Textual Analysis

1. Textual Analysis Analysis and Evaluation Questions (U)

2. Textual Analysis NAB Coming soon to a classroom near you 11TH December Main NAB Earlier formative Will be done under exam conditions Will be either fiction – poetry, prose or drama © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

3. Copy Me Cow Analysis and Evaluation Two sides of the same coin Analysis is technique spotting, naming and explaining Evaluation is a personal reaction to how effective it is. © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

4. Copy Me Cow Analysis Explain named features “Show how the writer uses imagery to emphasise…” Explain from a list of possible features “Show how the writer’s feelings in line 5-7 are conveyed. You may refer to tone, onomatopoeia, imagery ….” Instructions to look at language of writer “Show how the writer’s language highlights the importance…” © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

5. Copy Me Cow Denotation and Connotation Known as “Word Choice” The key to getting analysis right Denotation = The literal meaning of a word Connotation = The other ideas associated with this word. © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

6. Denotation and Connotation Skinny Skinny © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

7. Denotation and Connotation The goalkeeper was a cat during the game. © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

8. Denotation and Connotation The goalkeeper was a cat during the game. The writer uses a metaphor to compare the goalkeeper to a cat. This suggests that the goalkeeper was agile and nimble during the game. Name of technique + things being contrasted + effect © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

9. Evaluation Look for the E How effective is this? Pseudo-personal opinion BE VERY CAREFUL!! The writers in the exam are better than you! The answer is generally “very effective because…” Link your answer to the text – “This is effective because the word …. Emphasises how…” © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

10. Word Choice Why does a writer use a specific word? It doesn’t just happen! Any word will do? Connotation and denotation: You know this stuff! Van Nistelroy danced through the tackle Why use dance? Would another verb work as well? Dance suggests elegance, nimbleness, grace, effortless, musical, artistic

11. Word Choice - practice Answer Me Antelope I blundered drunkenly down the stairs How does the word effectively convey the way he moved? My guest lay on his back, a long knife skewering him through the heart How does the word effectively convey the way he moved? A lonely boy reading near the feeble fire How does word choice effectively establish the scene Simon cringed as Mr Shirpe loomed over him How does word choice effectively establish the scene The figure was shrouded in a garment of deepest black which masked its face, its head and its form, leaving nothing visible but its outstretched hand. How does word choice effectively establish a scary atmosphere

12. Evaluation “Feeling like a Monday but someday I’ll be Saturday night” – Jon Bon Jovi How effectively does the author convey his mood? (3) E © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

13. Evaluation “Feeling like a Monday but someday I’ll be Saturday night” – Jon Bon Jovi How effectively does the author convey his mood? (3) E The author uses an excellent simile to describe his current mood. He compares it to a “Monday” – typically the first day of a long working week and this has connotations of depression and facing an uphill task. However, the quote ends on an upbeat metaphor – “someday I’ll be Saturday night”, implying one day soon he will metaphorically be the best part of the week. Therefore he effectively captures not only his current depression, but the notion that things will also improve. © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

14. Evaluation “Feeling like a Monday but someday I’ll be Saturday night” – Jon Bon Jovi How effectively does the author convey his mood? (3) E The author uses an excellent simile to describe his current mood. He compares it to a “Monday” – typically the first day of a long working week and this has connotations of depression and facing an uphill task. However, the quote ends on an upbeat metaphor – “someday I’ll be Saturday night”, implying one day soon he will metaphorically be the best part of the week.Therefore he effectively captures not only his current depression, but the notion that things will also improve. © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

15. Techniques Word choice Metaphor / simile / personification Alliteration / siblance / assonance / onomatopoeia Contrast / paradox / juxtaposition / oxymoron Punctuation Sentence structure Word order © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

16. Metaphor / simile / personification Comparing two things using “like” or “as __________ as” As high as a kite As cold as ice A fun as a barrel of monkeys Like a stocking to a chicken’s lip Comparing two things by saying one IS the other The audience were glued to their seats Juliet is the sun The Empire State Building, that jumbo-sized dentist’s drill Giving human characteristics to non-human things Dawn massed her armies in the east The sun glowered down on men The trees grabbed me as I ran past © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

17. Alliteration / siblance / assonance / onomatopoeia Repeated sound at beginning of words Caws his carol run red river He who hates the Hun Siblance Repeated “SS” sound Often hissing or evil Trust in me, just in me their faces show surprise, shock… Assonance Repeating the same sound within words in the sentence Doomed youth Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,And each separate dying emberwrought its ghost upon the floor. Onomatopoeia A descriptive word that mimics the noise it is representing The saw buzzed and rattled, buzzed and rattled © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

18. Contrast / paradox / juxtaposition / oxymoron • Contrast is using opposites to highlight difference • The mirror flat lake was ruined by the riotous jetski • Paradox • Contradictions – two or more statements that seem cancel each other out • “I can resist anything except temptation” (Wilde) • “spies do not look like spies” (Chesterton) • Juxtaposition • Contrasting ideas or images placed together • The finger of the twisted corpse on the barbed wire pointed to tree branch where a blackbird sang. • Oxymoron • Opposite words placed next to each other • Sweet and sour • Bitter sweet • Shameful joy © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

19. Punctuation Blackboard exercise © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

20. Sentence Structure Questions Ahhh, the joys of grammar. No, not grandma, grammar. Sentence structure questions are about Sentence structure Punctuation

21. Sentence Structure Questions Different Types Statements Questions Commands Exclamations Minor sentences

22. Statements Most sentences are statements. Tell the reader something Statements are generally neutral – you are most likely to be asked to comment on other types of sentence

23. Questions Questions Do they end in a question mark? Ask the reader something Questions either show uncertainty in the writer, or challenge the reader Look for rhetorical questions – that don’t expect an answer (what kind of question is that?) Often questions stir up emotions

24. Commands May end with an exclamation mark Tell the reader to do something Generally used either persuasively or to address the reader directly.

25. Exclamations May end with an exclamation mark Express excitement or surprise Generally used to create an emotive or dramatic effect

26. Minor sentences Short, surprising, odd or incomplete sentences May not contain either a verb or a noun Used to create a sense of pace, drama, excitement Also informal or diary entries Time for a rest. / Running home, tail between legs. / The money, now.

27. Sentence Structure Test Answer Me Antelope Time for a rest. Think of a number How beautiful that was! What a place! Do you want your life to turn out like this? Goodness me! This is not a statement Running home, tail between legs. The money, now.

28. Sentence Structure Test Answer Me Antelope Time for a rest. (minor sentence) Think of a number (command) How beautiful that was! (exclamation) What a place! (exclamation) Do you want your life to turn out like this? (question) Goodness me! (exclamation) This is not a statement (statement) Running home, tail between legs. (minor sentence) The money, now. (minor sentence/command)

29. Word Order Words: in the right sequence, always? Changing sequences can change effects or meanings Anything unusual deserves a comment Typical types: List Repetition Climax

30. List The lardy pig put in the trolley in front of me: three pork pies, two tubs of ice cream, a king size mars bar and a whole pre-roasted chicken. I wondered how she’d make it to the car Used to create an impression of “lots of something” List of verbs = action List of nouns = size or volume Often used for comic effect

31. Repetition We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; Used to create a rhythm Usually tries to emphasise a key concept: The above example also creates a sense of community and togetherness by stressing “We”

32. Climax Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours Usually creates sense of increasing action Normally grouped into sets of three similar verbs with increasing impact

33. Word order- what kind of sentences are these? Answer Me Antelope With a ragged diamond on shattered plate glass Hungry, are you? – reverse/inverted word order, start with adjective Exhausted, he fell to the floor She was dancing. I mean she was doing things and dancing at the same time. She’d go and put on a new cassette, or find a better track on the old one or just look through what was there, then she’d go over and pinch a fag They’ll come marching through here burning your houses, killing your children, and yes, violating your women Signed, sealed, delivered I’m yours © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

34. Word order Answer Me Antelope With a ragged diamond on shattered plate glass – starting sentence with preposition (with) Hungry, are you? – reverse/inverted word order, start with adjective Exhausted, he fell to the floor – reverse/inverted word order, start with adjective She was dancing. I mean she was doing things and dancing at the same time. She’d go and put on a new cassette, or find a better track on the old one or just look through what was there, then she’d go over and pinch a fag - list of verbs to create action They’ll come marching through here burning your houses, killing your children, and yes, violating your women - climactic sentence Signed, sealed, delivered I’m yours – climatic sentence © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com

35. Key learning You need as big a vocabulary as you can get over the next year You get this from reading widely © www.mrsharpetheteacher.com