GBII Formal Analysis

Diction

The choice/use of specific words in a piece of writing

Latinate

Using a latin rooted word. Sounds more formal, sophisticated, and refined. (abstract)

Anglo-saxon

Using a anglo-saxon rooted word. Sounds more colloquial, egalitarian, concrete.

Class/dialect overtones

Grammar style, slang, contraction use, etc can all be indicators of a character’s background and personality. Changes or expected uses depending on class can be markers for dicussion.

Allusions

When a author or character states or does something that makes the reader think of something else. Different then referring, which is to directly mention something.Rhy

Rhyme

Repetition of vowel sounds between words

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds between words

Repetition use

Used to tie words and ideas together in a raeder’s mind, thereby giving a line more force.

Puns/hyperboles/joke-words

Words that twist or exaggerate meanings. Funny, but also indicate deeper wisdom.

Anaphora

Repeated words at the beginning of lines.

Epistrophe

Repeated words at the end of lines.

Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word/phrase in one sentence in the beginning of the next.

Polyptoton

Repeating the same root word (happy/happier) but with different grammatical forms or functions.

Syntax

Analysis at the level of sentences, how they are structured and convey meaning.

Varieties of Parallelism…

Set up comparisons and contrasts, add balance ad force to the expression.

Simple Parallelism

The arrangement of clauses in similar or identical grammatical structure.

Antithesis

The arrangements of clauses in similar grammatical structures, but featuring opposites.

Chiasmus

The arrangement of clauses in parallel or antithetical structure, but repeating some of the terms in inverse order. (thunder-purple…purple-of-thunder)

Climax

Parallel syntax in ascending sequence. (hast been, shalt be, art)

Congeries

A piling up of words, all in one clause or sentence, in order to emphasize the great mass of things considered. It was a sour, fickle, fruitless etc

Polysyndeton

The repetition of connectives between items in a series. (I ran and jumped and missed the ball)

Asyndeton

The deletion of connectives between items in a series. (The cold, wet, sad, towel was reeking alone in wretchery)

Inversion

A clause or sentence that alters the normal word order. (Yoda)

Punctuation

Can deeply affect the way a reader understands an author’s writing.

Comma

Frequent use slows down a sentence, omission speeds up and ambiguity.

Dash

Reveals something urgent. Forceful/emotional break in sentence second clause forced way onto first.

Semi colon/Colon

Slow down sentence the most. Separates two very related independent clauses / sets up eventual list or quotation.

Imagery

Most important part of author’s art, provide reader with clearest key to meaning.

Metaphor/simile

Uses both to use something to shed light on another.

Extended Metaphor/Conceit

A metaphorical connection that extends to multiple aspects of the two things being compaired. (A five page comparison to two different things)

Submerged Metaphor

The elucidation of one thing using another, but without indicating too much overtly.

Metonymy

One object stands in for another to which it is closely related or associated. (The white house [president] has not made a decision yet.)

Synecdoche

Type of metonymy, substitution of a part is made for the whole. (The hand of God → God)

Personification

Thing is spoken of in a way normally reserved for human beings.Lends greater force/drama to objects and their effect. Also in ironic sense, agency when there is actually none.

Synaesthesia

The mingling of one sense-description with another (taste/sight ex.) Shows speakers inability to describe sensory overwhelming.

Meter

The organized rhythm of a work, great influence on the way its understood.

Metrical Feet

The way meters are broken up. By units and stressed/unstressed syllables.

The iamb

two syllable foot, the first unstressed, the second stressed (again)

[meter feels steady]

The trochee

two syllable foot, the first stressed, the second unstressed (donkey)

[Meter feels war drum]

The pyrrhic

two syllable foot, both unstressed

The Spondee

two syllable foot, both stressed

The anapest

three syllable foot, two unstressed then one stressed (understand)

[Meter feels galloping]

The dactyl

three syllable foot, one stressed then two unstressed (buffalo)

[meter feels trance-like]

Substitution

Though one foot will be dominant in a poem, others can replace for rhythmic variation. Most common = trochee for an iamb.