How Do You Determine an Author’s Style? Feature Menu Style Literary Devices Figurative Language Irony Your Turn

Style When you hear the word style, you may think of the way your friends dress . . . or the way a baseball player swings a bat. A person’s style is created by how he or she does something—whether it’s selecting clothes or playing a sport.

Style To determine a writer’s style, look at the way he or she uses language. short, conversational sentences realistic dialogue comical main characters lighthearted tone Every writer has a style, although some styles are easier to recognize than others.

Style Word Choice Most writers do not try to invent new styles. Rather, a writer’s style comes from the choices he or she makes putting words on a page. Should I use a long word or a short one? Do I want a simple sentence or a long, complex sentence? The decisions a writer makes determine his or her style.

Style Tone and Mood The writer’s word choice sets the work’s tone, or attitude, and mood, or feeling. Nina and her dad frolicked on the playground. Nina and her dad frolicked on the playground. “I’ll drag you to court!” Mrs. Hicks shouted. “I’ll drag you to court!” Mrs. Hicks shouted. A happy tone can create a carefree mood. An angry tone can create a tense mood.

Style Tone and Mood Read the following. Note its tone and mood. It was a frosty October day, yet the new playground was crowded with parents and their happy, noisy children. “Wow!” exclaimed Manny to his friend. “I am so pumped that the park is finally ready. This awesome track and baseball diamond will be great in the spring. And the new swings and slide are perfect for keeping my annoying pest of a little brother busy.” It was a frosty October day, yet the new playground was crowded with parents and their happy, noisy children. “Wow!” exclaimed Manny to his friend. “I am so pumped that the park is finally ready. This awesome track and baseball diamond will be great in the spring. And the new swings and slide are perfect for keeping my annoying pest of a little brother busy.” It was a frosty October day, yet the new playground was crowded with parents and their happy, noisy children. “Wow!” exclaimed Manny to his friend. “I am so pumped that the park is finally ready. This awesome track and baseball diamond will be great in the spring. And the new swings and slide are perfect for keeping my annoying pest of a little brother busy.” The tone, as shown in Manny’s attitude toward the park and how it will keep his little brother busy, creates a mood of excited anticipation. What words show Manny’s attitude toward the park? What words show his attitude toward his brother? What mood does the tone create in the passage?

Style Quick Check The old woman stalked cautiously down the long, dark hallway. With each step, she moved closer to her victim: the elusive noisy cricket that had somehow made its way into the house. I’ll get him this time, she thought. I can’t listen to his racket one more night! The woman’s careful steps were virtually soundless; those old slippers were softer than a whisper. Yet, somehow, the cricket heard her, and it jumped just beyond her reach into the linen closet. What is the tone of this passage? How does the tone contribute to the mood of the passage? [End of Section]

Literary Devices Another way to determine an author’s style is to examine his or her use of literary devices. A literary device is a technique writers use to produce a certain effect. Examples of literary devices include imagery, dialect, and symbols.

Literary Devices Imagery Language that creates word pictures and appeals to our senses is called imagery. Images make us feel as if we are seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, or smelling what the writer describes.

Literary Devices Imagery Imagery helps create word pictures as you read. The children laughed as they ran along the beach, feet pounding the soft sand. The salty ocean breeze cooled their faces.

What does this character look like? Literary Devices Dialect Dialect is a way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular place or group of people. ? What does this character look like? Y’all come on back to my ranch and watch me lasso that steer. Writers sometimes use dialect to provide clues about the people and settings in stories, bringing characters and places to life.

Y’all come on back to my ranch and watch me lasso that steer. Literary Devices Dialect Did you guess that the character is a friendly cowboy? Y’all come on back to my ranch and watch me lasso that steer. Dialect can make characters seem more real.

a skull and crossbones represent danger. Literary Devices Symbols A symbol is a person, place, or event that has meaning but also stands for something else. For example, a skull and crossbones represent part of the human skeleton. As a symbol . . . Pirates! Poison! Toxic smoke! a skull and crossbones represent danger.

Literary Devices Symbols Read the passage. Then, answer the questions. Mr. Badu created many jobs and donated millions of dollars to local nonprofit organizations. To honor his contributions, Mayor Cohen presented him with the keys to the city. Mr. Badu created many jobs and donated millions of dollars to local nonprofit organizations. To honor his contributions, Mayor Cohen presented him with the keys to the city. Identify the symbol. What do the keys symbolize? The keys to the city don’t actually unlock anything. Instead, they symbolize the city’s appreciation for Mr. Badu’s achievements.

Literary Devices Quick Check Identify the imagery, dialect, and symbols. The boat slowed as it neared the shore. Overhead, the full moon shone like a spot-light, sending beams dancing along the ripples. “Blimey, ’ere we are at last,” growled Captain Haines. “Strike the bloomin’ colors! Step lively, now!” A sailor swiftly lowered the British flag. Captain Haines touched the lucky rabbit’s foot he always carried. If the border guards found out where the ship was from, the mission was doomed. [End of Section]

Figurative Language Writers often use figures of speech—expressions that are not literally true but suggest similarities between usually unrelated things. His eyes . . . sparkled like diamonds. Figures of speech can be an important part of a writer’s style.

Figurative Language Here are some figures of speech that you will find in your reading: compare two unlike things using a word of comparison, such as like, than, as, or resembles. Similes Metaphors compare unlike things directly, without using a specific word of comparison. Personification speaks of a nonhuman or inanimate thing as if it had human or lifelike qualities.

Describe how Youssef made his shot. Figurative Language Similes Similes compare two unlike objects using a word of comparison, such as like, than, as, or resembles. Youssef shot up like a rocket as he went for the basket. Describe how Youssef made his shot.

Change this metaphor into a simile. Figurative Language Metaphors Metaphors compare unlike things directly, without using a specific word of comparison. Hannah’s eyes are stars brightening the room. Change this metaphor into a simile.

Figurative Language Personification Personification speaks of a nonhuman or nonliving thing as if it had human or lifelike qualities. The moonlight danced along the water. How does personification help the moonlight come alive?

Figurative Language Idioms Idioms are expressions that mean something different from the literal meanings of the words. The actor hid nothing from her fans. Her life, you might say, was an open book. How does the idiom express the idea that nothing is hidden?

Figurative Language Quick Check Identify the similes, metaphor, and personification. Christian was upset when his mother told him his room smelled like an old running shoe. “How can you say that, Mom?” he asked, his face a question mark. “I’m as neat as a tack.” “Maybe the room is neat, but your laundry bag is overflowing with sweaty clothes,” replied his mom. “I think the bag will walk out of here on its own pretty soon.” [End of Section]

Irony Another aspect of a writer’s style is irony—what happens when reality contradicts what we expect. For example, we expect a tiger to be a dangerous beast stalking its prey . . . not a pet relaxing in a monk’s lap.

Irony There are three types of irony: dramatic irony verbal irony situational irony

Irony Verbal irony occurs when we say one thing but mean something else. Often, the speaker’s tone, or attitude, is key to the meaning. “I can’t wait to get to the cafeteria for my favorite lunch—hot dogs and beans,” Laura said sarcastically. Here, Laura means the opposite of what she says.

Irony With situational irony, a situation turns out to be the opposite of what we would expect. For example, we expect to find a kitten peering at fish in a fishbowl. We certainly don’t expect to find that kitten in the bowl!

It’s really quiet around here today. Irony Dramatic irony occurs when we know something that a character does not know. It’s really quiet around here today. Jolene has no idea that her brothers are sneaking up to attack her with pillows, but we do know.

Irony Quick Check Which type of irony does this passage contain? “Yeah?” grumbled the police officer behind the desk. “I’m . . . ah . . . here to . . . ah . . . pick up my brother, Joshua Taylor,” the woman said nervously. The officer noticed her jumpy behavior. She looks familiar, he thought. Wait a minute—that’s Bonnie Taylor! She’s on our Most Wanted list. He smiled. “Well, young lady, you’ll be joining your brother, but you won’t be leaving. You’re under arrest.” Which type of irony does this passage contain? [End of Section]

Analyze Author’s Style Your Turn Read this passage, and identify which statement on the next slide correctly describes its style. But what bothered him even more was when his father’s eyes went away. Usually it happened when it didn’t cause any particular trouble. Sometimes during a meal his father’s fork would stop halfway to his mouth, just stop, and there would be a long pause while the eyes went away, far away. "Stop the Sun" by Gary Paulsen from Boy's Life, January 1986. Copyright © 1986 by Gary Paulsen. Reproduced by permission of Flannery Literary Agency on behalf of the author.

Analyze Author’s Style Your Turn Which statement correctly describes the passage’s style? Style 1 The writer uses imagery and idioms to create a light tone about a serious subject. Style 2 Repetition and vivid imagery help show a young man’s struggle to understand his father.

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