Analytical Focus

Diction


• Can reveal traits of a character or character background.
• Can hint at the time period in which the story is taking place
• Can help set the tone of the passage
• Can be help deliver the author's message


Diction in a short passage can be a very useful literary technique to mention since, unlike a poem, there is more room for dialogue in which the characters can express their thoughts. Also the author can be more descriptive in the way the authors respond to certain events that occur in the story. Also, if the characters happen to be using old English while they speak, then it means that the setting is taking place at an earlier time. The type of words that the author uses usually reveal how the author views the events taking place which can prove to be essential for your essay.


Imagery


• Reveals what the author wants you to see the most
• Can reveal mood by the way the author describes the setting
Finding imagery tells you that it's something that the author wants you to visualize as it probably is very important to some aspect of the story. Also make sure to pay attention to how the author describes the setting. Depending on what the author thinks of the setting, will reflect on the way that they describe it.


Tone


Tone simply just tells you how the author feels about the subject that he is talking about which is important if the question asks you about the authors opinion or anything of the sort. Tone can be a variety of things which can range from remorseful to excited. Tone can be a minor difficulty to find if the author is using anything like sarcasm in which the tone will be something like hateful but the wording, if not paid attention to carefully, might sound cheery.


Figurative Language


• Can help locate sarcasm
• Helps emphasize a point


Figurative language can be a number of things such a hyperbole in which something is exaggerated. Usually when something is exaggerated, it's because the author wanted to make it stand out from the text or wanted to show that he was being sarcastic. Figurative language can also be an allusion in which the author refers to another work. These are used so that it provides the subject with further depth instead of the author having to explain it all.