Syntax: Form and Function
Syntactic Transformations
Diction Transformations
Word choice or just chosen words?
Primarily style or content?
100
Identify and explain the function of the syntax in the following dialogue:

"The clown... I wasn't sure then... but now... if I could only find the clown... all problems would vanish... if only..."
The use of ellipses in this sentence serve to represent the rambling, disjointed, confused nature of the speaker's thoughts/words.
100
How does the change in syntax alter our understanding of the modified dialogue below?

Original: "Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood."

Changed: "Kill the pig! Cut her throat! Spill her blood!"
The added exclamation marks add passion, urgency, excitement, and/or energy to the dialogue.
100
How does the change in diction alter our understanding of the modified sentence below?

Original: "I'm going to go tell Dad."

Changed: "I'm going to go tell Father."
In the modified sentence, the use of the term "Father" could indicate either an increased formality in the paternal relationship OR provide context for the setting of the dialogue (as "Father" was a more commonly antiquated term).
100
Explain whether "jumped" is most likely an example of diction in the following phrase:

"Piggy jumped nimbly over the falling rocks."
Most likely NO. Though "jumping" is an action Piggy is taking, there is no suggestion of a further or deeper meaning by the use of the term in this context. "Nimbly" does a stronger job of describing the action. Though it may be an important action, "jumped" is most likely NOT diction.
100
By using the word "intelligent" to describe Janie, the author intends to make a statement on the overall intellectual capacity of women.
CONTENT. This is a term that is not analyzed as a form of diction; though the writer of the statement is correct, she is not analyzing the word for its stylistic connotations or suggested meanings, only for its actual meaning.
200
Identify and explain the function of the syntax in the following phrase:

"A grand feast we will now share."
The syntax of the above sentence uses inverted structure to place emphasis on the grandeur of the feast.
200
How does the change in syntax alter our understanding of the modified sentence below?

Original: "My college shopping list just includes sheets, towels, bath supplies, an alarm clock, flip-flops, book covers, pencils, and hair gel."

Modified: "My college shopping list just includes sheets towels bath supplies an alarm clock flip-flops book covers pencils and hair gel."
The omission of all commas in the modified sentence makes the sentence ungrammatical and increases the pace at which the elements are presented, imbuing the sentence with a confused, frantic tone. The inclusion of the term "just" combined with this list also adds a bit of sarcasm.
200
How does the change in diction alter our understanding of the modified sentence below?

Original: "Claude was a handsome young man."

Modified: "Claude was a beautiful young man."
As the term "beautiful" typically describes feminine beauty, Claude's attractiveness is meant to stand out here, either as particularly feminine or as particularly strong (i.e. emphasized or unique).
200
Explain whether "peered" is an example of diction in the following sentence.

"Midway through the class, Mr. Bevan stopped and peered into the room, promptly departing several seconds later."
Most likely YES. The verb "peered" means "to look closely and keenly", which has connotations of suspicion; the term, then, implies that Bevan has some measure of suspicion in his actions, further supported by the context of his "prompt" departure.
200
The "floating red balloons" (Dai 44) that cannot seem to determine whether to rise or fall to the ground symbolize the moral ambiguity of the main characters' mutual love.
STYLE. "Floating red balloons" would constitute both a visual and kinesthetic image, and is also here described as a symbol. As symbolism is an aspect of TWISTS, this is a stylistic choice.
300
Identify and explain the function of the syntax in the following phrases:

"You lied to me. Admit it. Confess."
The speaker's use of short and direct sentences implies a no-nonsense tone; additionally, the imperative structure of the final two sentences suggests a commanding confidence.
300
How does the change in syntax alter our understanding of the modified dialogue below?

Original: "I got a C on the paper."

Modified: "There was room for improvement in the organization and support of my ideas, which were appropriately praised with a mediocre rating of "C"; while Mrs. Smith recognized my attempts to be brief and forthright, she would appreciate additional substance in my argument."
The modification from a short, direct sentence to a long and verbose one could suggest a number of things; while the content implies added thoughtfulness, the longer word count in the sentence might also suggest greater concern, intellectual arrogance, etc.
300
How does the change in diction alter our understanding of the modified sentence below?

Original: "Mark went to go get the baby while John rested in the corner."

Modified: "Mark went to go get the baby while John snoozed in the corner."
The use of the informal word "snoozed" to describe John's actions in the modified sentence may imply his lazy or irresponsible nature, particularly when juxtaposed against the more neutral term "rested."
300
Explain whether "cackling" is an example of diction in the following sentence.

"Seung turned away as her classmates continued their cackling."
Most likely YES. The use of "cackling," a word typically associated with witches or other potentially evil characters, suggests the derisive or immoral nature of the classmates.
300
The author uses images of "cows," "trees," and "horses" (Smith 26) to depict a markedly rural setting.
CONTENT. The elements listed are not images intended to evoke mood, they are simply items that constitute an archetypical setting.
400
Explain the function of the WORD ORDER in the SECOND sentence as it pertains to Joe's wife:

"The two men almost sat upright at the tone of Joe's voice. They stared at Joe’s face, his clothes, and his wife."
In context, the elements presented in the second sentence suggest that they were important in determining Joe's character; however, the fact that Joe's wife is last in the order implies that she is the least important element of the three listed.
400
How does the change in syntax alter our understanding of the modified sentences below?

Original: "She was my everything. We could have been great together. I messed up the plan."

Modified: "Was my everything. Could have been great together. Messed up the plan."
The omission of the subject in each sentence functions to create a more desperate, sullen, or longing mood; the thoughts have been truncated as if the faculties of the speaker have diminished in her or his depression.
400
How does the change in diction alter our understanding of the modified sentence below?

Original: "When confronted by his parents about ditching school to watch the parade, Marco cleverly lied."

Modified: "When confronted by his parents about ditching school to watch the parade, Marco expertly prevaricated*."

*Prevaricate - verb - to speak falsely or misleadingly; to lie
The use of heavier, more sophisticated diction like "expertly" and "prevaricated" place further emphasis on either Marco's skillful ability to lie, or on the skill of the lie itself.
400
Explain whether "bummer" is an example of diction in the following sentences.

"After twenty years of back-breaking, soul-crushing toil, to be informed so succinctly and so patronizingly that his long-term creative raison d'etre* would be thusly extinguished was, suffice it to say, quite the bummer."

*raison d'etre - idiom (French) - reason for being/living
Most likely YES. There is a sophistication and drama to the diction in the rest of the sentence that is ironically underscored by the use of the term "bummer," which is a far more informal term.
400
Describing Jeremiah's thoughts as "blazing" figuratively connects them to both passion and fire, which serves both to characterize him as fervent as well as to foreshadow his decision to burn down the orphanage.
STYLE. The writer is examining word choice here, which appears to have both connections to content as well as to a significant event in the plot.
500
Identify and explain the function of the syntax in the following phrase:

"Clarisse was subtle yet obvious, soft-spoken yet loud, gentle yet firm."
The syntax of the above sentence uses parallel structure to further emphasize the contradictory or paradoxical nature of Clarisse.
500
How does the change in syntax alter our understanding of the modified sentence below?

Original: "The new teacher, who was known to be direct, tough, and free of nonsense, commanded the immediate respect of her entire class."

Modified: "The new teacher - direct, tough, nonsense-free - commanded the immediate respect of her entire class."
The use of the more abbreviated modifiers and the em dashes in the second sentence further emphasize the teacher's direct, no-nonsense nature by creating a sentence that syntactically emulates her character.
500
How does the change in diction alter our understanding of the modified sentence below?

Original: "The teacher noted the odd patterns in Yara's handwriting."

Modified: "The teacher noted the bizarre patterns in Yara's handwriting."
The term "bizarre" is denotatively stronger and connotatively more negative than the term "odd," suggesting an increased strangeness of Yara's handwriting (and probably of her character as well).
500
Explain whether the term "whiteness" is diction in the following sentence.

"Montag did not move, but stood looking into the cold whiteness of the wall immediately before him."
Most likely NO: while intentionally symbolic and part of a meaningful image, the choice to use "whiteness" to depict the wall is not purposeful as a word on its own; it has symbolic meanings but not connotative meanings.
500
The use of the semicolon to conjoin both clauses indicates that there is a similarity between the function of Anthony's Communion and that of the Black Mass.
STYLE. Though the writer does not quote directly, she is analyzing syntax by examining the function of the semicolon to correlate content.
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