Diction: Levels of Formality
High, Formal Style
Middle, Neutral Style
Low, Informal Style
Cultured
Learned
Pretentious
Archaic
Scholarly
Unadorned
Plain
Detached
Simple
Ordinary
Pedantic
Ornate
Elegant
Flowery
Academic
Common
Abrupt
Terse
Jargon
Colloquial
Vulgar
Slang
Diction: Denotative vs. Connotative Language
Denotative Language
Connotative Language
Literal
Exact
Journalistic
Straightforward
Concrete
Poetic
Figurative
Metaphoric
Sensuous
Picturesque
Lyrical
Symbolic
Obscure
Grotesque
Abstract
Mad Lib Topic Sentence:
In (title), (Author) writes in (level of connotation) (level of formality) style. His use of
(connotation vocab) and (level of formality vocab) language (achieves this purpose)…….
Example:
In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad writes in a highly connotative formal style. His use of
abstract, poetic, and ornate language establishes themes of fate and meaninglessness.
Diction Sentence Frames and Sample Paragraph:
Topic Sentence: Remember you are proving something with this sentence
In (title) writes in (level of Connotation) (level of Formality) style. His/Her use of (connotation
vocab) and (level of formality vocab) language (achieves the purpose of…..)
 In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad writes in a highly connotative formal style. His use
of abstract, poetic and ornate language establishes themes of fate and meaninglessness.
Body Sentences: These Sentences should contain “quotes” (evidence) from the text to support
your analysis. Your analysis of diction should be an interpretation of the meaning of certain
words and how they affect the theme and tone.
**Remember diction is specific words….not whole sentences
 The connotative power of “________” (specific word from text) evokes a feeling of
____________________
 The author establishes ______________ through using _____________ diction. Words
like “_______” and “_______” create ______
 The author appeals to the emotions of the audience when……
 The author makes the audience __________ when…………..
 Another example of _________________ illustrates/conveys/ reveals that __________
 The author creates a __________tone through the use of ___________diction. These
words create a ______________feeling that demonstrates___________________
 In summary, the ________ diction supports a theme of _______________and
proves_________________________
LEAD—To Analyze Diction
Low or informal diction (dialect, slang, jargon)
Elevated language or formal diction (textbook writing)
Abstract or concrete diction
Denotation and connotation
Types of Diction
High (Formal)
Standard
Elegant
Polysyllabic
Free of contractions
But the Prince Prospero was happy and dauntless and sagacious.
When his dominions were half depopulated, he summoned to his
presence a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among
the knights and dames of his court, and with these retired to the
deep seclusion of one of his castellated abbeys.
“The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe
Neutral (Middle)
Ordinary
Standard Vocabulary
Avoids longer words
Uses contractions where necessary
Informal (Low)
Colloquial
Substandard
Slang
“It’s not easy to know what is true for you or me
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I’m what
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you:
hear you, hear me—we too—you, me, talk on this page.
(I hear New York too.) Me—who?”
“Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes
The warden said to me the other day
(innocently, I think), “Say Etheridge,
why come the black boys don’t run off
like the white boys do?”
I lowered my jaw and scratched my head and said (innocently, I
think), “Well, suh,
I ain’t for sure, but I reckon it’s cause
we ain’t got no wheres to run to.”
“The Warden said to me the Other Day” by Etheridge Knight
Name______________ Block _______
Denotation/Connotation Practice
1. Choose the word in each group that has the most “romantic” connotation:
A. Horse, nag, or steed
B. King, rule, tyrant, or autocrat
C. China or Cathay
D. Crow, sparrow, nightingale or catbird
E. Kiss, osculate, buss
F. Pittsburgh, Buckingham, podunk
G. Spy or Secret Agent
2. Which word in each group is most emotionally connotative?
A. Offspring, children, kids, progeny
B. Brother, sibling
C. Companion, friend, colleague, buddy
D. Mom, mama, mommy, mother, ma
E. Partner, husband, love, better half, significant other
3. Which word in each group has the most favorable connotation?
A. Skinny, thin, slender, scrawny
B. Old-fashioned, out-of-date, obsolete
C. Dwarfish, elfin, pigmy
D. Small, little, petite
E. Prosperous, rich, moneyed, opulent
F. Scribble, write, indite
G. Brainy, intelligent, smart
H. Famous or notorious
4. Which of these would you be least offended by?
A. Having acted foolishly or having acted like a fool
B. Arrogant, conceited, proud, confident or stuck-up
C. Dumb, stupid, ignorant, simple-minded
Read the following passage and answer the questions.
“It’s odd the little things that come to your mind at times of utmost stress, the
flashes of deep__1___ you feel for people who are really not at the center of
tragedy. I heard a Secret Service man say in the most ___2___voice-and I hurt for
him: “We never lost a President in the Service.” Then, Police Chief Curry of Dallas
came on the plane and said, “Ms. Kennedy, believe me, we did everything we
possibly could.” That must have been ___3___moment for him…….
Mrs. Kennedy’s dress was stained with blood…..Somehow that was one of the
most____4___sights-that immaculate woman__5 __ dressed, and caked in blood.
I asked her if I couldn’t get someone in to help her change…..And then with almost
an element of fierceness-if a person that gentle, that___6____, can be said to have
such a quality-she said, “I want them to see what they have done to Jack.”
-A White House Diary by Lady Bird Johnson
1. Which word best completes the sentence?
emotion, sensation, feeling or compassion
2. Which word best completes the sentence?
sad, desolate, unhappy, or melancholy
3. Which word best completes the sentence?
an uncomfortable, a difficult, an agonizing, a tough
4. Which word best completes the sentence?
memorable, striking, poignant, or painful
5. Which word best completes the sentence?
well, finely, nicely or exquisitely
6. Which word best completes the sentence?
controlled, unruffled, dignified or calm