DIDLS Method of Literary Analysis

DIDLS Diction Imagery Details Language Sentence Structure Ends in a discussion of tone

Diction Word Choice Connotation/ Denotaton Slim/Scrawny Clean/Neat Freak Confident/Conceited Loaded Words-in ads and political speeches Compare his/her word choice to what another person might use. Figure out the rationale for the word choices and what effect these choices have on the work as a whole. ex. Author 1: Bill was unintelligent. ex. Author 2: Bill, who couldn't add two and two, was a Neanderthal zipperhead with a pea-sized brain

Imagery Creates a vivid picture Appeals to Sense What images does the author use? The kinds of images the author puts in or leaves out reflect his/her style. Figure out what effect is created by the imagery or lack of it. A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."- Tenneva Jordan "My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it."- Mark Twain "My mother is a fish." - William Faulkner

Details Language What does the author include? exclude? Why? -An author describing a battlefield might include paragraph after paragraph of details about the stench of rotting bodies, but he might just say that soldiers died, or he might not even mention death. Each method creates a specific effect. Look closely at what's there and what's not there and figure out why Indicates bias, reflects his/her style, shifts focus Words that describe the entire body of words in a text – not isolated bits of diction What is the effect of the language is on the meaning of the work

Sentence Structure Consider the patterns and structures of sentences Consider the construction of sentences to convey attitude Consider shifts if present and figure out why Review- Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex