Recognizing Intent Attitude and Tone

DRV 211-212

Intent Attitude and Tone One of the pivotal parts in critical reading is

the awareness of author’s intent, attitude and tone

Intent: purpose of the authors

Attitude: how the authors feel

Tone: the way the authors choose to express themselves

Intent and attitude

Author uses satire to criticize society for ignoring the poor

if not perceive author intent, readers might miss his point

Intent and attitude Eg. “ Hey, good buddy,

how about loaning me a ten for a few days? I’m in a bind. You’ll get it back on Friday.”

Eg. “I’m very sorry to impose on you, but I’m in a bit of predicament, and I need ten dollars just until payday”

Intent Attitude and Tone Angry , disgruntled,

Furious Sarcastic, sardonic Harsh, Strident , rude Subjective Confused, Ambivalent Sad, Sniveling Offended,

Disrespectful, Tyrannical

Antagonistic, Outraged Solemn, Sober

Humorous, Witty Light Playful, Lively Objective Moderate Firm Delight, Amusing Favorable,

compassionate Thankful

Figurative Language is the writing that use imaginative way rather than

literal sense or exactly as the words are presented.

is used to create vivid impressions by setting up comparisons between things that might be dissimilar.

writer frequently employs figurative language to express their tone toward story.

have a great deal with slang, ordinary speech and literature.

Eg. Her eyes flashed fire = She is angry [not real fire coming from her eyes.]

Metaphor

A figure of speech in comparison between two things without the use of ‘like’ and ‘as’.

An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common.

Eg. 1 stone face = unchanging expression with the immobility of stone

Eg.2 The pillow was a cloud when I put my head upon it after a long day.

Dead metaphor - a metaphor that has occurred so often that it has become a new meaning of the expression.

Simile Like metaphor, simile is figure of speech that is used

to compare one thing with another thing with the use of ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Eg. 1 Cool as spring water

Eg. 2 Sounds like machine gun

Eg. 3 busy as a bee.

Eg. 4 A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns

O My Luve's like a red, red rose,That's newly sprung in June;O My Luve's like the melodieThat's sweetly played in tune.

Cliché When metaphors and simile are overused, they turn into Cliché.

Cliché is worn-out figure speech [สสสสสสสสสสส/สสสสสสส]

A cliché is an expression that has been used so often that it has become trite and sometimes boring.

Eg. 1 My old lady: a slang term for girlfriend or wife or someone you are interested in.

Eg.2 Blanket of snow covered the hill- A literal definition for blanket is a bed covering.- A figurative definition for blanket is a layer of something which is placed over the top. [cover something with layer: to cover something with a thick layer]

Hyperbole Hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration or overstatement It is used to emphasize a point that is made.

Eg. 1 mountain of homework

Eg. 2 the phone rang ten thousand times

Eg. 3 He was so hungry, he ate that whole cornfield for lunch, stalks and all.

Eg. 4She said you crossed that line seven million times!

Pun A pun is a play on words: a humorous use of words

that involves words or phrases have more than one possible meaning.

Eg. Two silk worms had a race; they ended in a tie.

Eg. To write with a broken pencil is pointless.