Topic: Analyzing Author’s Style

• Essential Question: How do authors employ rhetorical devices to convey the message of the text?

Rhetorical Devices

Used In Music (Songs)and Poetry (fictional text)

and Essays (informational text)

and…

Word Choice AKA DICTION• The words that an author uses are carefully chosen for

effect/impact. • Certain words are chosen and strung together for their

emotional impact (Connotation)• Certain words may be chosen for their “mood setting”

capabilities. For example, when describing a night sky, the author describes a “moon-light sky”. A certain “mood” is created. BONUS REVIEW: What part of speech is moon-light?

• Certain words are culturally coded and thus are symbolic of cultural traditions and beliefs. Colors can be symbolic.

• Certain words are chosen for what they mean (denotation = dictionary definition)

Stylistic considerations used in Word Choice AKA DICTION

• Writers consider what words are appropriate for what audience and situation. When writing to a BFF, students might use slang and informal writing, when writing to the principal, students would want to use formal academic language (upgraded vocabulary).

• Connotation: (Loaded Language): Texts capitalize on multiple meanings of a word. Connotation is the emotional or cultural association (feeling) that a word evokes. The association can be positive or negative or neutral.

• Denotation: Literal meaning of a word.• Formal versus Informal words: Formal writing steers clear of contractions

while informal writing uses contractions freely. Formal papers, like the research paper, steer clear of personal pronouns (I, me, my) to remain objective.

• Jargon/Slang/Dialect:: Obscure language usually common to people of a certain region or dialect or a group of people in a particular trade or specialty(tech talk). Examples, health journals, etc…

Rhetorical Devices in text• An author carefully and deliberately chooses words,

carefully and deliberately phrases words and carefully and deliberately arranges words, for intended and subtle impact.

• An author also, intentionally, uses specific literary devices to create certain sounds/ “tones”.

• Author’s Style therefore, can be defined as the choices a writer makes regarding words, phrases and sentences.

• Style is informed by audience and situation• Consequently, stylistic choices that writers make impact

(inspire/determine) the reader’s “mood”.

SOUND DEVICES…REPETITION and REFRAIN

• Repetition = a word, phrase , line or group of lines is repeated, for effect, several times in a text.

• Refrain = a word, phrase , line or group of lines is repeated, for effect, several times in a text.

What is the difference between the two? • Repetition is usually reserved for words and phrases while

refrain is typically reserved for lines and groups of lines (chorus)

Sound Devices Cont…Rhyme

• Rhyme is… A similarity of sound between

words, such as moon, spoon, croon, tune, and June.

Rhyme can be exact like spoon and moon or slanted like Bridge and Grudge

Rhyme can be in between a line (internal rhyme) or at the end

(end rhyme) of a line

SOUND DEVICES cont…Onomatopoeia, Alliteration,

Assonance ➢ Onomatopoeia= sounds of the words suggest or are related to their meaning.

▪ E.g. The puck whizzed and zipped over the ice, then clattered into the goal.➢ Alliteration= repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning or in the middle of two or more adjacent

words.▪ E.g. Intramural hockey is a strenuous, stimulating, satisfying sport.

➢ Assonance= repetition of vowel sounds in stressed syllables of two or more adjacent words.▪ E.g. A work-out partner is finally a kind, reliable, right-minded helper.

➢ Anaphora = repetition of the same group of words at the beginning of successive clauses.▪ E.g. Exercise builds stamina in young children; exercise builds stamina in teenagers and young adults;

exercise builds stamina in older adults and senior citizens.(BONUS Review What sentence type (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex) is

the above sentence)…➢ Epistrophe=repetition of the same group of words at the end of successive clauses

▪ E.g. To become a top-notch player, I thought like an athlete, I trained like an athlete, I ate like an athlete.

Stylistic considerations used in Word Choice AKA DICTION

• Often times words, such as colors, are chosen and used for connotative effect. Blue = happy, grey=sadness, yellow= bright, white=innocence, red=love

• Often times words are chosen and used for their cultural significance. For example, When describing a happy wedding an author that is culturally sensitive to Chinese culture would chose red as white is customary for Chinese weddings.

• Often times words are chosen because of their strength. For example, an author might chose despise rather than dislike to show degree of feeling.

Stylistic devices used in Syntax• Structure (syntax) is all about how words are structured and arranged and how

sentences are formed (REVIEW SENTENCE TYPES Cornell Notes) for structure and balance/imbalance of various sentence types

• Parallelism : the use of the same grammatical structure for similar items. Parallel structure of words, phrases, and clauses. E.g. ‘s• Words: Exercise physiologists argue that body-pump

aerobics sessions benefit a person’s heart and lungs, muscles and nerves, and joints and cartilage.

• Phrases: Exercise physiologists argue that body-pump aerobics sessions help a person breathe more effectively, move with less discomfort, and avoid injury.

• Clauses: Exercise physiologists argue that body-pump aerobics is the most efficient exercise class, that body-pump participants show greater gains in stamina than participants in comparable exercise programs, and that body-pump aerobics is less expensive in terms of equipment and training needed to lead or take classes.

Other Stylistic devices used in Syntax

(structure of words, phrases and clauses)• Antithesis: parallelism that juxtaposes words, phrases, or clauses that contrast. Intended to

point out to the reader differences between juxtaposed ideas rather than similarities E.g. To err is human; to forgive, divine.

• Antimetabole: the repetition of words in successive clauses, but in transposed (criss-crossed) order; words are repeated in different grammatical forms

E.g. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”E.g. “Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country.” • Chiasmus: Inverted parallelism; the criss-cross structure of words ; two or more related

clauses are reversed in structure in order to make a larger point ABBA. Like antimetabole, but the classical notion of chiasmus does not use repetition of the same words, phrases.

E.g. “But O, what damned minutes tells he o’er Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves” ~Shakespeare’s, Othello 3.3E.g. “He knowingly led and we followed blindly” (ABBA)

Other Stylistic devices used in Syntax

(structure of words, phrases and clauses)• Parentheses= (interrupts the flow of a passage in order to

provide necessary, on-the-spot information or ideas to readers).

• Parentheses can be set off by parentheses or dashes REVIEW SENTENCE TYPES notes…

• Appositives can also set two coordinating elements side by side. REVIEW SENTENCE TYPES notes…

E.g. Kristopher Thomas, a pioneer in personal weight training, would marvel at this facility.

Figures of Speech/Figurative Language as a Stylistic Device

• Figures of Speech/Figurative Language refers to an author’s use of the meaning behind words i.e. the figurative meaning of words

Examples of Figurative language rests in these devices• Similes= comparison of two things (nouns) using like or as.

E.g. Her voice is like a tranquilizer; it lulls me to sleep.• Metaphors= comparison of two things NOT using like or as.

E.g. “told him for healthcare, my music is the medicine” `blue sky• Personification = inanimate objects are given human characteristics.

E.g. “I see the blue skies say, the Lord’s coming through” `blue sky• Allusion =Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of

historical, cultural, literary or political significance.E.g. “This place is like a Garden of Eden.”

Figures of Speech/Figurative Language as a Stylistic Device

Cont…• Hyperbole = an Overstatement of an idea or point.

E.g. Ages have past since I have eaten.E.g. Your suitcase weighs a ton.

• Litotes = an Understatement of an idea or point.E.g. You won’t be sorry.

• Irony = the use of words that are meant to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. When irony has a biting or bitter tone it is sarcasm.

E.g. “Go ask his name: if he be married my grave is like to be my wedding bed.” ~Romeo & Juliet

Figures of Speech/Figurative Language as a Stylistic Device

Cont…• Paradox= Contrary to expectations, existing belief or perceived

opinion. The paradox usually make statements about the major theme/s in the text.

E.g. Your enemy’s friend is your enemy.E.g “What a pity that youth must be wasted on the

young” ` George Bernard Shaw.• Oxymoron = Words that have apparently contradictory meanings

are placed near each other. E.g. bittersweet

• Rhetorical question = A question that is designed not to secure an answer but to move the development of an idea forward and suggest a point.

E.g. It’s too hot today, Isn’t it? E.g. “O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?”`Percy Bysshe Shelley

REVIEW…See Cornell Notes on

Sentence Types[A variety of sentence types is the indication of a

more sophisticated writer (so is an expanded vocabulary)]

What Rhetorical Purpose Do the various Sentence Types Serve?

• Writers use short, punchy Simple sentences to…get to the point…grab the reader’s attention…and to build tension and speed

• Writers use Compound sentences to…emphasize balance and parallelism…

• Writers use long Complex sentences to…show what information depends on what other information…

• Writers use longer Compound-Complex Sentences to…build layers of meaning…slow down the pace and facilitate reflection…

• CAUTION: If you make the sentence too long you will have a RUN-ON!!!

What Rhetorical Purpose Do the various Sentence Types Serve?

• A loose sentence expresses the main idea near the beginning and adds details as needed…when used effectively, this type of sentence can add a special style and rhythm (be cautious not to ramble).

E.g. Sam was studying at the kitchen table, memorizing a list of vocabulary words, completely focused, intent on acing tomorrow’s Spanish quiz.• A balanced sentence is constructed so that it emphasizes a similarity or contrast between two or more of

its parts (words, phrases, or clauses).E.g. The wind in our ears drove us crazy and pushed us on.E.g. Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you.• a declarative sentence simply makes a statement; it will avoid any special emotional impact.E.g. The Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor.• an exclamatory (!) sentence communicates strong emotion or surprise, used sparingly, it will jolt the

reader.E.g. Climbing 168 stairs is not a dumb idea!• an interrogative(?) sentence asks a question/s and will force the reader to think about what you are

writing; andE.g. Do you know that the Statue of Liberty is made of copper and stands over 150 feet tall?

Works Cited for definitions and examples

• Literarydevices.net• Wikepedia.org