Close Reading: The Use of Diction, Syntax, and Figures of Speech in Poetry
Overview
This essay analyzes a poem through close reading techniques, examining how the poet employs diction, syntax, and figures of speech to convey themes about human understanding and the limitations of science. The author argues that specific word choices like 'abyss,' 'impious,' and 'vacillate' create formal tone while syntactic arrangements demonstrate the difficulty of comprehending the universe and human existence.
What this essay covers
- Definition and types of diction with examples from the poem
- Analysis of syntax and figures of speech, particularly personification in depicting science
- Interpretation of how literary observations reveal contrasting life perspectives and the limitations of scientific understanding
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Close Reading
The Use of Diction in the Poem
Diction is writing and speaking style, determined by how the writer or speaker uses words. Diction refers to the choice of words, and it is primarily used to separate excellent writing from bad writing. It relies on numerous factors such as, the words used should be accurate and right, should be suitable to the context, and should provide easy understanding to the reader or listener. Wrong choice of words diverts listeners and readers, which causes them to misinterpret the text. There are numerous types of diction, which include formal diction, colloquial diction, informal, and slang diction. Formal diction is used in formal situations such as presentations and press conferences, informal diction is usually used when talking or writing to friends, colloquial diction uses words that may appear different in other communities or regions, and slang diction includes the use of impolite or coined words.
In the poem, “abyss” in the third line is a formal diction that tries to explain the mystery of the world. The writer depicts that although human beings attempt to understand the world or universe, they have not yet reached the conclusions of all that is the universe. Moreover, she uses “Science” in the fifth line. She attempts to show that the understanding of human beings about the world is all science.