How Does a Poem Mean?

Diction: Word Choice

Writers choose words with purpose.

If we analyze the words carefully we can better understand the themes, purpose, and tone.

In order to understand diction we have to understand....

Diction: Word Choice

Denotation: The dictionary or literal meaning of the word.

Example: Plump (adj) = a full, round, and pleasing figure.

Diction: Word Choice

Connotation: All the meanings, associations, and feelings that a word suggests.

Example: Fat (adj)= While similar in denotative meaning to plump, it has a harsh and aggressive connotation.

Diction: Word Choice

Examine the diction in the following sentences. What are the connotations here? Which sentence has a more positive connotation, and which has a more negative connotation?

You look unique today.

You look odd today.

You look weird today.

Diction: Word Choice

Examine the diction in the following sentences.

I am crazy about her.

I love her to the depths of my soul.

What are the connotations here?

Which has a more positive emotional connotation?

How do you imagine the person saying each?

Diction: Word Choice

Categorize the following words as having a positive, negative, or neutral connotation.

Friendly Clever House

Dislike Love Wise

Sincere Crush Pleasant

Diction: Word Choice

Create an X/Y graph for each of the following sets of words, x representing most to least intense and y representing from negative to positive(you may use a dictionary to look up the denotation)

laugh, guffaw, chuckle, titter, giggle, cackle, snicker, roar

self-confident, proud, conceited, egotistical, stuck-up, haughty, smug, condescending

house, home, hut, shack, mansion, cabin, home, residence, dwelling, shanty, chalet

old, mature, experienced, antique, relic, senior, ancient

fat, obese, plump, corpulent, portly, porky, burly, husky, full-figured

Diction: Word Choice

Reading with precision leads to writing with precision.With a partner, come up with as many variations as you can in one minute for the following words:

happy

sad

mad

Diction: Word Choice

Words also sound and feel differently.Example: What do you imagine when you read or hear the word, Rock?

What about, Stone?

Reconsider the sound and look of plump vs fat.

How are they different in look and sound?

Diction: Word Choice

Some terms concerning diction and sound

shift words: words that indicate change: yet, so, however, but, then, although

onomatopoeia - words that imitate sounds. Ex: cuckoo, sizzle, crash

alliteration - the repetition of the initial sounds at the beginning of words close together

assonance - repetition of vowel sounds in words close together. Ex: rise high in the bright sky

cacaphony- a harsh mixture of sounds

Diction: Word Choice

Now let’s apply it to a poem.

What are some important words?

What words are repeated?

What words indicate a shift?