Diction In Latin American Literature

Latin American Literature

The phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” is no match for the thousands of words used to create a picture. Words and diction are the key element to writing a grand piece of literature. Latin American literature goes deeply into other aspects of life that most of other areas of literature don't explore through their writing. This gives Latin American literature a unique tone and meaning. This time and deeper meaning is created by a specific choice of diction. Latin American literature is bold and dynamic in its diction, thus creating an exciting and invigorating tone and meaning for the reader.

Descriptive diction is used to create an exciting tone and meaning by showing imagery. Diction can create imagery such

This diction is often seen intensifying a story’ plot and purpose. The tone will quicken as emphasis is put on one feature of a particular poem. An example is “Poet’s Obligation” and it says, “A vibration starts up, vague and insistent, a great fragment of thunder sets in motion the rumble of the planet and the foam, the raucous rivers of the ocean flood” (Neruda 349). Words like “vibration” and “raucous rivers” put emphasis on the sudden inspiration of the ocean, giving the ocean a deeper meaning. Diction also creates a boisterous tone by using rare and extravagant words that guide the reader to a deeper thinking level. This makes the reader question and think about what they know. In the poem, “Poetry” it says, “The heavens unfastened and open, planets, palpitating plantations, shadow perforated, riddled with arrows, fire and flowers, the winding night, the universe” (Neruda 350). Writing about topics like “heavens”, “planets”, and “universe” create a boisterous tone and make the reader think deeply and look at the bigger picture in life. Diction also puts a thrilling emphasis on an otherwise simple subject to create a boisterous tone. Some might view an act as simplistic and calming, but diction can be used to make it extraordinary. In “Continuity of Parks” it says, “Word by word, licked up by the sordid dilemma of the hero and heroine, letting himself be absorbed to the point where the images settled down and took on color and movement” (Cortázar 363). Reading might seem simple, but the narrator is taken to a whole other world. The words within the story such as “sordid” and “absorbed” create an intense and boisterous tone for the