Learning Literature
By: Isabelle U.
Diction
What is Diction?
Diction is the choice of words in an selection that create more emphasis or drama in the story.
Example:
"How then am I mad? Hearken and observe how healthily-how calmly I can tell you the whole story."
~Edgar Allan Poe-"The Tell-Tale Heart"
How then am I mad?, hearken, observe and calmly are all examples of diction.
Imagery
What is Imagery?
Imagery is the use of words to create an image in the reader's mind.
Example:
"The jungle was wide and full of twitterings, rustlings, murmurs, and sighs."
~Ray Bradbury-"A Sound of Thunder"
Twitterings, rustlings, murmurs, and sighs are all part of imagery because they all help to create a detailed image in the reader's mind.
Wide and full could also be imagery.
Tone
What is Tone?
Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject that gets expressed to the reader through his/her writing.
Example:
"Gentlemen:
I have received your letter today by post, in regard to the ransom you ask for the return of my son. I think you are a little high in your demands, and I hereby make you a counter-proposition, which I am inclined to believe you will accept."
~O. Henry-"The Ransom of Red Chief"
The tone in this excerpt is kind of sarcastic or amused.
Some textual evidence to prove this could be: "I am inclined to believe" this shows that he is feeling proud or maybe even overly confident.