Diction

spring is like a perhaps hand

**Diction**
Diction is the way the author uses words to express ideas and talk to their audience. For example, a writer of children's poetry will not use long and complicated words. The diction can also be used to set the mood or tone of the poem. Although they have the similar meanings, many words have different tones, like the words walk and meander. Walk means the same thing as meander, but meander is more sophisticated and is rarely used in informal situations, while walk can be used anytime. Poets choose their words very carefully in order to be sure that both the meanings and the tones of their words match what they want to say.


 * Examples of diction in poetry:**

I came to a spot that said "Dig right here." And four feet down my spade struck wood Just where the map said a chest would appear. But carved in the side were written these words: "A curse upon he who disturbs this gold." Signed, Morgan the Pirate, Scourge of the Seas. I read these words and my blood ran cold. So here I sit upon untold wealth Tryin' to figure which is worse: How much do I need this gold? And how much do I need this curse? ||< This poem by Shel Silverstein is written to appeal to children. He used contractions on line one and line ten to give the reader a sense that it is a child speaking. The grammatical error on line ten also adds to this sense of a child narrator. In fact, all of the words in the poem are words that a child would know and use. Also, the laid back style of writing is much like a child and is something that they can relate to and the actions that the narrator takes in digging for treasure is something that kids would normally do. ||
 * ~ //Morgan's Curse// by Shel Silverstein ||~  ||
 * Followin' the trail on the old treasure map,

To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded, though immortal. But his doom Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought Both of lost happiness and lasting pain Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. At once, as far as Angels ken, he views The dismal situation waste and wild. A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames No light; but rather darkness visible Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace And rest can never dwell, hope never comes That comes to all, but torture without end Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. || This is in stark contrast to Shel Silverstein's light and friendly style. Although the subject matter is very dark, the language and choice of words that Milton uses serve to make the poem even darker. He uses words and phrases like "doleful" and "torture without end," both of which would be the wrong words to use in a poem like Shel Silverstein's. This serves to illustrate one of the uses of diction, the choice of words to fit the situation at hand. The way that Milton writes is more sophisticated with more complicated words and sentence structures because he is targeting an older audience. ||
 * ~ //Paradise Lost// by John Milton (excerpt) ||~  ||
 * Nine times the space that measures day and night

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