Poetic Devices:Diction

English 1

Mrs. Foster

Every Word Counts

• In 10 words or less, describe:

• The most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen

• In 10 words or less, describe:

• The ugliest thing you’ve ever seen

Diction

• A writer’s choice of words

• Helps create a writer’s style

• Like imagery, can emphasize certain aspects of what’s being described.

Denotation v. Connotation

• Denotation: The literal meaning of a word (what you might find in the dictionary)

• Connotation: All the associations and emotions that have come to be attached to a word

Denotation v. Connotation

• The sun is bright

Denotation v. Connotation

• The sun is brilliant

Denotation v. Connotation

• The sun is harsh

Denotation v. Connotation

• Activity: Come up with as many synonyms for the following word as possible. Divide into words with positive connotation and words with negative connotation

•Laughed