One, style, and diction are powerful tools of the storyteller, and often under-appreciated by readers. Choose one of the stories that you read this week, and analyze the story for its tone, style, and diction. Respond to the following questions:
What is the author’s tone in this story? What hints are there within the story that reveal this attitude?
How would you characterize the author’s writing style? How is the style reflected in the tone and diction? Give a specific example of this style within the writing. Select words or ideas that characterize this writing style.
What words in the story did you find most powerful? Select at least three words from the story and describe the effect of those words on the story.
What did you learn about storytelling from your analysis of the tone, style, and diction? Does this exercise heighten your appreciation for authors?
Sample Solution
