Using DIDLS to Determine Tone
What is tone, and why do we need to know it? ◼ Tone : The writer’s/speaker’s attitude toward his/her subject or audience. This is described by a single adjective (ex. a sarcastic tone, a playful tone, a bitter tone). ◼ Tone is important because understanding a writer or speaker’s attitude towards his/her subject enables us to decipher meaning and purpose.
To determine tone Examine the diction in the passage. 1. Using your knowledge of the diction, 2. determine the possible tone(s) of the passage. Check your tone determinations by 3. examining imagery, detail, and syntax and seeing if they match the tone(s) you have identified.
What is DIDLS ? ◼ an acronym that aids you in analyzing a fiction or nonfiction prose passage. D Diction I Imagery D Detail L Language S Syntax
I. Diction Diction : Word choice ◼ Writers choose their words with purpose. If we can analyze diction, it can help us understand their theme and purpose. ◼ In order to analyze diction, we have to be able to analyze…
I. Diction Denotation : The dictionary or literal meaning of a word. Ex : Attractive = pleasing in appearance or manner; charming Connotation : All the meanings, associations, or feelings that a word suggests . Ex : Stunning = while similar in denotative meaning to attractive, it suggests striking beauty or excellence
I. Diction Examine the diction in the following sentences. What are the connotations here? Which sentence has a more positive connotation, and which has a more negative connotation? ◼ You look unique today. ◼ You look different today. ◼ You look peculiar today.
I. Diction What are the connotations for each of the following sentences? ◼ The student walked into the classroom. ◼ The student strutted into the classroom. ◼ The student bounced into the classroom.
I. Diction What are the connotations for each of the following sentences? ◼ The old man’s house was red. ◼ The old man’s house was blood red. ◼ The old man’s house was candy apple red.
I. Diction Categorize the following words as having a positive, negative, or neutral connotation. Laugh Cackle Chuckle Self-confident Egotistical Secure Childish Youthful Young
II. Imagery Sensory Language : Words and Ex: “a thundering downpour of phrases that appeal to the rain” senses of sight, hearing, To what sense(s) does this touch, smell, and/or taste. example appeal? What Sensory details create… image does it create? Imagery : Vivid descriptions that re-create sensory experiences for the reader, creating “word pictures”
II. Imagery ◼ The writer "shows" rather than "tells," thus allowing the reader to participate in the experience more fully. Therefore imagery helps to produce mood and tone. ◼ When reading a piece containing imagery, you need to ask yourself two questions. ▪ What do I hear, taste, smell, or feel? ▪ What effect is the author trying to convey with these messages? ◼ Once you have identified a possible tone from the diction, confirm the tone by looking at imagery.
II. Imagery Imagery helps to create… Mood : The feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the reader using imagery and setting details. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO CONFUSE MOOD AND TONE!! THEY ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS!!
Jot down details and images in the following clip. What emotions does it make you feel?
How does the addition of music affect the mood of the scene?
II. Imagery & Mood ◼ Notice that the feeling created is not the creator’s attitude (tone) about the subject of the clip, but rather, an overall feeling that is being created by the whole of the scene with hopes that the viewer will feel this emotion (mood) too.
More about Mood ◼ Listen to the following clip: ▪ What is the overall feeling that is being created (how does it make you feel)? ▪ What makes you feel this way? ◼ What about this clip: ▪ What is the overall feeling that is being created (how does it make you feel)? ▪ What makes you feel this way? ◼ Notice that they are the SAME, but different… what does this illustrate?
II. Imagery and Mood in Literature ◼ What senses do the following quotes appeal to, and what image and mood do they create all together? ▪ “Flashes of lightning illuminated the ink-black sky.” ▪ “Another cobweb stuck to her cold, clammy skin.” ▪ “The foul smell of dead mice hung in the air.” ▪ “She could not get the metallic taste of fear out of her mouth.” ▪ “There was an ominous scratching on the door.”
III. Details Details : The facts included OR omitted by the writer/speaker. The speaker’s perspective shapes which details are given or left out; thus, details are helpful in determining his/her attitude or tone toward that subject.
III. Details ◼ How do the details in each of the examples below indicate a difference in tone? ▪ Example 1: ▪ His face was red. ▪ His face burned with anger. ▪ Example 2: ▪ Many people attended the funeral. ▪ Over three hundred people attended the funeral. ▪ Example 3: ▪ His mother made dinner for him. ▪ His mother made chicken pot pie from scratch for his dinner.
IV. Language Language : Refers to the entire body of words in a text to determine the kinds of words and language being used. This is not to be confused with diction, where we look at specific word choices. WE WILL NOT WORK WITH LANGUAGE FOR NOW.
V. Syntax Syntax : Sentence Structure. When examining syntax, look for the way the sentence construction reflects attitude, purpose, and meaning. Examine… ▪ Sentence length . Are the sentences telegraphic (shorter than 5 words in length), medium (approximately 18 words in length), or long and involved (30 words or more in length)? Does the sentence length fit the subject matter? What variety of lengths is present? ▪ Short sentences are punchy and intense. ▪ Long sentences are distancing, reflective and more abstract. ▪ Short sentences are often emphatic, passionate or flippant, whereas longer sentences suggest greater thought.
V. Syntax Examine… ◼ Sentence beginnings . Is there a good variety or does a pattern emerge? ◼ The arrangement of ideas in a sentence . Are they set out in a special way for a purpose? ◼ The arrangement of ideas in a paragraph . Is there evidence of any pattern or structure? “He had been prepared to lie, to bluster, to remain sullenly unresponsive; but, reassured by the good humored intelligence of the Controller’s face, he decided to tell the truth, straightforwardly.” –Aldous Huxley, Brave New World ▪ What impression of the character is implied through the repetition of the “to ___” phrases?
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
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