Diction and the Dark Romantics

Learning Objectives:

I can identify characteristics of Dark Romanticism in Poe’s work.

I can identify examples of diction that influence the mood of a passage.

What exactly is diction again?

Diction refers to the WORD CHOICE that is used by the author.

The choices that an author makes in diction enhances the mood and tone of a piece of literature, as well as the author’s overall style.

Diction Vocabulary

When writing, an author may use words for a variety of purposes.

He may use words that are…

General or specific

Concrete (specific) or abstract (general or conceptual)

Colloquial (slang), informal (conversational), formal or old-fashioned

Denotation and Connotation

Words have both a denotative meaning (literal, dictionary definition) and a connotative meaning (a suggested meaning, sometimes emotional)

For example, what is the denotative meaning of the word dress?

What does the connotative meaning of the word gown suggest?

Euphonious vs. Cacophonous

Words can be described as having a euphonious (pleasant) sound. Many times words with long vowel sounds are considered euphonious. Ex: sleepy

Words can also have a cacophonous (harsh) sound. Words with strong consonants are considered cacophonousEx: brake

Monosyllabic vs. Polysyllabic

Words are either monosyllabic (one syllable) or polysyllabic (multiple syllables).

The more polysyllabic words in a piece, the more difficult the content.Think about Poe’s work: Does he use

more monosyllabic or polysyllabic words?

Analyze this phrase: ALARM CLOCK. • Is alarm clock more euphonious or

cacophonous? • Monosyllabic or polysyllabic? • What is the denotative meaning of the

word? • What is the connotative meaning of

the word?

Let’s Analyze this Passage…

The “Red Death” had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous. Blood was its Avatar and its seal—the redness and horror of blood. There were sharp pains, and sudden dizziness, and then profuse bleeding at the pores, with dissolution. The scarlet stains upon the body, and especially upon the face of the victim, were the pest ban which shut him out from the aid and from the sympathy of his fellow men. And the whole seizure, progress, and termination of the disease were the incidents of half an hour.