Tone Is About Diction, Imagery, and Vocabulary

Tone (5)

Tone: Tone is the speaker or author’s attitude toward that subject, which is revealed by the words he or she chooses. If a reader misses the tone they will misinterpret the meaning of the prose or poetry. ***Tone is about Diction, Imagery, and Vocabulary

Tone= Author’s attitude + means whereby it is achieved

Implied in the text how the author conveys Inferred by the reader attitudes

TONE YOU MUST KNOW: 1. Verbal Irony—irony that is spoken—it is understood by reader but not by another character(s)

2. Situational Irony—Irony where an outcome turns out to be very different from what was expected, the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does.

3. Dramatic Irony--Dramatic irony is when the words and actions of the characters of a work of literature have a different meaning for the reader than they do for the characters. This is the result of the reader having a greater knowledge than the characters themselves.

4. Satire-- is a literary form, or genre, which is commonly used through graphic arts or performance. Through the use of irony, as well as a number of other devices, such as ridicule and derision, a satire brings to light a particular issue or truth that is commonly observed in society, where changes must be made.

5. Horatian Satire--playfully criticizes some social vice through gentle, mild, and light-hearted humour. It directs wit, exaggeration, and self-deprecating humour toward what it identifies as folly, rather than evil.

6. Juvenalian Satire--provokes a darker kind of laughter. It is often bitter and criticizes corruption or incompetence with scorn and outrage

7. Sarcasm—Is found ONLY in dialogue 8. Paradox-- A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true: the paradox that standing is more tiring than walking 9. Overstatement (hyperbole)—An exaggeration for emphasis sake Tone/Attitude Words

1. accusatory-charging of wrong doing 2. apathetic-indifferent due to lack of energy or concern 3. awe-solemn wonder 4. bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief 5. cynical-questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people 6. condescension; condescending-a feeling of superiority 7. callous-unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others 8. contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue 9. critical-finding fault 10. choleric-hot-tempered, easily angered 11. contemptuous-showing or feeling that something is worthless or lacks respect 12. caustic-intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting 13. conventional-lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality 14. disdainful-scornful 15. didactic-author attempts to educate or instruct the reader 16. derisive-ridiculing, mocking 17. earnest-intense, a sincere state of mind 18. erudite-learned, polished, scholarly 19. fanciful-using the imagination 20. forthright-directly frank without hesitation 21. gloomy-darkness, sadness, rejection 22. haughty-proud and vain to the point of arrogance 23. indignant-marked by anger aroused by injustice 24. intimate-very familiar 25. judgmental-authoritative and often having critical opinions 26. jovial-happy 27. lyrical-expressing a poet’s inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like 28. matter-of-fact--accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional 29. mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule 30. morose-gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent 31. malicious-purposely hurtful 32. objective-an unbiased view-able to leave personal judgments aside 33. optimistic-hopeful, cheerful 34. obsequious-polite and obedient in order to gain something 35. patronizing-air of condescension 36. pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things; no hope 37. quizzical-odd, eccentric, amusing 38. ribald-offensive in speech or gesture 39. reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect 40. ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of 41. reflective-illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions 42. sarcastic-sneering, caustic 43. sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic 44. satiric-ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point, teach 45. sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine 46. solemn-deeply earnest, tending toward sad reflection 47. sanguineous -optimistic, cheerful 48. whimsical-odd, strange, fantastic; fun animated ambivalent apathetic accusatory amused absurd aggressive acerbic angry abstruse assertive aggrieved arrogant awestruck admiring admiring assertive ardent acerbic befuddled benevolent bitter belligerent compliant cautionary condescending callous cynical colloquial comic confused critical compassionate complaining chatty complex cheerful contemptuous caustic cruel celebratory candid conciliatory detached depressed disapproval docile evasive docile derisive dignified disparaging distressed disheartened diplomatic defiant dispassionate demeaning excited empathetic egotistical earnest farcical frustrated forceful formal frank fawning flippant faultfinding frivolous fuming ghoulish grim gullible gentle hard hard-hearted hypercritical humble intense incensed imploring indignant intimate impressionable sulking inane irreverent impassioned informative incredulous indifferent impartial ironic jaded joyous laudatory loving malicious mocking modest macabre mourning mean-spirited naive nasty narcissistic nostalgic objective outraged obsequious optimistic outspoken placating pompous pragmatic pretentious prayerful playful pathetic pessimistic pensive patronizing philosophical persuasive reflective resentful reverent resigned regretful righteous reticent reflective restrained sentimental satirical sympathetic skeptical scornful scathing subjective self-pitying sensationalistic submissive scorning subjective solemn sorrowful tragic thoughtful tolerant unassuming unbiased uneasy virtuous vindictive witty world-weary wretched wonder worried whimsical

Tone Practice #1

You will be using a technique called DSI to find TONE:

D= Diction—Use close reading to look for both the denotation and connotation of words. Look at the language in terms of : colloquial, dialect, archaic, jargon, slang, etc. S= Syntax—Look for the use of sentence patterns as well as punctuation. THINK ABOUT: what is the effect of the syntax? I- Imagery—Identify specific imagery. Categorize it: THINK ABOUT: What is the meaning and/ or the effect of the imagery.

Use the following poem to practice the DSI process: Feel free to mark up the poem as you go.

Hazel Tells Laverne last night im cleanin out my hwoard johnson’s ladies room when all of a sudden up pops this frog musta come from the sewer swimming around and tryin ta climb up the sida the bowl so i goes ta flushm down but sohelpmegod he starts talking bout a golden ball an how i can be a princess me a princess well my mouth drops all the way to the floor an he says kiss me just kiss me once on the nose well i screams ya little green pervert an i hitsm with my mop an has ta flush the toilet down three times me a princess

Question #1: What types of diction are used in this poem? MAKE SURE TO WRITE SPECIFIC WORDS TO BACK WHAT YOU SAY:

Question #2: What is unique about the spelling, punctuation, and capitalization that creates a unique Syntax? MAKE SURE TO WRITE SPECIFIC WORDS TO BACK WHAT YOU SAY: Question #3: What images are enhanced because of the Diction and Syntax? List them. Question #4: First circle the verbs and underline the nouns in the poem, and then answer what senses did the author use to bring out this imagery? And How did the words chosen help create the tone?

Question #5: What is the speaker’s tone?

Question #6: What is the author’s tone?

Tone Practice #2:

This exercise with not only help improve your writing, it will help you become aware of the use of imagery and of tone.

A man walked into the building. He looked around. The room was dark. It was hard to

See. Another man came in. He walked to the window and looked out. His steps made a noise.

The first man turned around. He thought someone else was in the room. He saw nothing. His

heart beat fast.

Directions:

1. Change the general noun MAN to a more specific noun. 2. Add an adjective to describe the noun you substituted for man. 3. Add one or two adjectives to describe the room the man entered. 4. Cross out the word walked and use an action verb that tells exactly how the man entered. 5. Combine any two sentences into a compound or complex sentence, making sure the sentence makes sense. 6. Move one sentence to another place in the paragraph by circling it and drawing an arrow to where you want it to go. Be able to explain why you moved it. 7. Add a transitional word or phrase somewhere in the paragraph and be sure it makes sense. 8. Incorporate a simile or metaphor into the paragraph. Underline it. 9. Use a direct quotation and punctuate it correctly. 10. Change one sentence into a question