Analyzing Diction
Word Choice
Diction
Word Choice
develops mood and tone
helps convey and establish purpose
use an adjective to describe an author’s
diction
When Analyzing Diction
Do the words have positive, negative, neutral,
religious connotations?
What adjective(s) would best describe the
author’s diction?
What do you associate with the word?
What images does the word produce?
Denotation vs. Connotation
Denotation: dictionary definition
Connotation: the implied or suggested
meaning attached to a word (the emotional
tag)
Positive, Negative, Neutral, Religious
Connotations? Examples of Connotation
Corpulent, plump, obese, heavy set, fleshy, fat,
burly, overweight, bulky, weighty, pudgy, wellfed, stout
Home vs. House; Skinny vs. Thin
Trekkie or Trekker
Economical, frugal, cheap, miserly
Aggressive vs. Assertive
Adjectives Used to Describe Diction
Abstract
Patriotic
Sensuous
Concrete
Insipid
Scholarly
Colloquial
Connotative
Sharp
Maternal
Cultured
Detached
Romantic
Familial
Esoteric
Picturesque
Dark
Poetic
Euphemistic
Pretentious
Emotional
Homespun
Repetitive
Warm