Literature Circles
Group Meeting #1
A Lesson Before Dying and The Secret Life of Bees
Diction and Figurative Language
Diction is the author’s choice of words. Words are the writer’s tools. Words shape the reader’s perception of a character, a setting, or a situation. To understand diction, you must “see” the words play out in your head, “hear” them aloud, and “feel” their effects.
Figurative language refers to words or phrases that describe one thing in terms of another and is not meant to be understood on a literal level. This is included with diction because the author must make relevant choices when deciding what comparison to make or which type of figurative language would be most effective. These choices, like choices in diction, are purposeful on behalf of the author to affect your perception of a character, setting, or situation.
Example of Diction: (You could ask all the same questions about a figurative language choice, though.)
“Meanwhile, the United States Army, thirsting for revenge, was prowling the country north and west of the Black Hills, killing Indians wherever they could be found.”
--Dee Brown, Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee
Questions to ask about a word/phrase:
What is meant by “thirsting”? Are the soldiers literally thirsty? What connotations go along with the word “thirsting”? Why use this particular word rather than another word? What feelings does this word evoke?
Discuss the word “prowling” with these same questions.
Possible Answers:
(This passage doesn’t mean the soldiers are literally thirsty. However, “thirsting” means that they need something, or they could die. As in, you can’t live without water (thirsty). This word evokes a feeling of animalistic, out of control, desperate need. What might “prowling” have to do with that?)
Meanwhile, the United States Army, needing revenge, was crossing the country north and west of the Black Hills, killing Indians wherever they could be found.
To understand the effect of diction, substitute connotative words in the quote (words which carry emotions) with denotative words (factual, direct words). The second example directly above has replaced connotative words with denotative words. However, does this example tell you anything about who these men are as people like the first example does? The answer is probably not!
Your Jobs (you must do both)
Discuss (1):
Find one example of interesting, purposeful diction in your novel. What word or phrase is interesting? What does the word literally mean? Is that what it means in this sentence, or is it more of a figurative meaning? If it is more of a figurative meaning, what is that meaning? What connotations, or feelings, go along with that word/phrase? Does the word “sound” a certain way? What’s the “feel” of the word or phrase? How do you picture the character, setting, or conflict when this word is used to describe him/her/it?
Write (1):
Copy the sentence from your novel which contains the diction you discussed in your group. Record your most interesting responses to the questions above. Then, rewrite the sentence using denotative words rather than the connotative diction the author chose. How does this change affect the meaning of the sentence? Record your answer(s).
Discuss (2):
Find one example of purposeful, significant figurative language in your novel. What two things is the author comparing? Why did the author choose this particular thing to compare the ordinary event/object/person? What “feeling” does the comparison evoke from the reader? What does this comparison tell you about the character, event, or setting?
Write: (2):
Copy the sentence containing figurative language that you discussed with your group. Mark out the comparison, and substitute it with a totally different one. How does the change affect the meaning of the passage? Record your response(s).