But What does it all Mean?!?!?! Uncovering Meaning, Tone, Figurative Language &More Mrs. Smith- 2015

Has mom or dad ever said to you, “You better watch your tone young man!” This is because, typically, a negative attitude is coming through in your voice. Tone is the AUTHOR’S attitude towards the audience, the subject, or the character. You can recognize the tone/attitude by the language/word choices the author uses. His language will reveal his perspective/opinion (that is, whether it is positive/negative) about the subject. TONE

Written Tone Verbal tone is easier to detect Teacher Student Big Brother Little Brother Written Tone can be more difficult. Think about text messages. Have you ever found it difficult to discern what someone means when they text you? I have. It’s because you can’t hear the intonation in his or her voice! When in doubt, readers must examine the context of the story itself. Tone must be inferred through the use of descriptive words.

DESCRIBING TONE Adjectives are used to describe tone Have a healthy “tone vocabulary” Consider some words that describe tone. Sarcastic, sincere, embarrassed, proud or frightened The key to choosing the correct tone is to carefully consider the author’s word choice.

Mood is the overall atmosphere of a piece of literature The mood is created by the setting, the characters, and their actions

DESCRIBING MOOD Adjectives describe Mood Remember that you are NOT describing the way the person feels Like tone, mood words can be either positive or negative Examples: relaxed, cozy, romantic, gloomy, frightening, somber

Mood Identifying the mood of a piece of writing will depend on the number of descriptive words you know to answer the question: How did this paragraph, this passage, this story make the character or make you feel?

What is the mood of this picture?

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TONE AND MOOD Tone = Person + Attitude Mood = Environment

So what does it all mean? To identify the meaning within a given text, it is important to first identify the genre. Is this a persuasive piece? A fictional piece? Is there bias? Ultimately, you will want to find the theme or over-arching idea or message about life that the author is sharing with you. Naturally, this is directly related to the author’s purpose.

A cautionary word: A text’s meaning will not always be served to you on a silver platter. Often you will have to make inferences (connections based upon the information you are provided with) to derive the meaning of a given text. This will take time and will become increasingly difficult as you progress academically, so begin practicing now!!!!

Figurative Language Non-literal or figurative language refers to words, and groups of words, that exaggerate or alter the usual meanings of the component words. EXAMPLES: Simile A simile uses the words “like” or “as” to compare one object or idea with another to suggest they are alike. Example: busy as a bee

Figurative Language cont. Metaphor The metaphor states a fact or draws a verbal picture by the use of comparison. A simile would say you are like something; a metaphor is more positive - it says you are something. Example: You are what you eat.

Figurative Language Personification A figure of speech in which human characteristics are given to an animal or an object. Example: My puppy gave me a hug.

Figurative Language Alliteration The repetition of the same initial letter, sound, or group of sounds in a series of words. Alliteration includes tongue twisters. Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.

Figurative Language Onomatopoeia The use of a word to describe or imitate a natural sound or the sound made by an object or an action. Example: snap crackle pop

Figurative Language Hyperbole An exaggeration that is so dramatic that no one would believe the statement is true. Tall tales are hyperboles. Example: I just walked like a million miles.

Figurative Language Idioms An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words. These phrases are often culturally bound. EX: That was a piece of cake. When you describe something as being a piece of cake, you don’t literally mean that it was a piece of cake—something sweet and rich. You mean that it was EASY!!!

Figurative Language Clichés A cliché is an expression that has been used so often that it has become trite and sometimes boring. Examples: 1)Actions speak louder than words. 2)Love is blind. 3)The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Figurative Language vs. Literal Meaning Figurative language does not involve literal meaning!!!! Literal meaning is black and white—straight-forward. If I say, “The dog is black.” I literally mean that the coloration of the dog’s coat is black. If I say, “He is dumber than a box of bricks,” I do not mean that he is literally dumber than a box of bricks because that is impossible.

Connotation Connotation refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly. Words carry cultural and emotional associations or meanings in addition to their literal meanings or denotations.

Let’s look at one more: I am firm. You are being stubborn. *Do you see how both words refer to a refusal to change your mind about a given decision although firm has a more POSITIVE connotation while stubborn has a more NEGATIVE connotation?

Analogies and allusions Analogy– An analogy is the comparison of a subject to something that is similar to it in order to clarify the subject’s nature, purpose, or function. Some similes and metaphors are based on analogies between qualities shared by the subject and the thing to which it is compared.

Examples of analogies: You are as annoying as nails on a chalkboard. You must be pretty annoying for someone to say that. I am going to be toast when I get home. This is usually said when someone is in trouble with their significant other. He is like a rock. This means he is steadfast and strong. I feel like a fish out of water. This implies that you are not comfortable in your surroundings.

How do analogies help us to better understand what the author means? Analogies compare one thing to something else to give the reader a better understanding.

Not illusions, allusions! Allusion is a passing reference in a work of literature to another literary or historic work, figure, or event, or to a literary passage. The reference is typically not explained, so you will have to derive the meaning yourself given what you know about the other work. These are often more complicated to understand. Not everyone will recognize every single allusion within a given text. Even I don’t!!!

Examples of allusions: 1) “Don’t act like you’re some Romeo,” refers to Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet. 2) “This place is the Garden of Eden,”– biblical reference. 3) “You’re acting like a real Scrooge.” This references Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Whew!!!!!!!! I know we have covered a lot today. These are all literary devices that we will continue to cover throughout the year. I DO NOT expect you to memorize all of this information today. I just wanted to expose you to some of the terminology we will be discussing this year.