Prose Analysis: Diction
How to say what you know about language—
or at least sound smart when you don’t know what to
say
Purpose
On both the AP Language and the AP Literature
Exam, the opportunity to show off what you know
about diction, an author’s word choice, frequently
appears. These notes are meant to give you a
framework and a vocabulary so that you can analyze
and discuss questions of diction and score major
points.
When It Matters
Any time an exam question asks you to do any of the
following:
Discuss or analyze how “the language” of a passage
achieves some effect.
Analyze the “techniques” or “poetic devices” used to
achieve some effect.
Any prompt that specifically mentions the word
“diction.”
The Axes
The term “diction” covers a lot of ground, but here is
a somewhat simplified way to approach. Consider
analyzing the diction according to where it falls on
any of the two main axes: (1) levels of formality, and
(2) Connotation
Levels of Formality
Diction can usually be described as one of three different “levels” of
style:
High or Formal: Dignified, elevated, and often impersonal.
Elaborate, or sophisticated vocabulary. In some cases, “high style” can
refer to grammar, or syntax, that has been manipulated for an artistic
effect—that is, the grammar calls attention to itself. Polysyllabic.
Middle or Neutral: Follows rules of grammar and uses common,
unexceptional vocabulary. Grammar and vocabulary is meant to be
transparent, easily understood.
Low or Informal: Plain language of everyday use, including slang,
jargon, vulgarity, and dialect. Monosyllabic.
How To Talk about Levels of
Formality
High, Formal Style
Cultured
Learned
Pretentious
Archaic
Scholarly
Pedantic
Elegant
Flowery
Middle, Neutral Style
Unadorned
Plain
Detached
Simple
Low, Informal Style
Abrupt
Terse
Laconic
Colloquial
Vulgar
Slang
Jargon
Connotation
In addition to falling somewhere on the above axis,
an author’s prose will fall somewhere on a scale
between the two poles of denotation, a word’s
dictionary meaning, or connotation, the more
metaphorical or poetic usage of words.
Language can also fall somewhere on the following
scale. Few works of literature are purely denotative,
of course, but they are connotative to varying degrees.
Speak of a passage as being “highly connotative”
How to Talk About Connotation
Denotative Language: Literal, Exact, Journalistic,
Straightforward
Connotative Language: Poetic, Lyrical, Figurative,
Symbolic, Metaphoric, Obscure, Sensuous, Grotesque,
Picturesque
Abstraction: In addition, an author’s language will
fall somewhere on a scale between the poles of
abstract and concrete language. That is, do they write
about stuff you can hold in your hands, or stuff you
can only hold in your heads?
The Music
Do the words sound nice? If so, you can talk about
the euphony of the passage. If it sounds harsh, talk
about cacophony and the relationship to meaning.
Other Sound Devices: assonance, consonance,
alliteration, onomatopoeia
Figures of Speech
You know all these, right? Personification, Metaphor,
Paradox, Hyperbole, Understatement, Euphemism,
Allusion, Simile, etc.
How to Use This Information
First: Don’t respond to a prompt by saying that the author “uses diction.” You are saying
nothing if you say that. Everyone uses “word choice”—your job is to characterize that
word choice.
What I suggest: A convoluted, excruciating, five-step process.
Step One: Levels of Formality
“Do” a close reading on the passage, first identifying any unusual or characteristic words. If there
are none, you are probably reading something with a “middle style.”
If words stand out, you should be able to decide whether the passage leans to the high or low
styles. If so, pick a snazzy vocab word to describe what kind of high or low diction it is.
Step Two: Connotation
Examine how the words appear to be used—do they seem to be used like poetry, with lots of
external, thematic meanings attached, or are they more literal, like a straightforward action story?
Once you decide which way it leans, connotative or denotative, pick some vocab words that
characterize the diction more specifically.
Step Three: Miscellaneous
Ask yourself about abstraction/ concreteness, what figures of speech you see, and the sounds of
the language.
How to Use This Information
Step Four: Purpose
Sit back for a moment and ask yourself what purpose of the word choice appears to be
fulfilling.
For example, you can always say that it sets a tone—just make sure you have some words
ready to describe that tone.
Also consider whether the word choice is having an effect on character, symbol/theme,
setting, etc.
Step Five: The topic sentence. Let’s play Madlibs!!!
“In [name of work], [Author] writes in a [connotation] [level of formality] style.
Her use of [connotation vocab] and [level of formality vocab] language [achieves this
purpose].”
For example:
“In Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad writes in a strongly connotative formal
style. His use of abstract, poetic, and ornate language establishes existential themes of
fate and meaninglessness.”