RL04 Evaluate the meaning of complex words and phrases—including the figurative and connotative meanings—and analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone.

What is diction? Diction is simply word choice. Writers carefully choose their words to bring meaning to the text. For example, how does the meaning change if “tired” is replaced by “exhausted” and “sat” is replaced by “slouched” in the sentence below? The tired boy sat in the chair.

What is denotation? It is the dictionary definition of a word It is the literal definition of the word For example, the dictionary definition of “cold” is having little or no warmth.

What is connotation? It is the additional meaning a word may carry. It is the figurative or emotional meaning of the word as opposed to its exact meaning. What could be a connotative meaning of cold?

Besides diction, what can affect the meaning and tone of a text? Figurative language—writers use figurative language so that the reader gains new insights into objects or subjects in a text.

Simile A comparison to two unlike objects using the words like, as, than, or resembles Example:

metaphor A comparison to two unlike things in which one thing becomes another—does not use like or as Example:

personification a nonhuman thing or quality is given human characteristics Example:

Words that sound like what they mean onomatopoeia Words that sound like what they mean Example:

oxymoron A blending of contradictory words Example:

hyperbole An exaggeration Example:

paradox A statement or situation that seems to be a contradiction but reveals a truth Example: In the Gift of The Magi, O Henry refers to the poverty-stricken Jim and Stella as “one of the richest couples on earth.”

Idiom A phrase that expresses something other than its literal meaning Example:

Language that appeals to the senses Imagery Language that appeals to the senses Example:

Symbolism Person, place, or thing that stands for itself and for something beyond itself as well Example:

Alliteration The repetition of initial sounds that are close together in a line of a poetry or in a sentence within a text Example:

Analogy Is comparable to a metaphor and simile in that it shows how two different things are similar, but it’s a bit more complex. It is more of a logical argument Example:

allusion A reference to a statement, a person, a place, or an event from literature, history, religion, mythology, politics, sports, science, or pop culture Example:

The attitude a writer takes toward a subject What is tone? The attitude a writer takes toward a subject Word Choice will help you determine the tone