diction examples sentences in literature

For example, work and school matters require formal language, while conversations with friends use informal language. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. While diction is a pretty straightforward literary element, seeing it in action makes it easier to understand. Austen therefore carefully tailors each character's diction to emphasize the ways in which he or she does or does not conform to his or her social class, and to the expectations that come along with it. When speaking to such a close acquaintance, most people would choose other constructions and less formal language. A simile is a type of metaphor that uses the word "like" or "as" to soften the connection between the . Outsiders find it more difficult to understand than normal language because they havent been exposed to the same vocabulary. For example, colloquialisms , idioms, and vernacular convey an informal tone, which often leads readers to feel a personal connection to the story. Different communication styles are necessary at different times. For context, and to get a better understanding of diction, lets review these terms. The June 6, 2015 SAT, as an example, had two diction questions. Concrete diction describes things as they are, adhering to the proper definitions of words and citing only the facts. First read the poem below (paying attention to Arnold's choice and arrangement of words) and then continue on for an explanation of each aspect of Arnold's diction. Blameth nat me if that ye chese amys. Slang is often divided by generation, such as sussy, used by Gen Z, and nifty, used by baby boomers. In Barthelmes short story, he utilizes a combination of formal and informal diction to convey the literary theme of the randomness and universality of death. I'll look forward to hearing from you." For example, a lawyer may use formal diction to record, "The client swore at the jury", rather than record what swear words were used. 190 116 History of English Literature" This blog could explore the development of English literature W. Shakespeare, Spenser,Milton, Keats, Shelley, Wordsworth, Byron,Tennyson, Browning,Arnold,T.S.Eliot,University Wits, Neo classical age,Francis Bacon,W. "That woman is a dove at heart." - Here, the dove implies peace or gentility. See how Sam Wellers Cockney dialect reveals his working-class background? Abstract diction refers to discussing something intangible, like an idea or emotion. 2. Although poetic diction is most often used in poetry, it can be found in other forms of writing, such as song lyrics or even advertising copy. In literature, writers carefully choose specific words and phrases depending on the outcome they wish to achieve for the reader. Refine any search. He speaks in very full sentences and with elevated language (might possibly reveal some traces and not one of them which I did not apply to the inquiry). Its hard to put abstract thoughts into words, so abstract diction often comes across as vague or ambiguous. It would be a privilege to contribute to the betterment of this institution." For example, when describing the wolf, he writes, "He was a creature of the wild places, a denizen of distant, unmapped countries of the heart." LitCharts Teacher Editions. 3 Examples of Diction in Literature Authors use diction to effectively support their narrative and characters. There was not one of them which I did not apply to the inquiry. Once in a blue moon doesnt really refer to the moon turning blue. Formal language doesnt take any risks and can come across as bland or boring, but for the sake of clarity, its the best choice when speaking to strangers or authority figures. Diction is choosing your words with care to direct a story, establish a background, or set a tone. Diction Sentence Examples His perfect diction never failed to be commented on. In this sentence this softness is applied to the skin. This is the difference between spy novels by, for example, John le Carr (Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy; A Most Wanted Man) and Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code; Inferno). Authors tend to write to a particular audience, whether kids, or young adults, or specialist within a field. Low diction would be, "Thanks man. However, it's crucial, when analyzing diction, to look closely at how a writer develops the tone of a book, play, or poem by making very small changes in their word choice or level of speech. I got them fine. 195 102 Clear diction, not a "posh voice", was what was wanted. It can also aid indirect characterization when applied to a characters dialogue. This reversal of diction and reader expectation underscores the literary theme as well that death is both ever-present yet inexplicable in its pattern of occurrence. For example, there could be two practically identical spy novels, but in one we are privileged to the main characters innermost thoughts about the situation while in the other we only see what the main character does. The only completely stationary object in the room was an enormous couch on which two young women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon. Then they said, but isnt death, considered as a fundamental datum, the means by which the taken-for-granted mundanity of the everyday may be transcended in the direction of I said, yes, maybe.They said, we dont like it.I said, thats sound.They said, its a bloody shame!I said, it is. Dialect often reflects minor differences in terms of vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, and style of speech. Whoa! Idiom is sometimes used as a synonym for diction, meaning the words a writer uses. Some literary terms are closely related to diction, but they mean different things. Here are some examples of diction in literature. In examination of your stance, I have identified some critical errors that I will now expound on. More importantly, by contrasting this airy, immaterial description of the mansion with the gritty, seedy textures of the Valley of Ashes nearby, he's able to emphasize that the Buchanans' wealthand by extension, the American Dreamis rooted in labor that is "screened from sight.". In addition, the limited and informal diction used in response by the students teacher reinforces the absurdity that human beings can provide answers when it comes to such abstractions as death and life. These different choices are all examples of diction. In addition, diction refers to how such words are presented to readers or an audience. Explanation - The normal diction of the above mentioned pedantic diction is 'Hurray! What I have to say relates to poor Lydia. This evokes the lightness and wealth of the Buchanan mansion, in contrast to the crumbling and grimy industrial landscape next door. We see examples of diction of this type in most novels, as friends, family members, and coworkers often use informal language in real-life conversations. The diction throughout the poem, though changing towards the end, is indicative of the bewitching allure of the lady and her delicate fineness. Thats why weve come up with numerous examples to illustrate the varieties of diction and the ways it can enhance your writing. Similarly, a younger character would be more likely to use slang than an older one. In writing, diction is the strategic choice of words based on the audience, context, or situation. Another aspect of diction that Arnold borrows from Shakespeare is his register, which means level of speech. When evaluating a writer's diction, it's important to note that the way readers and listeners interpret diction is relative, and it changes over time. Also, look for a pattern (or similarity) in the words the writer chooses (ex. How are you today? Vs. Hey, whats up?, Im a bit upset, Vs. Im so pissed off., I would be delighted! Vs. Sure, why not?, Ill do it right away, sir, Vs. Yeah, just a sec.. . Informal Diction Informal diction is the inverse of formal diction. Whether youre freelance writing for a client or writing blog posts for your own business, diction is a great way to add some life and variety to your prose. For example, a fictional story set in Paris during WWII will have different diction than a story set in New York City in 2023. For example, look at Mark Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, You dont know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that aint no matter. Compare that to his description of the Buchanan's mansion, minutes away from the Valley of Ashes, as seen through the eyes of the narrator Nick Carraway: We walked through a high hallway into a bright rosy-colored space, fragilely bound into the house by French windows at either end. Ready to add some interest and flair to your prose? Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. You were likely still in your cradle when you first understood tone the way an author communicates a feeling or attitude toward the subject he is writing about. Now, when jargon becomes too difficult, it can alienate readers. Which of the following phrases show that this is an example of informal diction? Through word choice, diction effectively determines the style and tone of a piece of writing, making diction an important tool. This careful and deliberate use of vocabulary allows the poet to emphasize the denotative and connotative meaning of each word in each line. Get this guide to Diction as an easy-to-print PDF. Which type of diction will you try first? For anyone not from the south, this sentence translates to: Shes getting ready to go to the store soon.. That takes more time. (Conversational/Informal Diction). 3 Pedantic diction In other words, Shakespeare's writing mimicked all different types of speech in order to convey the linguistic conventions of the broad cross-sections of society that existed during his time. Although it is a descriptive paragraph, there are very few adjectives used, which show how a description could still write descriptives without adjectives to simplify the work and yet make it easy to understand. As a literary device, diction refers to the choice of words and style of expression that an author makes and uses in a work of literature. Do you like green eggs and ham? For example, people in the Northeast and on the West Coast of the US use the word soda, those in the Northwest and Midwest say pop, and those in the Deep South use coke as a generic term. , actors, singers, and those in careers with an emphasis on speaking clearly. Dialect is the word usage, syntax, and grammar of a specific group of people, while diction refers to the way they pronounce words. Stephen Kings diction differs from John Grishams because they are writing for different audiences. 1. Example of informal diction: No way, that's not true at all. Love is intangible you cant describe its physical appearance and it doesnt have features you can highlight. Fitzgerald's choice of words like "powdery," "crumbling," "leaden," and "ash-gray" refer to the textures and materials of this industrial landscape. Through diction, a writer can sound friendly or serious, knowledgeable or clueless, poetic or dry. This is an informal diction example. In other words, diction encompasses the distinct word choices, tone, and style used by a writer. Examples of Diction: Hey, what's up, man? . For example, if youve never started a blog or online business, phrases like click-through rate (CTR) or search engine optimization (SEO) might be puzzling. Definition of Voice. Sheldon Cooper of the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory is an excellent example of someone using pedantic diction. Onomatopoeia, a sonic device, refers . Samuel Daniel. What is figure of speech with examples?, Figure of Speech pdf, Figure of Speech in English . Thus, Arnold's diction also subtly presents his opinion on the tradition of poetry as a whole. Now that youve seen some examples of diction in literature and other writing, are you ready to add this literary device to your writing toolkit? The boxes will come later. By the time you finish reading this post, youll have a solid understanding of what diction is, the different types of diction, and how it can help you be a better writer. Examples of Slang in Literature The Outsiders, a novel about the conflict between two groups of kids from opposite sides of town, is full of slang terms. Pedantic diction comes across as arrogant in real life, but its nonetheless useful as a writing tool. Compared with Mr. Collins' more formal style, Jane's sentences are rushed, punctuated with dashes and colons. Example: In children's books such as Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham, the writer purposefully chooses simplistic, rhyming words to appeal to children. For example, if writing a cover letter for a job, you would likely use high diction: "Thank you for your consideration. No matter what anybody says to you, dont you let em get your goat. 8. Diction Examples in Literature James Joyce is known for his unique style in writing, especially his novel Ulysses. Arnold makes another move typical of Shakespeare when he spells "foiled" as "foil'd" and "unguessed" as "unguess'd." Sounds like youve loaded the wrong wagon. Here, the use of simple diction in the conversation shows how Hemingway has transformed it into a vehicle to convey implicit meanings just using dialogues. In other words, by choosing and arranging his words in a particular way Arnold can make his poem seems to belong to a different era and take on the lush style of Shakespeare's prose. If doughty deeds my lady please / Right soon Ill mount my steed. (Archaic Diction). Arnold's imitation of Shakespeare's register, then, is complicatedto Arnold's 18th century readers, most or all of Shakespeare's writing would have seemed simply to be high diction, and thus Arnold's imitation would have come across, too, as high diction. From The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens: Thats the pint, sir. Atticus uses very formal language in his profession, as he is a celebrated lawyer. In the second excerpt, Macbeth has just committed a murder and has a rapid-fire exchange with his wife, Lady Macbeth. Example: The employees at Mart-Co were hung out to dry. This choice makes sense in the context that Arnold had a conservative view of the poetic tradition: he believed that poets of his day could only achieve greatness by referring back to the classics, such as Shakespeare and Homer. Still, the criticism is not uninstructive. Out vith it, as the father said to the child, wen he swallowed a garden.. One of the primary things that diction does is establish whether a work is formal or informal. Planting his steadfast footsteps in the sea, Making the heaven of heavens his dwelling-place, Spares but the cloudy border of his base To the foil'd searching of mortality; And thou, who didst the stars and sunbeams know, Self-school'd, self-scann'd, self-honour'd, self-secure, Didst tread on earth unguess'd at.Better so! You know my methods, Watson. put it shining anywhere I please. 4- Hard like jelly. My decision to do so is, I believe, in the best interest of science. Slang diction - Slang is commonly used for a younger audience and includes newly coined words or phrases. Or, they have doubts about their own intelligence and need to prove it to themselves and everyone else. Hucks diction reflects his casual, boyish manner and lack of formal education. Pedantic diction uses an excessive amount of academic or big words, as if the speaker is trying to prove how smart they are. For example, you might use shorter sentences when speaking to people with short attention spans and use longer, complex sentences around a more patient audience. They often use big words in situations where they are not appropriate. This is made particularly clear through the examination of two letters included in Pride and Prejudice. are different from the words youd choose when speaking to a close friendthats diction. Strategies for Diction Questions. Talk to you soon.". In literary vocabulary, the word diction has a vast list of meanings. The decision to use one word instead of another, even when they have similar meanings, changes the readers interpretation. It defines the author's creativity, correctness, clearness and effectiveness altogether. However, in Chaucer's time, most people wrote in Latin, French, or Italian. I am very, very sorry. I have eatenthe plumsthat were inthe icebox, and whichyou were probablysavingfor breakfast, Forgive methey were deliciousso sweetand so cold. And I said, I dont know, I dont know. "High" diction can be thought of as formal or elevated: the sort of language used in research papers or formal speeches, for example. A person who speaks clearly has good diction, while a person who mumbles or mispronounces their words has poor diction. For example, Spanish is one of many languages that has a different form of address and verb conjugation if you are speaking to a stranger or superior than if you are speaking to a friend or younger person. It shows that the sweetness and purity of Daniel's language, which won the praise of Meres, Lodge, Drummond, Carew and others, was fully recognised in his own day; and it hints at a timidity in the poet which may account for the comparative lack in . The minimum use of adjectives in these lines shows the use of diction by Hemingway. . He told them that it was only because of her love that hed been able to do the thing that he had done, the thing they could no longer stop, told them if they killed him they would probably feel nothing and their children would probably feel nothing either, not until they were old and weak or about to be struck by a car and then they would sense him waiting for them on the other side and over there he wouldnt be no fatboy or dork or kid no girl had ever loved; over there hed be a hero, an avenger. Although the two are related and affect one another, they represent different ideas. The patient has experienced acute trauma to the right femur, and must have surgery stat. Heres a quick and simple definition: Diction is a writer's unique style of expression, especially his or her choice and arrangement of words. There are different types of diction, each with its own specific style that works best in particular scenarios. In contrast to the specific textures and material adjectives he uses to describe the Valley of Ashes, Fitzgerald's description of the Buchanan's home is very immaterial. For the loftiest hill, Who to the stars uncrowns his majesty. The authors have used formal diction in all three. engage in basic research, applied research. You see, the style and tone of a story can change dramatically according to the writers choice in vocabulary and well see why that matters in a second. This is also called archaism but it is mostly the use of classical or outdated words that constitute archaism. The list is intended as a quick-reference guide and is by no means exhaustive; similarly, the definitions given below aim for practical utility rather than completeness. The tone or atmosphere of a piece of writing is also considered to be part of diction. It's best in casual situations, but it can sound out of place in serious situations. Here are some of the most well-known examples: Pop vs. cola or soft drink Nappies vs. diapers Hot-dish (Minnesota) vs. casserole Klick vs. kilometer Lift vs. elevator Flat vs. apartment Binky vs. pacifier Subs vs. hoagies vs. submarine sandwiches vs. heroes Parakeet vs. budgie Truck vs. lorry Soccer vs. football Occasionally a line of gray cars crawls along an invisible track, gives out a ghastly creak, and comes to rest, and immediately the ash-gray men swarm up with leaden spades and stir up an impenetrable cloud, which screens their obscure operations from your sight. Although the American society abolished slavery . Everybody else going through the terror and joy of their first crushes, their first dates, their first kisses while Oscar sat in the back of the class, behind his DMs screen, and watched his adolescence stream by. While its out of place in everyday speech and writing, its a necessary element of many creative outlets such as poetry, song lyrics, rap, and to some extent speechwriting. Colloquial diction is the use of informal words or expressions associated with a specific region or time period. When someone is too concerned with literal accuracy or formality, that person can be referred to as pedantic. Some examples of current slang terms would be tea for gossip, shady for suspicious, or ripped for physically fit. 1 a (1) : writings in prose or verse especially : writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest literature stands related to man as science stands to nature J. H. Newman (2) : an example of such writings what came out, though rarely literature, was always a roaring good story People b See how something as abstract and intangible as love becomes moreconcrete and tangible? For the reader, the diction used by Williams in the poem reinforces the theme of temptation and desire intertwined with feelings of resentment and coldness. Denotation is defined in contrast to connotation, which is the array of emotions and ideas suggested by a word in addition to its dictionary definition. That takes more time.What do you want me to do?. Register refers to whether a piece of writing is formal or informal, or whether the writer is using "high," "neutral," or "low" diction. While diction deals with the choice of words, syntax deals with the arrangement and organization of words. Though I havent lived in the south for almost 20 years, I grew up there, and I still use the southern dialect of yall in my writing & speech. In Hurstons novel, Janies diction helps to establish the setting of rural Florida in the early 1900s. ? Notice how the former sentence has more depth and personality than the latter sentence? This results in an emotional response on the part of the reader of frustration and helplessness in understanding the full concept of death, and therefore life as well. The tone of Arnold's "Shakespeare" can be described as: Arnold uses diction strategically in this poem to great effecthis diction not only creates a beautiful, musical piece of writing by the standards of his time, but it also proves a point about the poetic tradition. 4. It can also express additional meanings or particular styles. Sun, car, blue, and jump are all examples of concrete words. In response to a request that you do something, formal diction might sound like, I will address that issue right away., Alternatively, using informal diction, the response would be more casual like, You got it.. 1. Examples of Diction in Literature Example #1 MACBETH: Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Different situations and audiences call for different styles. 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Just a sec.. sentences are rushed, punctuated with dashes and colons at all easier to understand normal... Its nonetheless useful as a synonym for diction, a writer ; - Here, the dove peace... Use one word instead of another, even when they have similar meanings, changes the interpretation! Readers interpretation the same vocabulary depending on the outcome they wish to for... Breakfast, Forgive methey were deliciousso sweetand so cold sound friendly or serious, knowledgeable clueless... James Joyce is known for his unique style in writing, diction encompasses the distinct word choices tone. Diction to effectively support their narrative and characters choice of words based on the they... This is an excellent example of informal diction informal diction informal diction: way... For context, and nifty, used by Gen Z, and style used by Z. The inquiry deliciousso sweetand so cold authors tend to write to a audience... His working-class background careful and deliberate use of vocabulary allows the poet emphasize...