Abstract This essay analyzes the diction of "Katherine" by Anya Seton in terms of whether the language is concrete or abstract, whether the words have interesting connotations, whether the diction is formal or colloquial and what inferences can be drawn about the speaker from the word choice of the speaker.
Abstract This research paper focuses on the language of Herman Melville's "The Lightning-Rod Man". The author examines diction, characterization, and description, and how Melville uses these aspects to portray the theme and religious symbolism of the story. Also includes short comparison to John Milton's "Paradise Regained".
From the Paper "Herman Melville's short story, ?The Lightning-Rod Man,? first appeared in Putnam's Monthly Magazine in August of 1854 and was later published in Melville's The Piazza Tales in 1856 (Verdier, 273). It seems all critics have a different opinion of the story. One anonymous critic said,? "The Lightning-Rod Man""a story which excited great attention when originally published in Putnam's Monthly" (Parker, 83). One the other hand, another anonymous critic said, ? "The Lightning-Rod Man" is a very flat recital which we should never have suspected Melville of producing, had it not been put forth under the sanction of his name? (Parker, 81). Critics also differ in what they think is the theme of the story, but most will agree that Melville creates religious symbolism through his diction and characterization. Verdier says, "the tale may be seen as a confrontation between Good and Evil" (274), which the story, on an emblematic level, most definitely is. Through description and diction, the narrator is understood as a follower of God, someone who believes in The Almighty watching over him. On the other hand, the lightning-rod man is seen as a negative character, someone who only has faith in the product he's peddling. Symbolically, the lightning-rod man is representative of Satan himself. "
A look at the literary effects employed in Shakespeare's "Sonnet #138", including the tone of the speaker and diction, in order to expand meaning and interpretation.
1,143 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 1 source, 2000, $ 39.95
From the Paper "Although there is no conclusive evidence connecting the 154 works, Shakespeare's sonnet sequence appears to follow a general outline. It is possible that Shakespeare includes himself as the author in the trio of characters introduced throughout the sequence. Initially, the sonnets are based on a young poet who is being persuaded to start a family. After doing so, it is stated that he will be made eternal by his descendants and by the author's praise of him. Then, in the following sequence of sonnets, Shakespeare reveals a homosexual relationship between the young poet and the author. Following their relationship, the theme shifts to a rival poet. The final twenty sonnets introduce yet another character known as the ?dark lady.? She is the subject of Shakespeare's Sonnet #138. "
Abstract An analysis of the writing style of Richard Rodriguez in "Aria: Memories of a Bilingual Childhood" and how his environment growing up influenced his writing style. The paper presents a close look at the significance of diction, parallelism and personification within this work. The paper concludes with a relation to Dick Gregory's "Shame" with parallels between the two.
From the Paper "The separation of a child from the masses because of language differences will not produce an identity; rather one must feel accepted to receive an identity. The diction throughout creates a vivid image of insecurity and alienation. Rodriguez effectively gets his position of anti-bilingual education across through the experiences of an innocent, na?ve child. The comparisons of private and public life reflect the contrast between English and Spanish. A thorough and compassionate insight into the past accomplishes the purpose of influencing a supporter of bilingual education to change his mind to the views that being exposed to the dominance of English will lead to success later in life. Rodriguez's "Aria: memories of a bilingual childhood" utilizes contrasting diction, parallelism, and personification to convey a melancholy tone of alienation and insecurity towards his own bilingual childhood, which eventually shifts to an acceptance to American society."
Abstract This paper attempts to interpret the "San Diego Union-Tribune" October 18, 2002 editorial "In a democracy, silence isn"t golden? written by Colleen M. O?Connor through the ideas of George Orwell in his essay ?Politics and the English Language". It examines Orwell's four types of problems typical to the use of English language specific to political writing: dying metaphors, verbal false limbs, pretentious diction and meaningless words and how they can be applied to O' Conner's article. The theme of the article is the lack of debate regarding the possibility of war with Iraq and this paper shows how through analysis, the problems that Orwell saw in the 1940's have continued and may have grown worse as the 21st century begins.
From the Paper "The next sentence provides an example of Orwell's concern about the excess use of words with many syllables. At the beginning of the sentence we encounter the imprecise word "preponderance" and a long list of incompatible characters described with inconsistent parts of speech. The writer highlights a random combination of people, "partisans", "spokesmen", and "politicians", and things, "corporate propaganda". The compound word "spinmeister" qualifies the type of spokesmen of concern. "Spin" by itself is a poor term, adding the German word "meister" further confuses the reader. A similar list of characters on the opposite side of the discussion is presented in the same confusing manner."
This paper reviews two short stories that use a protagonist with some kind of mental illness - "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe and "The Yellow Wall-Paper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
770 words (approx. 3.1 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 27.95
Abstract This paper presents a review of and a comparison between the two short stories. Similarity of literary devices is explored and the commonality of first person narration is raised. The theme of imprisonment is discussed in both stories, as are the motives of the jailer. Differences in the use of time to set the mood are dealt with, and the kind of diction given to each of the protagonists is contrasted. The paper concludes by stating themes common to the two stories.
From the Paper "Gilman and Poe have used some similar literary devices. Both stories are told sequentially, with events presented in the order they occurred, Poe meets a former friend on the street, disguises his loathing for the man, lures him to his death, and then gloats over it. Gilman's character is already confined to the room with the yellow wall-paper, and although she reveals past events in passing, the main events unfold in order."
Abstract This paper traces the ascension in the level of diction and general use of language by Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V as they become kings. It considers the differences between the language of royalty and that of the common man as illustrated by William Shakespeare in his plays about these kings.
From the Paper "For a king to command the respect of his subjects he must comport himself in a manner above that of the ordinary man. One of the ways in which royalty does this is by conforming to a distinct set of social graces, foremost among which is a superior level of language. The language of the monarch is more polished and poetic, with higher diction and a better command of both syntax and figurative language, than that of common people."
Abstract This paper discusses the theme of spatial order in Wallace Stevens' poem "Anecdote of the Jar" and in lines 87-115 in Act I Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's play "Troilus and Cressida." Tone, diction, and point of view are examined as well.
Abstract This paper looks at the way Nathaniel Hawthorne uses literary devices, such as diction (word choice), symbolism/archetypes, and characterization to craft "Young Goodman Brown" and create the atmosphere of that classic short story. Includes direct quotes and examples.
From the Paper "Psalms 58:3 states, ?The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.? Men evil from birth possess a predetermined destiny toward baseness. This belief provides one of the fundamental strongholds of Puritanism. However, such a statement also implies the opposite; the good come into this world good, members of the elect. The New England Puritans carried their ideals all the way to the New World with them. Perhaps their smaller communities and greater dependency on each other made the reliance on the faith of salvation even more important to them. In a dreary New England village, an afterlife would seem very appealing. To achieve this goal, most New Englanders strove for purity, trying to live life without sin. People such as young Goodman Brown lived almost immaculately, but hid guilt (or at least, the capability of it) under their holy facades. Nathaniel Hawthorne, in his parody ?Young Goodman Brown,? employs several literary devices to convey the message that all people have the inclination toward vile sin."
Abstract The toad in this poem is described in abstract terms, but it is not representative of all "humble ends." This paper explains that the toad in the poem is a complex subject, both representing undeniable life, but not representative of all of its kind. It shows how, through Wilbur's diction, style, and tone, the toad is shown to the reader as holding a unique life-force, although not capable of controlling it.
From the Paper "The speaker created by Richard Wilbur in his poem ?Death of a Toad,? sees the undeniable life in the toad he watches slowly die after being "chewed and clipped" in a power mower. The speaker watches the toad hobble towards the garden's edge and lie down in the shade. With his life pouring out of him and puddled into dark red creases on his skin, the toad dies as the speaker looks on, empathizing with the toad and even mournful of his death."
Abstract This paper argues that the image of the speaker in Langston Hughes? s"The Negro Speaks of Rivers" as a wise figure representing the black community throughout the ages is conveyed not only in the poem's title, but also its concrete and plain diction, its repetition, and its free verse form.
From the Paper "The speaker's use of repetition relays the serious tone of the poem and the communal wisdom of the Black community. The poem's repetition is very formulaic, much like the oral traditions and histories passed down by African griots. The repetition drives home the point to the audience as well as tying the story together and making it easier for the griot to remember. The speaker begins by asserting, ?I"ve known rivers", a phrase that is repeated at the beginning of lines two and eight."
Abstract This paper explains that the most apparent element of Hughes's work is his use of particular diction to create vivid imagery; for example, in "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," Hughes attempts to balance his own soul, or perhaps the soul of the black peoples, with some of the longest and deepest rivers in the world. This paper points out Hughes's use of symbolism to convey meaning within a work and to symbolize how society functioned at that time, as in the poem, "Democracy". This paper concludes that Hughes was the first to step up from among the ranks of the black people and present such strong and unashamed words; thereby, Hughes helped to reshape attitudes toward African-Americans, while also giving his own people a new hope for tomorrow.
From the Paper "The works of James Langston Hughes belong among the richest and most significant pieces ever written by American authors. To distinguish this certainty, Hughes was also an African-American. His poetic works analyzed herein speak largely of the lifestyles in which the African American people lived during the late 19th and early to mid-20th centuries. Hughes, born in Joplin, Missouri in 1902, was intended by his father to attend Columbia University studying engineering. After dropping the program in 1921 with a B+ average, Hughes did not again attend college until he received his B.A. in 1929 from Lincoln University. Between these times many of his great works were written and published. These include "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" (1921), an essay entitled "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain", and "The Weary Blues" (1926)."
Abstract This paper explains that, in "Ode to a Nightingale", Keats contrasts his idealized view of a nightingale with his jaded opinion of man's life. The author points out that, as the poem proceeds, his response to the bird's song begins as a celebration of the magnificent "immortal bird" before devolving into a lamentation about the "palsies" and "leaden-eyed despairs" of mankind. The paper relates that Keats' varying diction, imagery and tone correspond to the poem's shifting focus and help the reader to understand the narrator's changing responses to the nightingale.
From the Paper "Like his diction and imagery, Keats' tone alternates between elevated and debased as his attention focuses on the nightingale and on man's plight. The poem's first two stanzas portray an ecstasy so great that the poet feels almost insufficient to express it. He can only compare it to a pleasant intoxication-"as though of hemlock I had drunk, / Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains" (lines 2-3). He feels "too happy" (line 6) on contemplating the joy of the nightingale. This ecstatic tone continues through the end of the second stanza when he hopes to "drink, and leave the world unseen, / And with thee fade away into the forest dim" (lines 19-20)."
Abstract In Yeats's "When You Are Old," the speaker addresses a woman by telling her to imagine her future based on her past and her relationship with the speaker. This paper analyzes the speaker's attitude toward the woman and how that attitude is conveyed through the poem's form, diction, imagery and tone.
From the Paper "William Butler Yeats' poem, "When You Are Old," depicts an old woman looking back over her life and regretting having forsaken the love of the poem's speaker. Yeats' careful attention to stylistic elements allows him to incorporate a great deal of meaning into this brief poem. Yeats' narrator addresses the woman many years prior to the scene that he describes, apparently hoping to convince her to avoid this fate by choosing him over her many other suitors. Through a stylistic consistency in which each of the poem's form, diction, imagery, and tone all increase in complexity and venture further into abstraction as the poem proceeds, Yeats conveys the speaker's complicated attitude toward the woman. The end result is a poem which concisely and deftly relates the speaker's desire for the woman while simultaneously expressing his attitude that she is susceptible to flattery and manipulation."
An analysis of the use of poetry to exalt nature, with reference to poets Stevie Smith, Margaret Walker, Alexander Pope, 'Abd Allah ibn al-Simak and Pat Lowther.
Abstract This paper contends that poets vary in their views on nature. The paper discusses how Stevie Smith in the poem "Alone in the Woods" uses anger to convey man's destruction of nature and how Margaret Walker in her piece "My Mississippi Spring" conveys nature as if it were the most beautiful thing they have ever experienced or beyond carnal experience. The paper explains how other poets choose to personify it or give it some type of unimaginable quality or symbolic meaning. The poets discussed in the paper (Stevie Smith, Margaret Walker, Alexander Pope, 'Abd Allah ibn al-Simak and Pat Lowther) tend to all mean for the better of nature but all use different techniques. The paper explores how the poets use different themes such as anger and different techniques such as diction or personification, but all arrive at the main idea of exalting nature.
From the Paper "Stevie Smith in the poem Alone in the Woods personifies the woods "Nature has taught her creatures to hate" (line 3). By personifying the woods she can now illustrate anger or "bitter hostility with words using the woods as the one angry at the human race. "As the sap paints the trees a violent green so rises the wrath of Natures creatures At man" (lines 4, 5, & 6). Further along Smith continues fortifying the his technique and idea on lines eleven through eighteen "Nature is sick at man, Sick at his fuss and fume, Sick at his agonies, Sick at his gaudy mind, That drives his body, Ever more quickly, More and more, in the wrong direction" (lines 11-18). Smith uses short lines and repetition which reaffirms his angry view on mans destruction of nature. On the other hand poets like Alexander Pope in his work An Essay on Man (epistle 1) display or convey anger but not from nature, he puts comes out and openly and describes man. Pope gives the idea that man is very possessive, Pope uses six possessive pronouns such as "Tis for mine...for me"(Pope 1-10). "
