Icb Style Analysis

Pages: 56-60: Diction:“I only remember Nancy’s Teddy bear staring at me” (Capote, 60). This quote was pronounced by two of Nancy Clutter’s dearest friends, Nancy Ewalt and Susan Kidwell after seeing Nancy’s corpse. This is an ideal example of diction from Truman Capote, however, is also an example of tone because it establishes an eerie setting during this section. This is an illustration of diction because it authorizes an idea on how people feel when they are being watched and/or followed. Syntax:“This is it, this is it, this has to be it, there’s the school, there’s the garage, now we turn south. To Perry, it seemed as though Dick were murmuring jubilant mumbo jumbo” (Capote 57). This is syntax because Capote uses specific word choice to make this scene significant. It is clear that Perry does not want to go through with their plan to murder the Clutters due to this word choice. Imagery:“Nancy’s bedroom was the smallest, most personal room in the house-girlish, and as frothy as a ballerina’s tutu. Walls, ceiling, and everything else except a bureau and a writing desk, were pink or blue or white.

The white-and-pink bed, piled with blue pillows, and was dominated by a big pink-and-white Teddy bear-a shooting gallery prize that Bobby had won at a county fair. A cork bulletin board, painted pink, and hung above a white-skirted dressing table; dry gardenias, the remains of some ancient corsage, were attached to it, and old valentines, newspaper recipes, and snapshots of her baby nephew and os Susan Kidwell and of Bobby Rupp, Bobby caught in a dozen actions-swinging a bat, dribbling a basketball, driving a tractor, wading, in bathing trunks, at the edge of McKinney Lake. . And there were photographs of the two together-Nancy and Bobby” (Capote 56). This is an example of imagery because Capote uses specific use of word choice to make the audience understand what Nancy’s bedroom looks like. It is important to know what her bedroom looks like because it makes the audience have a connection with her and it is also significant to know that Nancy keeps portraits of her boyfriend and parents, which they audience believe she is caring and loves others that surround her. This will the audience feel sympathy for Nancy when she is murdered.

Pages: 307-309: Diction:“A hurriedly donned black robe billowed about him when he arrived, but it was with impressive sedateness and integrity…” (Capote, 307). This is when Dick and Perry were at their trial and the judge made his appearance. This is a perfect example of diction because Capote carefully thought out his word choice to describe the judge and his power. To the suspects, the judge has a substantial amount of power because he has the right to convince themSyntax:“That squirrel of his, he sure misses Perry. Keeps coming to the cell looking for him. I’ve tried to feed him, but he won’t have anything to do with me. It was just Perry he liked” (Capote, 308). This is an example of Syntax used by Capote. It signifies that the squirrel has a connection with Perry. Imagery:“In a south section of the prison compound there stands a curious little building: a dark two-storied building shaped like a coffin” (Capote 309). This is an ideal example of imagery because it perfectly illustrates the prisons’ appearance. However, this isn’t only an example of imagery, this is also an example of diction and foreshadowing.

The quote contains the words “dark” and “coffin”. Both of these words establish a negative tone; a coffin is a long, narrow box where a corpse is buried or cremated. If this as an example of foreshadowing, it would be clear someone would die in the near future due to the word choice used by Capote to express the prisons appearance. Tone: The overall tone of In Cold Blood is eerie. Eerie perfectly describes the book because it was a little creepy to read and gives you goosebumps on certain parts of the story. To add, Capote constructs a tone that has the reader create a soft spot for the murderers. He constantly describes the murderers and their childhood which makes the readers feel sympathy for them. Theme:One of the main themes of In Cold Blood is that criminals are people too. Capote is constantly talking about the criminals in the novel, which enables the readers to create connections with them and feel sympathy because they had depressing childhoods. Although they murdered an innocent, perfect family, Capote wants the readers to feel sorry for them.