Question

Read the excerpt from "Surrendering” by Ocean Vuong.

Through the headset, a robust male voice surged forth, emptying into my body. The man’s inflections made me think of waves on a sea. Between his sentences, a crowd—I imagined thousands—roared and applauded. I imagined their heads shifting in an endless flow. His voice must possess the power of a moon, I thought, something beyond my grasp, my little life.

How does the diction affect the tone of the excerpt?

Answer 1

The diction in Ocean Vuong's 'Surrendering' creates a tone of reverence and awe, marked by humility and a yearning for transcendence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The diction in the excerpt from "Surrendering" by Ocean Vuong directly shapes the tone of the passage. The use of phrases such as "robust male voice," "waves on a sea," and "power of a moon" contribute to a reverent and awestruck tone. These word choices amplify the magnitude of the speaker's voice and, alongside the imagined reactions of the crowd, suggest an overwhelming sense of influence and command. The speaker's admission of their own 'little life' in comparison to the voice they hear underscores a tone of humility and perhaps a longing to transcend their circumstances or to connect with the power they perceive.