Literary Analysis DIDLS

ANALYZING FOR TONE WHAT IS THE SPEAKER’S ATTITUDE TOWARD A CHARACTER, PLACE, OR THING? YOU WILL USE D.I.D.L.S TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR ANALYSIS. Use diction to find tone. Use imagery, details, language and syntax to support tone.

DICTION: Word Choice Adjectives, nouns, verbs, adverbs, negative words, positive words, synonyms, contrast. Colloquial (slang) Informal (conversational) Formal (literary) Connotative (suggested/association) Denotative ( exact meaning) Euphonious (pleasant sounding) Cacophonous (harsh sounding)

DICTION: Words can be concrete (specific) or abstract (general) General: “cat”, “car” Specific: “Siamese cat”, “corvette” The general, abstract words help move the pace quickly; concrete words show us more.

DICTION: Bill was unintelligent. (neutral) Bill was a zipperhead. (lower IQ) Ask yourself: Why did the author chose that word? What is it’s connotation? Think word association chart!

IMAGERY: Appeals to senses Imagery makes the passage feel “real” to the audience. Example: The pond water, warm as a bath… The pond water, like a boiling pot… What is the difference in attitude?

Imagery: Alliteration: repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together Assonnance: Moths cough and drop wings. Consonance: The man has kin in Spain. Simile, metaphor ,hyperbole, personification, pun, symbol, oxymoron. What types of images are used? What does the author focus on in that image?

DETAILS: facts Details are not images as they do not have a strong sensory appeal. Examples: the peeling paint, old hat Ask what details the author chose to include or exclude? What do they imply? What connotations does this have?

Language: look at entire passage Formal: long, technical, unusual Informal: slang Conversational What is the impression? Does it reflect education? A profession? Is it plain? Clear? Figurative?

Syntax: Sentence structure Word order: word at the end emphasizes what is important (periodic) Important word at beginning of sentences (loose) Ex: John brought flowers. Flowers were brought by John.

Syntax: Short sentences: Intense, immediate, quickens the pace Long Sentences: creates a distance between reader and story. Spoken by character = thoughtful

Syntax: Placement of adjectives: A noun before adjective – ANASTROPHE – adds weight to adjective. An adjective first isn’t as strong. The 3 Ps: prominence (placement) position (where is idea) pace (fast or slow)

Syntax: Sentence types What types of sentences are used? Simple, compound, complex, compound- complex Declarative, imperative, interrogative, exclamatory Periodic: meaning is reached at end of sentence. Loose: meaning is understood at any point in the sentence.

Syntax: Punctuation Ellipses: trailing off, dream like state Dash: interruption of thought Semicolon: piling up details, equal Colon: list, a result Italics: emphasis Capitalization: emphasis Exclamation: emotion/emphasis

Tone Shift: The attitude about the topic can change by the end of a passage. Key words to look for: but, although, however, nevertheless Change in line length Paragraph division Punctuation (dashes, periods, colon) Sharp contrast in diction