By Jessalyn Sturm and Myah McCormick
4 th hour AP Language and Composition
The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of
any emotion, attitude or color.
The literal meaning of the word dove is “a type of pigeon , a
wild and domesticated bird having a heavy body and short
legs.” However in literature dove is often used as a symbol of
peace. When reading you have to decide is the author is
implying the denotation of the word or something more.
Refers to an author’s choice of words.
A great example of literature that utilizes uncommon forms
of diction is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. One of the
many examples could be: “I knowed he was white inside, and
I reckoned he'd say what he did say - so it was all right, now,
and I told Tom I was agoing for a doctor.”
From the Greek, didactic literally means “teaching” Didactic
words have the primary aim of teaching or instructing,
especially the teaching of a moral or ethical principle.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a moral and didactic tale that
uses the various animals on the farm to expose the greed and
corruption of the Communist Revolution of Russia before
WWII.
Ethos is the characteristic spirit or ideal that reforms a work.
Ethos also refers to more generally to ethics, or values. In
rhetorical writing, authors often attempt to persuade readers
by appealing to their sense of ethos, or ethical principles.
“Doctors all over the world recommend this type of
treatment.” This would be considered ethos because people
generally believe the opinions of doctors when it concerns
medical matters.
 1. Didactic
 2. Denotation
 3. Ethos
 4. Diction
 A: __ is the characteristic spirit
or ideal that informs the
work. Authors persuade
readers by appealing to
their ___, or ethical
principles.
 B: the strict, literal, dictionary
definition of a word.
 C: refers to an authors choice of
words.
 D: from the Greek, ___ literally
means “teaching”. ____
words have the primary aim
of teaching or instructing,
especially the teaching of
moral or ethical principles.

"Denotation." Literary Devices. N.p., 2015. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
<http://literarydevices.net/denotation/>.

"Didacticism - Examples and Definition of Didacticism." Literary Devices. N.p., 15 Sept.
2013. Web. 28 Oct. 2015. <http://literarydevices.net/didacticism/>.

"Ethos." Literary Devices. N.p., 2015. Web. 28 Oct. 2015. <http://literarydevices.net/ethos/>.

"Is Huckleberry Finn's Ending Really Lacking? Not If You're Talking Psychology."
Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., 5 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
<http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/literally-psyched/is-huckleberry-finns-endingreally-lacking-not-if-youre-talking-psychology/>.

"JCR Manuscript Review Histories." Manuscript Review History. N.p., 2011. Web. 28 Oct.
2015. <http://www.ejcr.org/teachingsets/White_Dove/manuscriptreviewhistory_whitedove.html>.

"Old Firehouse Books." Old Firehouse Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
<https://oldfirehousebooksblog.wordpress.com/tag/animal-farm/>.

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." : Study Help. N.p., 2015. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
<http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn/studyhelp/famous-quotes>.