PART 1:
In this discussion of a A Dream Called Home, we will focus on tone and diction as literary devices. Tone is the writer’s attitude. It can, for example, be humorous or sad, serious or playful, formal or informal. A writer conveys tone through the words she chooses to use. This deliberate word choice is called diction.
Here are three common types of diction:
- Formal diction – The use of formal, sophisticated words. Writers use formal diction as a literary device when more educated individuals are speaking or the content is for those with higher education.
- Informal diction – The use of informal, casual, conversational words.
- Colloquial diction – The use of words or phrases that are used and understood by a particular group, culture ,or region. Southerners, for example, say, y’all.
As you read chapters 5-8 in A Dream Called Home think about the words (diction) Grande chooses to use to convey her tone. Annotate as you read, noting specific words/phrases that help you understand Grande’s tone. After you read, please post your answer to the following two questions:
1. How would you describe the tone in chapters 5-8? How did Grande’s diction, or use of words, convey this tone? Give examples. Write one paragraph (about 200 words).
Please know that there are many different ways to describe tone so there will be various valid answers. Just make sure the examples you cite convey the tone you described.
Note: This paragraph is about how the author uses diction to convey tone. Therefore, first person I should not be used.
2. Grande could have used any tone she wanted to use when writing her memoir. Why do you think Grande chose to convey the tone you specified in the first paragraph? How does the tone Grande help you (the reader) connect with her story? Write one paragraph (about 200 words).
Note: This paragraph is a personal response. Therefore, first person I should be used.
PART 2:
After you read chapters 5-8, please:
Respond to two classmates’ posts. Make sure your responses are meaningful, constructive, and respectful. Each response should be one paragraph (about 150-200 words). Make sure your responses are about diction and tone. Stay on topic.
Remember, this is an advanced course and your posts should demonstrate advanced writing and correct use of academic vocabulary. Make sure to proofread before you post. Make an initial post early in the week so your classmates have enough time to respond to your posts. Refer to Discussion Forum Guidelines in the syllabus for complete instructions.
Answer these two students:
Naoko Kyogoku
SaturdayOct 2 at 6:37am
1. It is interesting to see how Grande’s tone changes in chapter 5 and how this change affects her opinion of Santa Cruz. The first few pages of chapter 5 convey her tone of obedience and resignation through emotionless and introspective diction. Young Reyna calmly tells Alfredo about an unjustified rejection she experienced when she was in fifth grade, and “ashamed (p.34)” is the only word she uses to describe her feelings. Reyna says she “was glad (p. 35)” to overcome that first rejection later, but it is doubtful that she really feels so. It seems that she is just repeating the word Alfredo says. Readers cannot find any more emotional words. From the choices of words here, readers get the impression that Reyna is overwhelmed by the feelings of “isolation, loneliness, otherness (p.36)” and has forgot to be emotional. Her emotionless, actionless attitude is well summarized on page 37: “So far I had kept a low profile, stayed focused on my classes, and done very little besides studying and working.” This attitude, however, dramatically changes when she joins the protest at her university one day. At first, Reyna’s attitude is extremely passive. It is Carolyn’s anger that wakes Reyna’s emotions: “We have to make ourselves heard (p. 38)!” The moment those words are uttered, the text suddenly fills with words of actions, solidarity, determination, emotions, and brightness: ““Come on.” I hurried down to Hahn, my backpack swinging from my shoulder, and I made my way to the students who were forming a human chain (p. 39).” And this is the first time Reyna experiences the acceptance by other students. The words Reyna uses get more and more active and brighter and brighter: “They broke the chain to let me in, and I took the hands of the students on either side of me and began to shout. [. . .] My voice rose to join theirs until we all became one. [. . .] I felt connected (p. 39).” “[A]s I sang it, I felt my chest expand, the pressure making me hurt. There was a little light inside of me [. . .], shining bright, and I knew I had to protect that light no matter what (p.39).” When Reyna realizes that she has a voice and that she needs to use it (p.39), the cold and unfriendly UCSC disappears and Reyna notices that there are actually a lot more Latino students at the university than she first thought, and she can even get Mexican food at two of the other colleges. Everything looks different now, just like the curse is finally lifted. Through her delighted tone, Reyna says now she can almost feel that Santa Cruz is her home (p.40). After this event, the words Reyna chooses to describe this place get very romantic. Santa Cruz is now a “gorgeous place (p.51),” a “magical city (p. 52),” and her “little paradise (p. 58).” She gets even dreamy and poetic when she talks about the trees at UCSC: “There are trees near the library that bloom with flowers so white they look as if they are covered in snow (p. 52).” The act of using her voice changes her perceptions of things.
2. Through the impressive change of her tone, I think Grande wants the readers to pay attention to the very cause of the change: the act of using her voice. This is an encouraging message from Grande. I feel Grande is trying to tell the readers how dramatically their life can change if they just find their voice and use it. Finding a place to call home is a very hard work and a lot of people can sometimes lose their emotions and withdraw into their own shell. Grande seems to sympathize with those people, because the same thing happened to her. At the same time, however, she is trying to say that everything is a matter of their way of seeing things, and that they can change it by, like Carolyn said, making themselves heard. “Everything might seem overwhelming, and you are feeling discouraged for now. But if you can change your perceptions of things, the world will start to look different, start to shine, and you will regain your power to start walking again. You have your own voice, so just use it. That is the key to changing your perceptions,” I feel Grande is saying like this through her writing. Most of us must have some experiences of struggling, and I think what Grande tells us through chapter 5 can be something we can deeply relate to.
Marck Rakotoson
MondayOct 4 at 5:46pm
1- In chapter 5-8, Reyna is experiencing different types of emotions due to the situation she is in and the brand new life she is about to get used to. From being sad, happy, unsure, and excited, Reyna shared every detail of her story with such precise use of words. In those chapter Reyna is not using an informal diction, and it was a good choice, as a reader, “I” couldn’t stop reading the story since it kept being intriguing and interesting. Reyna also was not using the colloquial diction because the goal to addressing her story to the general public didn’t allow to use it when she was writing about UC Santa Cruz. However, the second time she came back to Mexico to see how Betty was doing, she used some Mexican words that I believe only Mexicans would understand. In general, Reyna was using a formal tone, proving that she’s been educated and reached a high level of education, also proving how could she was at writing despite that she was not a native speaker. One instance where Reyna convey her diction with her tone is when the protest happened, she got excited and forgot about missing her class when she saw people looking like her, a mix of black, white, asian, and brown group of students.
2- Well, as not everyone is Mexican and as not everyone had endured how hard the life in Mexico or how hard and devastated it is to cross the borders and leave a part of her soul there , Reyna had used the tone she chose to make bring the words alive . By expressing herself as she lived it, readers would feel her emotions and would understand more clearly how hard was it for her to actually succeed in a country where opportunities are based on what race you are. Sadly, she has to face all the sad moment of her past, her family being devastated by separation, and her trauma with Abuela Evila. With all these stories being mostly sad and hurtful, Reyna had to go the tone she chose .
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