Diction

Diction is the author's choice of words, often carefully in order to convey precise meanings. A word can have a literal meaning, or denotation, so when analyzing diction one must consider all of the possible meanings for the word. If the words have hidden meanings or meanings that need to be found bout by relating back to the material, or connotation, the reader needs to know these meanings also. The tone could be affected by the connotation in the case of formal or informal diction which could be referred to as colloquial language, or the vernacular. Diction may also be abstract or concrete. The phrase "vegetable love" in To His Coy Mistress has many meanings one could see the "vegetable" as a literal thing or interpret it as something that has a life and a course. "Vegetable love" is a love that starts anew and then dies but keeps starting anew due to its seeds. Andrew Marvell used great diction when referring to love. Moreover, the diction used in Hamlet is also very vivid. For example, when Hamlet says "good mother" he is not necessarily calling his mother "good" but has an edge to it and says it very sarcastically. Furthermore, when the King tells Hamlet to not go back to Wittenberg he comes off as being nice but Claudius is really implying a command. Claudius is commanding Hamlet to not go back to Wittenberg although his diction may show otherwise.