The IDE method

1. The IDE method Analysing figures of speech

2. IDENTIFY, DESCRIBE AND EXPLAIN • Identifythe figure of speech. • Describewhat is being compared to what (for comparisons) or what type of sound is being repeated (for sound devices). • Explainwhat the comparison or sound repetition suggests.

3. Identify In order to avoid writing in sentence fragments, identify the figure of speech by saying “In this [figure of speech], …”. For this example, from Wilfred Owen’s “Anthem for Doomed Youth” “What passing bells for these who die as cattle” begin your analysis: “In this simile, …” This will allow you to go straight from the identification into the description in one grammatically correct sentence.

4. Describe comparisons To describe a simile, metaphor or personification, you need to indicate what is being compared to what. For this example, “What passing bells for these who die as cattle” you would say: “the way in which the soldiers die is being compared to the slaughter of cattle.”

5. Describe sound devices To describe alliteration or assonance, you need to describe the type of sound that has been repeated. For this example, “the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle” your description would read: “the repetition of the hard ‘t’ and rolled ‘r’ sounds…”

6. Explain comparisons Explain why the writer might have used this comparison: what does the comparison suggest about the subject matter? For this example, “What passing bells for these who die as cattle” your explanation might read: “This suggests that many soldiers are dying, and in a bloody and inhumane way.”

7. Explain sound devices Explain why the writer might have used this sound device: what does the sound device emphasise or echo in the subject matter? For this example, “the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle” your explanation might read: “This echoes the harsh and incessant sound of gunfire on the battlefield.”

8. IDE - PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER The full IDE analysis of this comparison, “What passing bells for these who die as cattle” now reads: “In this simile [identify], the way in which the soldiers die is being compared to the slaughter of cattle [describe]. This suggests that many soldiers are dying, and in a bloody and inhumane way [explain].”

9. IDE - PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER The full IDE analysis of this sound device, “the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle” now reads: “In this alliteration [identify], the repetition of the hard ‘t’ and rolled ‘r’ sounds [describe] echo the harsh and incessant sound of gunfire on the battlefield [explain].”