

... to Son- In "Mother to Son,"" Langston Hughes reveals through his diction how progressing through life can be compared to a simple task like climbing an ordinary staircase. Hughes gives a clear account of how a mother encourages her son to not give up on ... ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Use of Diction in a Hamlet Monologue. "To be or not to be that is the question." So begins one of the most famous monologues in the whole of Shakespeare's portfolio. The monologue did ... the exact nature is uncertain. It is obvious that there is a mutual attraction between the two, but as to what level the attraction has escalated their relation to, is uncertain. Diction, however small a part it may seem to play, has the potential to be a very powerful and useful tool in an author's literary arsenal. It can imply certain information, about something ... ...

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• Grade Level: High School

Setting and Diction Passage to India takes place in the early 20th century when the British are still in control of India. The story takes place mainly in Chandrapore, which is a made up place in India. Chandrapore is predominantly Moslem, and its unique attraction is the Marabar Caves, which is ...

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• Grade Level: High School

... great contrast to the images of unfair justice and living in hiding that go along with Magwitch. Excellent characterisation is also achieved through the diction used by characters. For instance, Estella, when she first meets Pip uses harsh and elitist words when she describes Pip as "common." ... Estella again when they have grown up Estella uses curt, but not quite so mean language. This indicated a change in Estella's attitude towards Pip. Diction is also used to characterise Joe. Joe is revealed to be a simple man, with good, kind, simple values, never trying to elevate himself ... be...

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• Grade Level: High School

... life of a siren is not a pleasant one. A comparison between each poem's interpretation of sirens, can be examined through investigating the diction, tone, imagery, and finally through the point of view in which each poem is seen. The easiest way of approaching the comparison is by observing the ... diction first. The diction in these two poems is very different. Words used in the poem Odyssey are words which are more descriptive and focus more on detail ... taking place. Siren Song is not a poem which uses images to excite the senses. It focuses more on making the reader discover the m...

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... literary tools aids in providing strength in Jonathan Edwards" works. Patrick Henry takes a more political approach to his use of diction, imagery, and tone in his "Speech to the Virginia Convention." Whereas Edwards uses negative diction to put fear in sinners, Henry uses diction to provoke hatred toward British parliament and to stir up a possible revolution. "Shall we try argument we have been ... , or give me death!" (90). All these literary elements helped strengthen Patrick Henry's speech. Literary elements are used by authors to aid them support their works. Certain literary eleme...

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... take a look at the structure of the play by looking at the six elements Aristotle thought were the most important in any play; plot, characters, theme, diction, music, spectacle, and convention. We will also take a look at the seventh element of convention and how it works itself into the play to makes the play ... about the real world is what threatens to destroy the lives of the Helmer family when Nora forges her father's signature for a loan. Diction Diction does not only include how words are spoken but also the word choice, articulation, and tone and how the voice flows from the ch...

• Word Count: 3023
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... take a look at the structure of the play by looking at the six elements Aristotle thought were the most important in any play; plot, characters, theme, diction, music, spectacle, and convention. We will also take a look at the seventh element of convention and how it works itself into the play to makes the play ... about the real world is what threatens to destroy the lives of the Helmer family when Nora forges her father's signature for a loan. Diction Diction does not only include how words are spoken but also the word choice, articulation, and tone and how the voice flows from the ch...

• Word Count: 2927
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... and how do they? Although both authors have a shift of cacophony to euphony (or vice versa), Blake's poem shows the more pessimistic side of love by using negative diction, and repetition of the same words. Heine also shows a pessimistic side of love, but he shows more of the optimistic side by using a metaphor to compare the ... girl to the lotus flower and her lover to the moon. In Blake's poem, there is a lot of negative diction, whereas not nearly as much in Heine's poem. Blake continues to use the words "weep" and "sin" (Blake line 4), to suggest that there ... . He knew it was wron...

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... (27). He attributes the majority of the decline to four major topics. The topics are dying metaphors, operators or verbal false limbs, pretentious diction, and last but not least meaningless words. He further suggests that the major contribution factor to the use of the above topics is politics. ... speech was following the rules laid down by Orwell he would have forced himself to stop almost as soon as he had begun. Vagueness, pretentious diction, dying metaphors, and meaningless words are riddled though out the speech like a horribly woven tapestry. To begin, we will look at pretentio...

• Word Count: 1302
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... of the poem itself does not create the poem, but also the rhythm and rhyme, and the impeding importance of the word choice and diction. In creating the effective mood and feelings for his poem, Wordsworth's poetical word choice is essential in developing and maintaining the iambic quadrameter ... Kirszner 1008). "Associating the shining profusion of stars with flowers clearly lends them a similar magnificence" (Brennan 141). The imagery generated by using this diction gives reader the sense the speaker feels as he witnesses natures unbridled beauty. In the middle two stanzas, Wordsworth ...

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... gloomy, but shifts to an educative one in order to show how media helped people years ago. Wiltz uses stern syntax and solemn diction to help achieve her purpose. Wiltz uses "solemn" diction in her first section. Wiltz uses words such as "reeling","shook", "throat-clearing", "tumbling& ... to get the reader to believe how pop culture breaks the ice to stay relevant and to make sure to not unsettle anybody after a tragedy. She also uses edgy diction to achieve her purpose in the beginning of the essay. She writes "vanity", "irony", "smarty-pants" and "comedy" ... ; her tone shifts fro...

• Word Count: 528
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• Grade Level: High School

... metaphor a. I only b. I and II only c. II only d. I and III only e. I, II and III 5. What can one infer about Orwell's feelings based on his use of such diction as "puppet, " "dummy " and "mask " in paragraph 7? a. He is overwhelmed by chaos. b. He only does what he is told. c. He believes the Burmese are puppets. ... up the hill," what word is parallel to "caught "? a. corpse b. reduced c. Burmans d. Indian e. mind 7. Paragraph 3 includes all the following with the exception of: a. colloquial diction b. introduction of the incident c. epiphany d. antithesis e. narration 8. Orwell was re...

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... most extensive and richest vocabulary. He draws from all areas of language and from all registers."" (Michel Delville) Shakespeare writes with a diction written to be preformed by an actor to an audience, he uses this to his advantage to show insight into character without direct ... fretted with golden fire, why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors."" Hamlet is shown, through Shakespeare's diction, as an intelligent and well educated prince. He uses words like disposition and promontory, words not recited by the less educated men of the ... descri...

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... novels focused on self-awareness, pride, and finding happiness. The merit of these novels pervades every page, but can especially be found in the themes, diction, and characterization. Both novels shared two similar themes: the pursuit of happiness and self-actualization. These themes had to be dealt with tenderly in an ... themselves. Neither Hurston nor Ellison hid any part of their culture to be politically correct; this fact is especially visible in the authors use of diction in their novels. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston employs slang and colloquial language throughout the...

• Word Count: 835
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... time, space, and action working together to achieve the "certain unique or single effect". In "The Fall of the House of Usher-, Poe uses diction, imagery, and foreshadowing to convey his one single effect of gloom. In "The Fall of the House of Usher- Edgar Allan Poe uses many ... different literary devices to convey his single effect of dullness and gloom. Above all of these devices centers Poe's use of diction throughout the short story. Even in the opening paragraph, where he uses such words and phrases as "dull-, "insufferable gloom-, "utter depression of the ... use of many similar ...

• Word Count: 1744
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... function as an individual. He is now forced to carry out her bidding, and cannot make choices for himself. He is her property, a slave in a sense. The succeeding sentence includes diction that gives insight into Judy's methods. The author comments,Whatever Judy wanted, she went after with the full pressure of her charm? (3). The word charm in this sentence illustrates the ... is in control, it is in fact Judy that is in charge. Dexter's feeling of control is very ironic, since in essence he is being masqueraded. The author's use of diction in the passage develops the general idea that J...

• Word Count: 1459
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... shows his admiration of cats in his poem, titled "Frost Eyebrows." Both poems are similar, and can be compared to one another with regards to the diction, literary devices, and theme conveyed in both poems. Diction is exceedingly important when poets are writing a poem, because it is used to determine the tone of the poem, and is used to convey ideas and ... ", and "bright." Swinburne uses a somewhat advanced level of vocabulary, while T"ung-Kuei uses with short and simple, yet precise, words. But the diction of both poems clearly shows that the cat is idolized by both poets. In addition...

• Word Count: 707
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• Grade Level: High School

... Toad" by Richard Wilbur, the author elaborates on the death of a single toad that unfortunately was caught by a lawn mower. Using elements such as diction and imagery, the author exposes his feelings for the tragedy. However, the author's feeling is one of envy and relief rather than pity and remorse. ... of this poem conveys death as smooth and effortless. The toad is not reluctant. The author sees death as a release from the burdens of life. The diction of "The Death of a Toad", at first sets a mood of gore as the author describes the toad as "chewed and clipped of a leg". ... This h...

• Word Count: 364
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• Grade Level: High School

... line, which is the major metrical line in English called an iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme is: ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. The language of the poem is old English, very high diction, very formal. The syntax in many sentences is marked syntax, and in 7 sentences one can find an enjambment, some are stronger then the others. The poet is creating an effective ... more specifically, the question "Why do sinners" ways prosper?" is a question almost every religious person is asking at a certain point in his religious life. Through strong enjambments, parallel comparison, formal diction and poetic ...

• Word Count: 1601
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• Grade Level: High School

... 4 and 5 of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, brought out some of both the similarities and differences of the books. These passages used very good diction to describe the setting in which each took place. In the first passage Orwell described victory mansions, which, in great contrast to its name is described as ... in the book. To give the reader a sense of how powerful Big Brother is, Orwell uses diction like "enormous", "heavy", and "ruggedly handsome.". The passage from One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest is filled with diction as well. Kesey is describing the head of the ward, Miss Ratched....

• Word Count: 325
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

... novels focused on self-awareness, pride, and finding happiness. The merit of these novels pervades every page, but can especially be found in the themes, diction, and characterization. Both novels shared two similar themes: the pursuit of happiness and self-actualization. These themes had to be dealt with tenderly in an ... themselves. Neither Hurston nor Ellison hid any part of their culture to be politically correct; this fact is especially visible in the authors use of diction in their novels. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Hurston employs slang and colloquial language throughout the...

• Word Count: 822
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School