ENG 285 Lecture Notes - Lecture 32: Spurn, Purple Prose, Literal And Figurative Language
Document Summary
Diction: word choice is important stylistically, as any words have multiple synonyms with different implications and overtones. Hate is vague. consider the use of detest, abhor, condemn, loathe, scorn, spurn, dislike, despise. Word choice can vary based on level of usage of characters anything out of character, including words, can spoil realism. Diction is not a first draft concern, but it is something you should pay attention to as you revise and shape the piece. Syntax: this is the way you use sentence structure in a stylistic way. This can get at a mood or tone. You also want to consider varying sentence structure so reading it doesn"t become monotone. Long sentences don"t have to slow the pace run-ons might be how your narrator thinks/talks, for instance. Be cautious of overwriting or purple prose, trying to hard to impress with inaccessible diction and long, complex sentences filled with thesaurus-gleaned words.
