DIDLS and Angela S Ashes

AP English Mr. Neff DIDLS: The Tone Acronym1

Diction the connotation or associations of word choice Different words for the same thing often suggest different attitudes toward that thing. Ex. What is the difference between happy and content? Happy and ecstatic?

Images vivid appeals to understanding through the five senses The images a speaker/writer chooses to present suggest her attitude toward her subject. Ex. If a narrator visiting a farm describes the awful smells rather than the beautiful countryside that would tell us something about his attitude.

Details facts that are included or those that are omitted If a narrator witnesses a horrible sight and withholds the gory details, his attitude would be different than a narrator who focuses mostly on the gory details. Ex. TMZ vs. CNN

Language The overall use of language such as formal, colloquial, clinical, or jargon An ambassador talks differently than Holden Caulfield who talks differently than a doctor who talks differently than a cop. The type of overall language used tells us something about their attitude.

Sentence Structure how the sentence structure affects the reader’s attitude Long, flowing sentences give us a different feeling than short, choppy ones. If the narrator has awkward sentence structure, we might think he is uneducated. Long flowing sentences might suggest sophistication or artistic creativity. DIDLS and Angela’s Ashes 1 From College Board AP materials AP English Mr. Neff Diction the connotation or associations of word choice During Frankie’s trip to America, the Americans on the boat: “Why the hell did we have to sail on a goddam Irish tub? Goddam” (359). As opposed to The man who defends the captain of the ship: “…you’re passengers on the vessel…you’re on an Irish ship with an Irish captain and you’ll do what he goddam tells you to…” (359). Images vivid appeals to understanding through the five senses “Then Eugene sat up, screaming, tearing at himself…we saw the fleas, leaping, jumping, fastened to our flesh. We slapped at them and slapped but they hopped from body to body, hopping, biting. We tore at the bites till they bled” (59). Details facts that are included or those that are omitted Passerby on a bicycle: “…there were no fleas in ancient Ireland, that they were brought in be the English to drive us out of our wits entirely…isn’t it a very curious thing that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland an’ the English brought in the fleas” (60) As opposed to Frankie, regarding Mr. O’Halloran: “It’s a shock to everyone when he says, the Battle of Kinsale in sixteen nought one was the saddest moment in Irish history, a close battle with cruelty and atrocities on both sides. Cruelty on both sides? The Irish side? How could that be? All the other masters told us the Irish always fought nobly…” (207). Language The overall use of language such as formal, colloquial, clinical, or jargon Colloquial and dialectical: ex. Grandma talking to Aunt Aggie when she tells her Angela has to sleep with her for the night: “Oh, will you shut your gob. ‘Tis only for one night an’ that won’t kill you an’ if you don’t like it you can go back to your husband where you belong anyway instead of runnin’ home to me. Jesus, Mary an’ Holy St. Joseph…” (58). Uncle Pat: “That’s me mug and don’t be drinkin’ your way oush of ish.” (dialectical spellings) Sentence Structure how the sentence structure affects the reader’s attitude Look at the “flea scene” above in the Images example. Notice how the frequent comma breaks create a choppy sentence that in turn lends a frenetic, chaotic tone to the scene.