Diction:
Diction Formal Poetic Middle Informal Colloquial Dialect Jargon
Diction: Communicating through Sound and Meaning:
Diction: Communicating through Sound and Meaning Onomatopoeia Denotation Connotation Bird Pop Neat Interesting Lite “Words written in other times and places may have unexpected connotations” (624).
Diction: Communicating through Sound and Meaning:
Diction: Communicating through Sound and Meaning Frequently, poets play upon the multiple connotations of a word on purpose to add layers of meaning to the theme. Often, the poet prefers ambiguity to make the reader consider the many possible options.
Word Order:
Word Order Syntax plays an important role in understanding a poem. It is the poet’s arrangements of words into phrases, clauses, and sentences to achieve effects. Note when poets vary from “normal” word order. Note also when poets break their lines for emphasis on particular words. ee cummings Louis Simpson Gwendolyn Brooks
Tone:
Tone Tone is the writer’s attitude toward the subject and the mood created in the poem. Serious, light Happy, sad Nostalgic, bitter Private, public Angry, affectionate