Definition:
1. Pungent adjectives of disesteem "a silly idea"
2. Lacking seriousness; given to frivolity "silly giggles"
3. Inspiring scornful pity "how silly an ardent and unsuccessful the wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"
4. Dazed from or as if from repeated blows "knocked silly by the impact"
Passage:
My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It's the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You'll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond 'Z' and start poking around!
– Dr. Seuss
Explanation:
This passage has a silly tone. Dr. Seuss achieves this tone by using onomonopia , words that clearly do not exist, simplistic words, word phrases that are not standard and are usually only used by small children, and rhyme. When Dr. Seuss uses onomonpia and words that do not exist such as “yuzz-a-ma-tuzz” he makes his message appear ridiculous and wacky. If you would look closely at the passage, a first grader can easily understand all the words, which Dr. Seuss uses in this passage, thus the words are very child-like and simplistic. Word phrases such as “poking around” are rarely used, even by small children. These unique word phrases make the tone passage appear usual and thus silly. The use of such words makes Dr. Seuss’s tone seem light and silly to a child, since a child is very comfortable with such words. The use of rhyme in the passage creates a whimsical pace, which strengthens the silliness of the tone of the passage.