How does the author’s diction create the tone and mood of the short story? In your explanation, include how the connotative meanings of words chosen by the author affect the mood.
In the book "the Scarlet Ibis" the author uses many good connotative and denotative words to convey the theme and mood of the story. In the beginning of the story, the author started by talking about things that made you question what the story was going to be about; such as if it was going to be sad or upsetting (which you find out later on it is). In the book to create a more upsetting mood, the narrator called William Armstrong (Doodle) a disappointment. Disappointment has a very negative connotation, compared to the word different or unique. Then the story becomes happier and more uplifting when Doodle smiles at the narrator and he becomes so excited. When Doodle smiled and his brother found out he was "all there" as they put it, the mood became happier. Progressively Doodle learned to crawl, but his older brother was ashamed that he couldn't walk yet. So, wanting a normal brother, he started teaching him how to walk and he never gave up which made the story have a happier feeling. Unfortunately Doodle can only do so much and it's more or less of a disappointment for his brother. The narrator then begins teaching Doodle more things that'll help when he starts school. Then things take a turn for the worst while they were out. A storm began and the two boys had to run home. Doodle, being small and not able to run as well, was tracking behind. When his brother finally went back to look for him there was a bad feeling you got. Then he found Doodle dead and that's when the theme is revealed and the mood changed from happy to sad.
I agree with you some other great choices of words were when he was talking about the bleeding tree. He didn’t actually mean that the tree was bleeding, he was referring to the tree that his brother was buried at. He also used exclamation points to show that the narrator, or whoever was speaking, was exited. Also in the end when the author writes what “‘Doodle!’ I screamed above the pounding storm, and threw my body to the earth above his.“ it shows that the narrator actually did care and felt bad for what he did. In conclusion, I agree with all you say and you have great points in your blog.
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