Diction

Diction can be defined as the articulation of speech regarded from the point of view of its intelligibility to the audience. However, diction is really the combination of all literary devices as well as a careful explination of setting, tone, imagery, sounds, symbols, and characters. Careful choice of diction expresses each of the elements above. For example, Yeat's "A Prayer for My Daughter" expresses the perfect choice of diction in almost every line. "May she become a flourishing hidden tree" employs all of the literary devices, including the metaphor of a "flourishing tree" which ultimately represents the child growing in the future. Also, the line gives the reader a sense of what the flourishing tree looks like, creating a sensory experience of imagery, as well as creating a setting through the image of the tree. Lastly, the tree is personified as Yeats' daughter. The most important aspect of any poem or longer work is the utilization of all literary and poetic devices, which ultimately unfold as strong diction and word choice. Therefore, diction is the most important aspect of a work because it is the mere choice of words.