Diction, Imagery, Syntax, and Tone
Assign each word a “tone intensity” number from -5 to 5 based on how negative, positive, or neutral it
is. I’ve done a few rows for you so you’d have some examples.
-3
-- 4
0
-2
5
-2
snooty, arrogant, self-satisfied, egotistical, proud, high-and-mighty
3
2
0
5
-3
-5
giggle, chuckle, laugh, roar, snicker, cackle
spinster, old maid, unmarried woman, maiden, career woman
knowing, cunning, skillful, smooth, calculating
glum, withdrawn, silent
terse, concise, brief, boiled down, pointed
steal, burglarize, snatch, help oneself to
mansion, dwelling, residence, house, home
Assign each image a “tone intensity” number from -5 to 5 based on how negative or positive it is.
You’re giving a number for the entire item now, not for each word. I’ve done a few for you as
examples.
1. My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.
tone intensity: -2
2. an old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king
tone intensity: -5
3. He clasps the crag with crooked hands.
(crag= cliff)
4. If I should die, think only this of me
That there’s a corner of a foreign field that is forever England.
5. If we must die, let it not be like hogs
Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot.
6. You do me wrong to take me out of the grave
Thou art a soul in bliss
But I am bound upon a wheel of fire
That mine own tears do scald like molten lead.
7. Here lies one whose name was writ in water.
Assign the syntax (sentence structure) a “tone intensity” number from -5 to 5 based on positive or
negative it is. You’re giving a tone intensity number for the entire paragraph now.
1. They were behind him and Macomber was filling his rifle, dropping shells onto the ground,
jamming it, clearing the jam, then they were almost up with the bull when Wilson yelled
“Stop,” and the car skidded so that it almost swung over and Macomber fell forward onto his
feet, slammed his bolt forward and fired as far forward as he could aim into the galloping,
rounded black back, aimed and shot again, then again, then again, and the bullets, all of them
hitting, had no effect on the buffalo that he could see. Then Wilson shot, the roar deafening
him, and he could see the bull stagger. Macomber shot again, aiming carefully, and down he
came, onto his knees.
Notice that there’s an awful lot of action happening all at once, so the author has crammed a lot of
ideas into a very long run on sentence. The way the sentences are set up matches what’s going on in
the paragraph.
tone intensity:____
2. Ultima came to stay with us the summer I was almost seven. When she came the beauty of the
llano unfolded before my eyes, and the gurgling waters of the river sang to the hum of the
turning earth. The magical time of childhood stood still, and the pulse of the living earth
pressed its mystery into my living blood. She took my hand, and the silent magic powers she
possessed made beauty from the raw, sun-baked llano, the green river valley, and the blue bowl
which was the white sun’s home. Time stood still, and it shared with me all that had been, and
all that was to come.
Notice that the descriptions are very calm, so the author used a lot of compound sentences (balanced
sentences, with a complete idea on each side of the “,and”). The way the sentences are set up matches
what’s going on in the paragraph.
tone intensity:_____
Diction: the important and individual words the author has selected
Imagery: the word pictures created by groups of words (usually sense oriented); metaphor, simile,
actual objects that could be symbols, etc.
Syntax (sentence structure): how an author constructs a sentence affects what the reader understands
+
Diction
Imagery
Syntax____
Tone
From now on, when we discuss tone, we won’t be using numbers anymore. Instead of saying a
passage or a poem has a tone of -5, we’d say the tone is shocking, etc. Instead of saying a passage or
poem has a tone of 0, we’d say it has an apathetic tone, etc. Instead of saying a passage or poem has a
tone of 2, we’d say it has a nostalgic tone, etc.
Example Tone Words
Angry
Sentimental
Afraid
Sharp
Cold
Fanciful
Detached
Upset
Urgent
Complimentary Silly
Condescending Happy
Boring
Poignant
Sympathetic Confused
Apologetic
Hollow
Childish
Humorous
Joyful
Peaceful
Horrific
Allusive
Mocking
Sarcastic
Sweet
Objective
Nostalgic
Vexed
Vibrant
Zealous
Tired
Frivolous
Irrelevant
Bitter
Audacious
Benevolent
Dreamy
Shocking
Seductive
Restrained
Somber
Candid
Proud
Giddy
Pitiful
Dramatic
Provocative
Didactic
Sentimental
Joking