Language and Structure
Understanding Language and Structure
- Language use: Identifies how an author chooses specific words (diction) to express ideas, create imagery, establish mood, etc. Look for figurative language such as metaphors, similes, personification, and symbols.
- Sentence structure: Refers to the arrangement of words in a sentence. Pay attention to complex or simple sentences, use of passive or active voice, and the rhythm created by the sentence structure.
- Text structure: Examines how the text is organized. Consider narrative structure (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution), parallelism (repeated structures used for effect), or flashbacks and foreshadowing.
- Tone and style: Evaluates the author’s attitude towards their subject matter or audience, often reflected through their language and structural choices.
Analysing Language and Structure
- Close Reading: Involves carefully studying the text, word by word, sentence by sentence. Look for recurring words or phrases, variations in sentence length and structure, and shifts in tone or mood.
- Figure of Speech Analysis: Identifies and interprets examples of simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, etc. Understand why these figures of speech are used and what they reveal about characters, settings, or themes.
- Sentence Structure Analysis: Studies the balance and rhythm of sentences, and what they reveal about the text’s tone and style.
- Structural Analysis: Recognise how different parts of the text are related. Look for patterns, parallels, and contrasts - note how they affect the overall meaning and impact of the text.
- Tone Analysis: Discerns the author’s attitude, as conveyed through their language and structural choices. Consider how this tone affects the reader’s understanding and reaction to the text.
Applying and Reviewing
- Make sure to cite evidence from the text for each point you discuss.
- Attempt to interpret the significance of language and structural elements, rather than simply identifying them.
- Ensure your interpretations match the overall context of the piece - avoid over-analysing individual words or sentences in isolation.
- Always refer back to your points regarding language and structure when you explain your understanding of characters, themes, and plot.
- After writing your entire analysis, read back over it for coherence, completeness, and depth. Remember, simplicity is preferable to complexity when clarity is at stake.