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 cacophonous
Ex: 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.