English Literature – Language | e-Consult

This question focuses on the relationship between language choice and overall effect. The answer should demonstrate an understanding of how diction (word choice) and syntax (sentence structure) work together to create a specific tone and atmosphere. It should provide examples of how the writer uses formal or informal language, complex or simple sentences, and specific word choices to evoke a particular feeling in the reader. For instance, a discussion of Edgar Allan Poe's *The Tell-Tale Heart* could analyze how Poe's use of fragmented syntax and heightened diction creates a sense of anxiety and impending doom. The answer should also consider how the stylistic register (formal, informal, poetic, etc.) influences the reader's engagement with the narrative and their interpretation of the events.

Key areas to address:

• Define diction and syntax and explain their relationship.
• Identify specific examples of diction and syntax in the chosen text.
• Analyze the effect of these choices on the tone and atmosphere.
• Explain how the stylistic register shapes the reader's response.