Diction

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** Aflores period4 Diction **  __**Pronunciation: **__    [ **dik -sh //uhn]//  **  **Definition: **  the accent, inflection, intonation, and speech-sound quality manifested by an individual speaker, usually judged in termsof prevailing standards of acceptability; enunciation. ======

__ **The Grapes of Wrath** __ “In the middle of that night the wind passed on and left the land quiet. The dust-filled air muffled sound more completely than fog does. They awakened when the rushing wind was gone. They lay quietly and listened deep into their stillness. Then the roosters crowded, and their voices were muffled, and the people stirred restlessly in their beds and wanted the morning. They knew it would take a long time for the dust to settle out of the air. In the morning the dust hung like fog, and the sun was as red as ripe new blood. All day the dust sifted down from the sky, and the next day it sifted down from the sky, and the next day down. An even blanket covered the earth. It settled on the corn, piled up on the tops of the fence posts, piled up on the wires; it settled on roofs, blanketed the weeds and trees.” (5&6)

__Analysis__- In // The Grapes of Wrath // by John Steinbeck, his diction (word choice) helps the reader visualize the setting of the novel. These four highlighted words help to describe the time period of the novel during the dust bowl. Muffled- to wrap with something to deaden or prevent sound Ripe- advanced to the point of being in the best condition for use Sifted- to separate and retain the coarse parts Blanketed- any extended covering or laye r

These words were used by the author to get the reader to visualize the scene and to describe the environment. The readers get an idea of what life was like during the time period of the book (1930's) and the struggles going on in the midwest during the dust bowl crisis.

__**The Gettysburg Address** __

“ Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which  they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. ”

__Analysis__- The Gettysburg Address is a formal document. Lincoln's word choice depicts this with the usage of words such as: conceived, proposition, consecrated, nobly, task, and perish. He could have used a much simpler word choice but since it was a formal document, Lincoln opted to use a more formal sounding vocabulary.
 * conceived**- to form
 * proposition**- the act of offering or suggesting something to be considered, accepted, adopted, or done.
 * consecrated**- to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate to the service of a deity
 * task**- a definite piece of work assigned to, falling to, or expected of a person; duty
 * nobly**- courageously; bravely; gallantly
 * perish**- to pass away or disappear

__Lord of The Flies__

“The three boys walked briskly on the sand. The tide was low and there was a strip of weed-strewn beach that was almost as firm as a road. A kind of glamour was spread over them and the scene and they were conscious of the glamour and made happy by it. They turned to each other,laughing excitedly, talking, not listening. The air was bright. Ralph, forced by the task of translating all this into an explanation, stood on his head and fell over. When they had done laughing, Simon stroked Ralph’s arm shyly; and they had to laugh again.”( 25)

__Analysis__ - In this //Lord of the Flies// passage most of the diction in it are verbs. These verbs come together to help the reader visualize the scene and therefore to give a better understanding of it. Overall when reading lord of the flies most of the diction included in the novel is to help the reader visualize the action going on within the novel for a broader understanding.

brisk- quick and active; lively

__Works cited:__

Atiar Rahman, Kh. "William Shakespeare and His Literary Diction." __William Shakespeare and His Literary Diction__. 13 Dec. 2008 //EzineArticles.com.// 1 Mar. 2010 <[|http://ezinearticles.com/?William-­Shakespeare-­and-­His-­Literary-­Diction&id=1786098]>.

"**diction**." __Encyclopædia Britannica__. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 01 Mar. 2010 <[]>.

"The Gettysburg Address." __showcase.com__. 01 Mar 2010 < __http://www.showcase.com/view.asp?id=100914__ >.

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