Question

Read the excerpt from "Surrendering" by Ocean Vuong.

Little moments of ice hurled themselves against the
window as the boys and girls, my peers, stared, their
faces as unconvinced as blank sheets of paper.
4
How does the author's diction contribute to the tone of
the excerpt?
O Informal diction creates a passionate tone.
O Colloquial diction creates a regretful tone.
O Poetic diction creates a perturbed tone.
O Scholarly diction creates a serious tone.

Answer 1

The author's poetic diction in "Surrendering" by Ocean Vuong creates a perturbed tone through imagery and descriptions that convey agitation and detachment.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author's diction in the excerpt from "Surrendering" by Ocean Vuong enhances the tone through careful word choice and imagery. The phrase "little moments of ice hurled themselves against the window" employs vivid, almost poetic diction to create a perturbed tone, as it conveys a sense of agitation and harshness. Moreover, describing the peers' faces as "unconvinced as blank sheets of paper" furthers this disturbed atmosphere by suggesting a lack of response or emotion, implying a cold or detached environment.

Analyzing stylistic choices such as the figurative language and use of sensory details helps us understand the tone and mood of the text. These stylistic choices are used to represent both the physical coldness of the ice against the window and the emotional coldness of the observer's peers. This duality adds depth to the author's voice and the poem's overall effect.

Thus, based on the provided information and our analysis of the diction, the author's word choice contributes to a perturbed tone rather than a passionate, regretful, or serious one, making the correct answer "Poetic diction creates a perturbed tone."