- “It was a grim farm and a grim house, unloved and unloving”(63).
- “Adam Trask grew up in grayness… his days a slow file of half-sorrows and sick dissatisfactions”(131).
- “There’s a blackness on this valley… I can feel it cutting off the sun… as though some old ghost haunted it out of the dead ocean below and troubled the air with unhappiness”(175).
- “…the world sadness that rises into the soul like gas and spreads despair…”(175).
- “Burned in his mind was an image of beauty and tenderness… sweet and holy”(132).
- “He wished for words like his father’s words, sweet winged words, cooing and lovely”(278).
The examples of diction mentioned above are primarily abstract, which allows Steinbeck to illustrate a concept rather than simply stating it (therefore amplifying the tone). Despite the fact that the author’s selection of language creates a despondent tone, despair is closely followed by tentative hope. For example, although, “Adam grew up in grayness”(131), it was not long until, “Adam sat like a contented cat on his land”(154). Therefore, the overall tone of the novel is foreboding laced with optimism.
I agree with you in that Steinbeck utilized many somber and bleak words to express his tone. His carefully chosen words also express how he personally views each character, their actions, or events which occur throughout the novel.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that much of the diction has a hopeful tone and a hint of optimism. Most of the characters view the future as being prosperous which Steinbeck addresses with his clear descriptions of their feelings and attitudes. As you also mentioned, Steinbeck did use his descriptive diction as a form of foreshadowing future events. Readers could often gain insight as to whether a future event was going to have a positive or negative outcome by simply paying attention to the diction which described the characters feelings about such events.
I agree with you in that there are words that flow throughout the entire piece that cast a dreary and somber shadow on the tone of Steinbeck's work. I liked how you mentioned that the diction provides insight and realistic description into the lives and feelings of the characters. I think that it is interesting that our blogs about diction are contrasting: your's discusses the darker side of the tone while mine discusses the lighter side. I think that both sides play an important part in portraying Steinbeck's message and themes of his novel. Without one side it would be hard to see the other. However, I am willing to switch to the dark side....if you have cookies :)
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