+ © textual analysis analysis and evaluation questions (u)
TRANSCRIPT
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Textual Analysis Analysis and Evaluation Questions(U)
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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
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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.
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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…”
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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.
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Denotation and Connotation
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SkinnySkinny
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Denotation and Connotation
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The goalkeeper was a cat during the game.
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Denotation and Connotation
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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
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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…”
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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
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Word Choice - practice1. I blundered drunkenly down the stairs
• How does the word effectively convey the way he moved?
2. My guest lay on his back, a long knife skewering him through the heart
• How does the word effectively convey the way he moved?
3. A lonely boy reading near the feeble fire • How does word choice effectively establish the scene
4. Simon cringed as Mr Shirpe loomed over him• How does word choice effectively establish the scene
5. 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
Answer Answer Me Me
AntelopAntelopee
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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
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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.
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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.
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Techniques
Word choice
Metaphor / simile / personification
Alliteration / siblance / assonance / onomatopoeia
Contrast / paradox / juxtaposition / oxymoron
Punctuation
Sentence structure
Word order
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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
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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 ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Onomatopoeia A descriptive word that mimics the noise it is
representing The saw buzzed and rattled, buzzed and rattled
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Contrast / paradox / juxtaposition / oxymoron
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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
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Punctuation
Blackboard exercise
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Sentence Structure Questions
Ahhh, the joys of grammar.
No, not grandma, grammar.
Sentence structure questions are about Sentence structure Punctuation
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Sentence Structure Questions
Different TypesStatementsQuestionsCommandsExclamationsMinor sentences
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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
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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
Questions
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Commands
May end with an exclamation mark
Tell the reader to do something
Generally used either persuasively or to address the reader directly.
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Exclamations
May end with an exclamation mark
Express excitement or surprise
Generally used to create an emotive or dramatic effect
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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.
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Sentence Structure Test
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.
Answer Answer Me Me
AntelopAntelopee
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Sentence Structure Test
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)
Answer Answer Me Me
AntelopAntelopee
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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
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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
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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”
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Climax
Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours
Usually creates sense of increasing action
Normally grouped into sets of three similar verbs with increasing impact
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Word order- what kind of sentences are these? 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
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Answer Answer Me Me
AntelopAntelopee
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Word order 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
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Answer Answer Me Me
AntelopAntelopee
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Key learning
You need as big a vocabulary as you can get over the next year
You get this from reading widely
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