Unlocking Texts: Analyzing Language and Diction
Tip for Close Reading: Pay Attention to Word Choice and Language
The language a writer uses, is carefully selected to convey meaning, evoke emotions, and create a specific atmosphere. By closely analyzing diction (word choice), syntax (sentence structure), and figurative language, you unlock the deeper meanings of a text.
What Is Language and Diction?
- Diction: Refers to the specific choice of words used by the writer. Words can be formal, informal, technical, or emotional, depending on the tone and purpose of the text.
- Syntax: This refers to sentence structure, including the arrangement of words, sentence length, punctuation, and rhythm.
- Figurative Language: Includes metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, and other devices that help convey meanings beyond the literal.
Why Is Language and Diction Important?
- Conveys Tone and Mood: Diction sets the emotional tone of a text. Whether the text is formal or casual, serious or playful, the words chosen guide the reader’s emotional response.
- Shapes Characterization: The way a character speaks (or how they’re described) can reveal their background, personality, and motivations.
- Reveals Themes: Language can express deeper themes. A repeated word or phrase might emphasize a central idea of the text.
- Clarifies Author’s Purpose: Language choices highlight the author’s purpose — whether it’s to inform, entertain, persuade, or criticize.
Key Strategies for Analyzing Language and Diction
- Identify Key Words and Phrases
- Why: Certain words are chosen for their emotional, symbolic, or thematic weight.
- Tip: Look for words that stand out because of their connotations (implied meaning), their use in context, or because they evoke an emotional response.
- Example: In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck’s use of the word “lonely” repeatedly throughout the novel highlights the isolation of the characters, especially George and Lennie. Pay attention to how the word is used differently in various contexts.
- Example: In The Road by Cormac McCarthy, words like “ash,” “grey,” and “dead” are loaded with negative connotations, reflecting the bleak, post-apocalyptic setting.
- Why: Certain words are chosen for their emotional, symbolic, or thematic weight.
- Examine the Tone of the Text
- Why: The tone (the writer’s attitude toward the subject) is shaped by their choice of words. It could be sarcastic, earnest, humorous, ironic, etc.
- Tip: Identify adjectives and adverbs used to describe characters, settings, or events. Look at the overall emotional tone.
- Example: In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses sharp, witty language to convey the ironic tone in her depiction of characters like Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine.
- Example: In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden’s language is often sarcastic and cynical, creating a tone of alienation and disillusionment.
- Why: The tone (the writer’s attitude toward the subject) is shaped by their choice of words. It could be sarcastic, earnest, humorous, ironic, etc.
- Pay Attention to Sentence Structure and Syntax
- Why: Syntax influences the rhythm and flow of the text. Long, complex sentences might suggest a more formal tone, while short, fragmented sentences can convey urgency, tension, or emotion.
- Tip: Break down longer sentences into parts to see how the author builds meaning. Notice if the author uses punctuation in unusual ways (such as dashes or ellipses) to add emphasis.
- Example: In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald often uses long, flowing sentences to evoke a sense of grandeur and excess, fitting the lavish world of the 1920s.
- Example: In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley uses short, abrupt sentences during moments of horror or urgency to build tension and convey the frantic emotions of her characters.
- Why: Syntax influences the rhythm and flow of the text. Long, complex sentences might suggest a more formal tone, while short, fragmented sentences can convey urgency, tension, or emotion.
- Look for Figurative Language (Similes, Metaphors, etc.)
- Why: Figurative language helps express abstract ideas more concretely, creating vivid imagery and emotional impact.
- Tip: Pay close attention to any comparisons (similes or metaphors) or exaggerations (hyperbole). These often reveal the author’s deeper meaning or convey complex emotions.
- Example: In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the metaphor of “a tale told by an idiot” to convey the futility and chaos of Macbeth’s life.
- Example: In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses the scarlet letter itself as a symbol — not just a physical object, but a metaphor for sin, shame, and societal judgment.
- Why: Figurative language helps express abstract ideas more concretely, creating vivid imagery and emotional impact.
- Consider Repetition of Words or Phrases
- Why: Repeated words or phrases emphasize important themes or ideas.
- Tip: If a word is repeated several times, the author likely wants you to focus on it. Look at how it connects to the overall meaning or theme of the text.
- Example: In The Great Gatsby, the word “green” is repeated throughout, particularly in reference to Gatsby’s green light, symbolizing unattainable dreams and longing.
- Example: In Othello, Shakespeare repeats “honest” when Iago manipulates Othello into doubting his wife. This repetition emphasizes Othello’s tragic flaw — his inability to see through Iago’s deceit.
- Why: Repeated words or phrases emphasize important themes or ideas.
- Analyze the Use of Dialogue
- Why: Dialogue is often a direct reflection of character traits, social status, and relationships. How characters speak can reveal their emotional state, personality, and worldview.
- Tip: Pay attention to the way characters speak (formal vs. informal), their word choices, and how they interact with others.
- Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the formal language between characters like Juliet and her parents contrasts with the more intimate, poetic language used between Romeo and Juliet, reflecting their love.
- Example: In The Lord of the Flies, the language used by Ralph and Piggy is more civilized compared to Jack’s increasingly brutal and primal language, symbolizing the breakdown of society.
- Why: Dialogue is often a direct reflection of character traits, social status, and relationships. How characters speak can reveal their emotional state, personality, and worldview.
Examples of Close Reading Through Diction and Language
Example 1: 1984 by George Orwell (A-Level/IB)
- Diction: Orwell uses cold, impersonal language, such as “thoughtcrime” and “doublethink,” to create a chilling, oppressive atmosphere in the dystopian world of Oceania.
- Tone: The tone is bleak and authoritarian, mirroring the totalitarian government that controls the society.
- Figurative Language: The use of “Big Brother” and “thought police” as metaphors for total control and surveillance emphasizes the lack of personal freedom.
Example 2: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (IGCSE/Edexcel)
- Diction: Dickens uses vibrant, emotionally charged words like “greedy,” “cold-hearted,” and “redemption” to communicate Scrooge’s transformation.
- Tone: The tone shifts from harsh and cold (describing Scrooge’s life) to warm and hopeful (as he becomes more generous).
- Repetition: The phrase “Bah! Humbug!” is repeated, highlighting Scrooge’s bitterness and disdain for Christmas.
How to Apply Language and Diction in Exam Responses
- Tip: Always link your analysis back to the writer’s purpose. If the writer is using harsh, aggressive diction, they may be conveying a critique of societal injustice or reflecting a character’s internal conflict.
- Clue: When writing exam answers, use phrases like:
- “The author’s use of [specific word/phrase] creates a tone of…”
- “The repetition of [word] highlights the theme of…”
- “Through [figurative language], the author emphasizes…”
- “The author’s use of [specific word/phrase] creates a tone of…”
- Example Response:
- “In Lord of the Flies, Golding’s choice of words like ‘beast,’ ‘creature,’ and ‘hunting’ creates an atmosphere of fear and savagery, reflecting the boys’ descent into barbarism.”
- “In Lord of the Flies, Golding’s choice of words like ‘beast,’ ‘creature,’ and ‘hunting’ creates an atmosphere of fear and savagery, reflecting the boys’ descent into barbarism.”
By focusing on diction and language, you’ll be able to unlock the deeper layers of meaning in any text. Understanding the tone, word choice, and figurative language will allow you to make more nuanced, insightful analyses in your exams.