DIDLS

DIDLS is an acronym for the tools authors use to create the effects which in turn create meaning. They are the building blocks for the ideas that are associated with all the books we love. They are analogous to the separate pieces of a chair, that when combined, are capable of "supporting" meaning.

Diction:Word choice. Too say something was broken is completely differently than saying it was shattered. Individual words carry a lot of weight and invoke different ideas. There denotations( dictionary meanings) often clash with their connotations(informal definition) and authors can exploit this. 

Imagery: Language that evokes the senses and allows the reader to craft a picture in their mind. It is one of the easier techniques to recognize. Often contains important symbols.

Detail: Detail accounts for the bulk of the work. Its used to add a little flavor. Without any detail writing would be very point a to point b, without very many interesting stops in between. Authors use it to point out things particularly important to the, so its worth paying attention to.

Language: Its the manner in which words are expressed. Its related to diction but has to do with the whole piece. Regional dialects are often used by author's in order to draw upon certain associations, a New York  accent elicits different reactions than a southern one.

Syntax: The structure of sentences. Important words and phrases are often placed in the end of sentences. Inversion is a play on syntax that author's frequently use to add emphasis.