Literary Terms
Common Mistakes in the
Double-Entry Journals
Diction
Incorrect: “The author uses diction.”
Incorrect: “The author uses good diction.”
Diction is the author’s word choice. In order to analyze
diction, you must discuss specific words you think were
carefully chosen.
Strong analysis will discuss the “Task/Purpose” of the words
that were selected. Why did the author select the word?
How does it contribute to the overall meaning?
Diction
 This helps to improve diction, organize what they want to say and focus on the
main points of interest.
 Poetic diction describes the range of language used in poems.
 The decision to use an archaic diction might thus be thought a central part of
spenser's particularly protestant poetics.
 The decision to use an archaic diction might thus be thought a central part of
spenser's particularly protestant poetics.
 The choir had very good diction, which enabled the audience to hear nancy
bush's words clearly.
 Clear diction, not a ' posh voice ' , was what was wanted.
 Diction employed by the author seems to exaggerate and stretch the truth.
 His perfect diction never failed to be commented on.
 Diction found in the sestet, could be used throughout, imvho.
 Bridget's excellent diction was just loud enough to create an ambient echo
which rather suited her careful english tones.
Diction
“Like Harlequin rats” (Bradbury 89).
The word harlequin is rarely used any more, and I was
a little shocked to to see it. I remember when I was in
elementary school, my group of friends started using
this word.
Why did the author use the word harlequin?
Diction
“The flutter of cards, motion of hands, of eyelids, the
drone of the time-voice in the firehouse ceiling”
(Bradbury 32).
The word “drone” sounds very robotic. It’s almost as if
Montag is discovering how robotic his world is and how
he used to be. Clarisse has caused this self
realization.
Diction
“Montag saw the flirt of a great metal fist over the far
city, and he knew the scream of the jets that would
follow, would say, after the deed, disintegrate, leave no
stone on another, perish. Die” (Bradbury 158).
Instead of using words such as passed away, Bradbury
uses harsher words such as “disintegrate” and “perish”
to illustrate the anger Montag is feeling.
Symbol
Incorrect: “The situation is symbolic…”
Symbol – objects used to represent other things and
ideas
You must identify an actual object discussed in the
passage, but you must also discuss the abstract idea it
represents.
Symbol
“Beatty never drove, but he was driving tonight,
slamming the Salamander around corners, leaning
forward high on the driver’s throne” (Bradbury 109).
The Salamander is referring to the fire truck and means
more than it seems.
What does the Salamander symbolize?
Symbol
“The queen in her silken cocoon had no words to give
back; but when he closed his eyes and tried to
remember, instead of a memory came new images”
(Card 320).
What does the bugger queen cocoon symbolize in the
novel?
Symbol
“Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the
things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and
undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches”
(Hurston 8).
The author uses the symbol of the pear tree to
represent Janie’s life. She has suffered pain and loss,
enjoyed love and marriage, and has learned from her
mistakes.
Symbol
“Waves were reaching up, and their white foam caught
by the wind, was being whipped against the side of the
ship. But I’d seen that on other days and the ship
hadn’t sunk. A cargo ship is a huge and stable
structure” (Martel 127-128).
The ship symbolizes stability and comfort, a regular life.
The sea is the opposite; it screams, “unknown.” It is
wild, unpredictable, and dangerous.
Figurative Language
Incorrect: “The author uses figurative language to create a picture in
the reader’s head.”
Literal language – words are used as their denotation (dictionary
definition) would suggest.
Figurative language – words are used for their connotation (layers of
meaning) and alter or exaggerate the usual meaning of the word.
“The ground is thirsty” – ground is literal, but thirsty is figurative.
The author is actually talking about the “ground” but the author
means the ground is dry.
Similes, Metaphors, Personification, Hyperbole,
Figures of Speech, Allusions, Paradox, Oxymoron,
are all considered figurative language.
Figurative Language
“But then usually a new commander has had a few
defeats under his belt before he first makes it in here. I
only got in here a month ago. If anybody deserves a
cheer, it is you. That’s life, make them eat dust” (Card
184).
The phrases “defeats under his belt” and “make them
eat dust” are figures of speech. What effect do they
have on the passage?
Figurative Language
“To survive with a tiger was like trying to survive twentyseven gunshots, impossible” (Martel 155).
The figurative language is the “twenty-seven gunshots.”
Martel is using the simile to compare his chances of
surviving Richard Parker to surviving a gunshot.
Figurative Language
“The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones
run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and
leave her for the flies” (Bradbury 83).
The verbs used, “touch,” “run,” “rape,” are figurative
expressions. Perhaps, Bradbury is suggesting that
good writers have many meaningful life experiences,
mediocre writers have some experiences, and bad
writers fail to interpret meaning from their life
experiences.
Figurative Language
“Then she starched and ironed her face, forming it into
what people wanted to see” (Hurston 87).
The author says Janie “starched” and “ironed” her face,
but she didn’t really do that. It compares her ironing
her face to having to get ready to be someone she is
not. She was just showing them what they wanted to
see.
Imagery & Allusion
Most students can identify imagery or allusion;
however, most students fail to discuss the
Task/Purpose of the literary technique.
Why did the author use imagery? How does is
contribute to the overall meaning of the passage?
Why did the author choose to include an allusion? How
does it enhance the meaning of the passage?
Tone vs. Mood
 TONE and MOOD are two different concepts in literature.
 • TONE describes the author’s attitude toward his/her
subject.
 The attitude may be stated in so many words or implied.
Diction is a key to tone.
 MOOD is the situation's atmosphere or characters'
feelings:
Tone
affectionate
aggravated
aloof
amused
angry
apathetic
calm
appreciative
celebratory
approving
arrogant
condescending contemplative
bitter
critical
cynical
despondent
dark
didactic
dejected
disappointed
depressed
disapproving
desperate
disgusted
disinterested
emphatic
formal
intense
light-hearted
distant
encouraging
happy
ironic
melancholy
droll
enthusiastic
haughty
joyful
melodramatic
earnest
excited
hurt
lackadaisical
nervous
ecstatic
facetious
informal
languid
neutral
nonchalant
pessimistic
romantic
sincere
sympathetic
optimistic
plaintive
sad
somber
uninterested
paranoid
playful
sarcastic
soothing
whimsical
passive
pleading
scornful
superficial
wistful
patronizing
proud
serious
suspicious
wry
Mood
MOOD is the situation's atmosphere or characters' feelings:
Calm
Cheerful
Chilling
Comical
Dark
Depressing
Dismal
Eerie
Fanciful
Foreboding
Gloomy
Grim
Grotesque
Heart-breaking Heartrending
Holy
Hopeful
Horrific
Intense
Joyful
Light
Lighthearted
Melancholic
Morbid
Mournful
Mysterious
Ominous
Optimistic
Pessimistic
Powerful
Romantic
Sad
Sinister
Soothing
Sorrowful
Spiritual
Spooky
Terrifying
Threatening
Tranquil
Whimsical
Tone/Mood
The biggest mistake students make is not using
appropriate words to describe Tone and Mood.
Once you identify an accurate word to describe the
tone/mood, you must discuss the choices the author
made to establish this tone/mood.
What effect does it have on the passage and overall
meaning?
Tone (author’s attitude) OR
Mood (atmosphere or character’s
feelings)?
 affectionate
 sorrowful
 desperate
 dark
 eerie
 morbid
 grim
 enthusiastic
 optimistic
 mysterious
 joyful
 calm
 hopeful
 threatening
 romantic
 sarcastic
 suspicious
 soothing
Tone OR Mood?
 affectionate
 sorrowful
 desperate
 dark
 eerie
 morbid
 grim
 enthusiastic
 optimistic
 mysterious
 joyful
 calm
 hopeful
 threatening
 romantic
 sarcastic
 suspicious
 soothing
Theme
Remember “Big Ideas” are topics for theme, but they are not
thematic statements. When discussing theme, you should
always be making a comment about what the author was
revealing about life or the human condition.
Survival = Big Idea
Never give up = Cliché
Survival requires mental stamina, prudence, and
perseverance = Thematic Statement