CREATIVE WRITING

COT – 1

ELISA O. BABAO
Imagery, Diction
and Variations
on Language
When the House is Empty
By: C.S Lewis

No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same
fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing.
At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world
and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I
want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another
and not to me…
There are moments, most unexpectedly, when something inside me tries to assure me that I don’t really mind so
much, not so very much, after all. Love is not the whole of a man’s life. I was happy before I ever met H. I’ve plenty
of what are called ‘resources’…One is ashamed to listen to this voice but it seems for a little to be making out a
good case. Then comes a sudden jab of red-hot memory and all this ‘common sense’ vanishes like an ant in the
mouth of a furnace… And no one ever told me about the laziness of grief…
Not only writing but even reading a letter is too much. Even shaving. What does it matter now whether my cheek is
rough or smooth? They say an unhappy man wants distractions – something to take him out of himself. Only as a
dog-tired man wants an extra blanket on a cold night; he’d rather lie there shivering than get up and find one.

Questions:
1. How does an empty house describe grief in this piece?
2. The selection relates grief with fear. Explain the connection.
3. Identify some sensory images in the piece. Are they visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory or thermal?
4. If you will write about the same theme, what images object will you use as a descriptive detail?
Which is harder?
Modular Learning Face – to - face
Before

Now
ACTIVITY 1

Identify which of the given body parts is/are used. Use the chat box to say your answer. The first to
register the answer, gets the point.

1. Charles is wearing a loose blue shirt.

a. ears c. nose b. eyes d. tongue

2. I can’t stay here anymore. This place stinks because of the rotten goods.
b. ears c. nose b. eyes d. tongue

3. Lawrence was disappointed because the chocolates which were given to him were bitter.
c. ears c. nose b. eyes d. tongue

4. Francheska has smooth skin. She uses water-based lotion.

d. ears c. skin b. eyes d. tongue

5. Stephanie was startled when the bell rang.

a. ears c. nose b. eyes d. tongue
Let us check you answers:

1. EYES

2. NOSE

3. TONGUE

4. SKIN

5. EARS
ACTIVITY 2

Look at the picture. Try to imagine you are living in this place, alone. Can you describe how
you feel?

FEA
R SA DN
Y E S S
JO PEACE
A. IMAGERY
Imagery is language used by poets, novelists and other writers to create images
in the mind of the reader. Imagery includes figurative and metaphorical
language to improve the reader’s experience through their senses.

See Smell

Taste
Hear Touch
1. VISUAL
Imagery that focuses on something that is concrete and can be seen.

Examples

dilapidated shanty

lengthy essay
fair complexion
2. AUDITORY - Imagery that uses sounds

Examples

screeching wheels

chirping bird
cry of a baby
3. OLFACTORY - Imagery that uses scent

Examples:

aroma of freshly Stench of a week-

brewed coffee old garbage
4. GUSTATORY - Imagery that uses taste.

Examples:

Luscious whipped cream bitter dark chocolate

bland vegetables
5. TACTILE - It is something that you can touch through your mind’s skin.

Examples:

his calloused rough hands soft, velvety feel of silk

6. THERMAL - It is something that depicts temperature.

Examples:

a sudden gush of December

scorching heat of summer (cold)
(hot)
B. DICTION
Diction refers to the choice of words especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or
effectiveness.

The following are things that will help you use words effectively in writing:

1. Use strong and exact verbs.

Avoid linking verbs and verbs used in the passive voice.

Examples: Linking verb

Athena’s Halloween costume was terrifying to the children.

Athena’s Halloween costume terrified the children

Passive verbs

The sun was covered by big, lonely clouds.

Big, lonely clouds covered the sun.

2. Use specific words to convey meaning. Choose the right word, particularly when
choosing a synonym for a word.

Example:

Look (watch, stare, gaze, ogle, squint, observe, glare, glance, gape, scrutinize)

a) The teacher stared (to look intently) at the students who were not paying
attention to the discussion.

b) The child squinted (to look with difficulty) at the sun, which was a little painful to
the eyes.

c) The cooperating teacher observed (to look as to examine) how his cooperating
student taught the lesson about tenses of verbs.

d) I glanced (to look hurriedly) at the wall clock to check if it is already time for lunch
break.
3. Select words with best connotations.

Example: HOUSE

Denotation Connotation

• Where a person lives - Home: cozy, loving, comfortable

at any given time.
- House: the actual building or structure

- Dwelling: primitive or basic surroundings

Example: HEART

Denotation Connotation

• The main organ of the - love

circulatory system.
- feelings or emotion

- romance

- sweet
4. Avoid clichés. Use new and direct expressions.

Cliché: When Marithe finally said “yes” to his proposal, Charles was on cloud nine.

Revised: When Marithe finally said “yes” to his proposal, Charles was overjoyed.
5. Avoid wordiness.
Write simple sentences. Do not make lengthy statements.

Examples:

Wordy: To reach our goal, we need suggestions that are fresh and at the same time
effective.

Concise: To reach our goal, we need fresh and effective ideas.

C. Figurative Language
A figure of speech is a word or phrase using figurative
language—language that has other meaning than its
normal definition. Figures of Speech rely on suggested
meaning, rather than a definition from the dictionary.

Functions:
1. To clarify a vague idea or thought
2. To highlight important point
3. To stimulate unlikely associations
4. To evoke powerful feelings and emotions
5. To embellish dull paragraphs and stanzas
Types of Figures of Speech

1. Simile – It compares two objects belonging to different

classes. It is usually connected through the use of the words
“like” and “as”.

Example: Our new teacher is as fierce as a lion.

2. Metaphor – It makes a direct comparison between two unlike

things or ideas without using the words “like” and “as”.

Example: My mother is an angel in disguise.

3. Personification – It gives human qualities to non-living things
or ideas.

Example: The leaves danced gracefully with the wind.

4. Hyperbole – It is the deliberate exaggeration of a fact or truth

for the sake of emphasis.

Example: I am thirsty that I could drink a tank of water!

5. Metonymy – It is the substitution or replacement of the name
of a concrete object or thing that is closely associated for the
word or concept itself.

Example: I could not do this alone. I need a hand.

6. Synecdoche – It is the naming of a part to signify the whole.

Example: I live with my parents in one roof.

7. Oxymoron – It is the juxtaposition or combination of
adjacent words that have meanings that are opposite,
contradictory, or incongruous.

Example: I could not take this deafening silence

anymore!

8. Irony – It occurs when there's a marked contrast

between what is said and what is meant, or between
appearance and reality.

Example: How thoughtful of you to forget my birthday!

9. Euphemism – It is a mild, indirect, or vague
term that often substitutes a harsh, blunt, or
offensive term.

Example: 'A little thin on top' instead of 'going

bald.‘

10. Understatement – It occurs when something

is said to make something appear less
important or less serious.

Example: It's just a scratch - referring to a large

dent
Choose correct connotation. Replace the underlined
words with better synonym. You may use a dictionary or
thesaurus. Write your answers on your notebook.

1. Brownie barked happily when it saw Henry opening

the gate.
2. Life is an interesting teacher because it gives you the
tests first; the lesson afterwards.
3. The varsity player asked the registrar about the
changes made in his curriculum.
4. You should be fast in jotting down notes if you want to
write everything about the discussion.
5. The autumn motif is okay in this room.
Remove the unnecessary and redundant words in the
sentences

1. Anyone who is interested to join the Communicators’ Club

should visit the library, which is located at the second floor.
2. Nathan found the information that he was looking for, which
is found in the Humanities section, and found under the
Filipiniana shelf.
3. The mountains have slowly eroded and this erosion has
urged local officials to demand government action.
4. The school’s varsity volleyball team, which was coached by
Mrs. Cudal, experienced a training that was quite successful.
5. The students paid respect to their teachers during Teachers’
Day by actually offering flowers.
How can your knowledge about imagery, diction or figures of
speech help to lighten up your understanding and approach to
other subjects like Mathematics, or science and other Social
science subjects?

How about, this time of constant lockdowns because of the

pandemic? Can you find something useful from the learnings
we have today?

How can those three, again, diction, imagery and figures of

speech, help to express your ideas, thoughts and feelings
towards the situation?
For your assessment, I have posted a link to the chat box.
Click that link and answer the assessment activity. I will give
you 15 minutes to do the activity. After which, I am going to
gather your answers. Answers posted after the given time will
not be considered anymore.

Link to assessment:

https://l.messenger.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffanyv88.com%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fforms.gle
%2FtnbpyW52Uw5gA5E28&h=AT3PE91j4vFfOxX4F2Fc_OXbTw
ODN7SwcHCL_ms9DZVp1TcI4WNc97-
CPxw6A3u3NU9A78cEGR2rA3M38Dk2gUcsBlwSatmDJkbn2Jvk
FNSkSZ3yNJikS0Cy091fcCI_2TFo6w
Additional Activity:

Narrate and describe the “New Normal” using either DICTION,

IMAGERY, and FIGURES of SPEECH. Write your answer on your
notebook.

Note: It must be written in at least 3 paragraphs with a total of

12 to 15 sentences.
________________________________________________________________________
Poetry has evolved and there are other contemporary poems that
make use of elements, devices and techniques uniquely, but the
creativity clearly manifests.

In crafting your own poems, you may use the following tips and
strategies. As long you try to incorporate the elements, devices,
and techniques and you write from your heart, you could never go
wrong.

The three poems written by Lang Leav, Rupi Kaur, and Michael
Faudet are just a few of the contemporary poems written by
contemporary poets. They show that poems are not just
masterpieces filled with figurative language and devices. Poems
can just be as simple and direct as possible.
Writing tips:

1. In composing a poem, figurative language is more effective than

literal language in conveying an emotion or an idea. It evokes a
more vivid image or picture in the minds of your readers.

2. You are allowed to use indigenous terms, especially those that

have no direct English equivalents. It is also known as “local
color” in a piece of writing.

3. You may use literary devices and techniques to make your

poems more appealing and interesting.

4. You may compose free verse poem which does not follow the
rules, and have no rhyme or rhythm; but is still an artistic
expression.
Strategies for poem writing by Ruth Nix:

a. Find Your Trigger

When you start drafting a poem, start with a pure, tangible image. Triggers are usually
products of experiences. These are experiences that evoke feelings and/or questions,
and are often sensual in nature, meaning they play upon one or more of the five
senses.
Poets are sometimes unconscious why any given trigger inspired them to set pen to
paper. The “meaning" behind a trigger has to be discovered through the writing of the
poem.

b. Trust Your Voice

What makes one poet's masterpiece from others often has more to do with voice than
subject matter. Readers want to "hear" who you really are. That means attempts to
sound hyper-intelligent by using archaic words will distance you from your reader and
cause your voice to seem synthetic. You cannot make a connection with your readers if
they can't understand what you're saying.

c. Ordinary Diction
Because poets are challenged to communicate what they think and feel with as much
concision as possible, it's vital that you choose your words wisely. In fact, the simpler,
the better. Try for a natural, relaxed, conversational tone in plain, everyday language –
the one you actually use.
d. Finding Purpose
Poetry is an art form that makes use of metaphors, allusions and
more. Select a precise image or analogy that vividly conveys the
idea.

e. Something New
Make your reader develop from your preliminary idea to new
awareness.
Poets use the term “volta” which means to turn. It a rhetorical
shift or dramatic change in thought and/or emotion.

f. Fresh Eyes
To revise is to see things in a new perspective. That means
looking at your work as objectively as possible. Ask: Is it honest?
Is it confusing? Is it predictable? Could the language be more
accurate, thought-provoking, or surprising? Should I change the
voice, the speaker, the point of view?
Read the poem below. Answer the questions that follow. Write ONLY THE LETTERS of your
answers

Sonnet XVIII
By: William Shakespeare

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed,
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee
Questions
1. What does the phrase “eye of heaven” represent?
a. Moon c. Stars
b. Planets d. Sun
2. What figure of speech was used in the line “Shall I compare thee to a
summer's day?”
a. Allusion c. Personification
b. Metaphor d. Simile
3. What figure of speech was used in the line “Rough winds do shake the
darling buds of May?”
a. Allusion c. Personification
b. Metaphor d. Simile
4. What literary device was used in the lines “So long as men can breathe, or
eyes can see”, and “So long lives this, and this gives life to thee”?
a. Personification c. Symbolism
b. Repetition d. Theme
5. To what was the lady compared to?
a. Cold night c. breaking wind
b. summer day d. Scorching heat
Provide a perfect word that rhymes with each
of the following given terms.

1. love –
2. say –
3. clue –
4. forever –
5. grow –
FICTION is…
-something invented by the imagination or
feigned specifically: an invented -fictitious
literature (such as novels or short stories)
-an assumption of a possibility as a fact
irrespective of the question of its truth
ELEMENTS OF FICTION
Characters, setting, plot, conflict, point of view, and theme are
six key elements for writing fiction

A. Characters - Characters are the people, animals, or aliens in

the story. Readers come to know the characters through what
they say, what they think, and how they act.

Kinds of Characters
1. Flat characters do not play important roles in the stories. They
often have only one or two traits with little description about
them.
2. The round characters play an important role, often the lead
roles in stories.
B. Setting - Setting is where and when the story takes place.

C. Plot Plot is the order of events in the story.

Freytag’s Pyramid (Gustav Freytag, a German playwright who
lived during the 1800s, identified this structure). has five parts:
exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement,
also known as resolution.
1. Exposition is an introduction to the characters, time, and the
problem.
2. Rising action includes the events that the main character
encounters. Each event, developed in separate scenes, makes
the problem more complex.
3. Climax is the turning point in the story.
4. Falling action includes the events that unfold after the climax.
This usually creates an emotional response from the reader.
5. Denouement or resolution provides closure to the story. It ties
up loose ends in the story.
D. Conflict Conflict is the struggle between
two entities. In a story, the main character,
also known as the protagonist, encounters a
conflict with the antagonist, which is an
adversary. The conflict may be one of six
kinds:
 Character vs. character
 Character vs. nature or natural forces
 Character vs. society or culture
 Character vs. machine or technology
 Character vs. God
 Character vs himself or herself
E. Theme. A theme is not the plot of
the story. It is the underlying truth that
is being conveyed in the story.
Themes can be universal, meaning
they are understood by readers no
matter what culture or country the
readers are in. Common themes
include coming of age, circle of life,
prejudice, greed, good vs. evil, beating
the odds, etc.
F. Point of View - Stories are generally
told in one of two points of views:
First-person point of view means that
one of the characters in the story will
narrate–give an account–of the story.
The narrator may be the protagonist,
the main character.
Third-person point of view means that
the narrator is not in the story. The
third-person narrator is not a character.