Past Century Figurative Language

The work in its entirety is written in formal diction, with a sense of professionalism and at times breaks off into concrete diction in the presence of figurative language. Descriptive words, adjectives and adverbs, are used sparingly. Figurative language is used to elaborate upon an idea or add depth to the intended discussion. Imagery for instance in the piece such as “…decades of accumulated dust atop the journals,” (page 86) or “…artistic drapery of the past century has become musty,” (page 87) is one way in which sensory description is used. Furthermore, similes, “…industry recognized as the fulcrum of the century,” (page 102) and personification “…science should climb down from its pedestal in order to lend a hand,” (page 94) are introduced
into the main text. Less prominently featured are the identifiable regional colloquialisms of the author, but do appear without breaking the professionalism of the work, such as the case on page 99 where it is written “In them lies the kernel!” Sigfried Giedion’s tone in the work remains didactic, with an educational undertone of the material knowledge being present.