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The Manipulation of Language in "The Awakening": A Study on Diction

Explore the use of diction in "The Awakening" to analyze the portrayal of characters through words like "handsome" and "beautiful." Understand the connotations and implications of these terms in defining beauty and attractiveness in the novel.

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The Manipulation of Language in "The Awakening": A Study on Diction

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  1. No, you don’t have to write this down.

  2. The Manipulation of Language (a closer look at The Awakening)

  3. Diction • “She was rather handsome than beautiful. Her face was captivating by reason of a certain frankness of expression and a contradictory subtle play of features. Her manner was engaging.” (II, para. 2)

  4. “handsome” • Denotation: impressive appearance • What are the connotations of “handsome”? • What does is mean to be a “handsome” woman? • What does it mean to be a “handsome” man?

  5. “beautiful” • Denotation: aesthetically pleasing • What are the connotations of “beautiful”? • What does is mean to be a “beautiful” woman? • What does it mean to be a “beautiful” man?

  6. Diction and imagery • “She was rather handsome than beautiful. Her face was captivating by reason of a certain frankness of expression and a contradictorysubtle play of features. Her manner was engaging.” (II, para. 2) • What is suggested by these images and the use of the word “contradictory”?

  7. Put it all together… • Chopin makes the distinction between “handsome” and “beautiful” here. Both words suggest that Edna is not unattractive, though they suggest being “engaging” for different reasons. She is not the double-take girl. She is attractive precisely because she is not. She is approachable – her features lead you to feel approached by her, welcomed. Her features are “contradictory” to her “expression,” which could be interpreted in two ways: she has a playful personality that belies her frankness of appearance, or she has playful features that belie her “expression” of personality.

  8. Now you: • If you need more examples, review the handout. • In pairs, identify quotations of significance from the book so far. • Discuss and interpret them; make notes in your text. • Choose two to write full paragraphs about.

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