Blogpost #7 Diction

Diction is a more complicated idea used in every poem or play by characters to help express theme, plot, setting, symbol, or figurative language. Diction is basically the author's choice of words in a certain context and these word choices may be denotations or connotations or maybe expressed through character's colloquial language. The author purposefully uses diction formally or informally to send a concealed message discussing what the author wants to make known without openly expressing it. Diction operates in a way so that the reader can understand and become connected with what the character's are saying and allows the reader to relate to certain themes of the poem or play. In comparing "Traveling through the dark" by William Stafford and "Fast Break" by Edward Hirsch, these authors use totally different diction in both poems to express their meaning and by allowing the reader to understand what their inside meaning is. Even though these poems don't really have characters to follow, the author uses diction in his own words to describe some moment in time or some event. In the diction used by William Stafford, he uses slow and monotonous word choices such as "dead", "dragged", and "stiffened" to express the death of the deer and how the awful environment around it is dark and gloomy as well. This diction used by Stafford clearly exemplifies his message of darkness, and ominous tone that he provides to the poem. In "Fast Break", Hirsch uses a different type of diction including denotations and connotations to exemplify the "hidden" meaning he attempts to express. Hirsch's word choice such as "both forwards racing down the court" or "the power-forward explodes past them in a fury" help portray Hirsch's need to express the fast paced and accelerated game that he wants to explain. He clearly expresses the quickness and swift motions of the players on the court through his diction and allow the reader to realize the swiftness of the poem. Diction is essential in expressing the theme and meaning of a poem or play. Author's use diction for this exact purpose and they carefully pick their word choice wisely.