Language Analysis

Language analysis involves exploring the specific words, phrases, and literary devices (like similes, metaphors, etc.) the writer has used and analysing how these affect the reader.

Structure Analysis

Structure analysis is all about analysing the organisation of the text. You'll focus on the order of events, sentence types, paragraph structure, and any shifts in tone or pace. This will help you understand why the writer chose to arrange the text in this way and how it shapes your response as a reader.

Language Techniques to Spot

1. Imagery: Descriptive language that creates pictures in the reader's mind. Does the writer use sensory details to help the reader see, hear, feel, smell, or taste something? Imagery can make a scene more vivid or

• Example: "The clouds were cotton candy, floating lazily."
• Look for similes (using "like" or "as"), metaphors (comparing two things directly), and personification (giving human qualities to non-human things).

2. Alliteration: Repeating the same consonant sounds.

• Example: "The snake slithered silently."
• This can create a musical quality or highlight a particular part of the text.

3. Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds.

• Example: "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain."
• Often used to create rhythm or mood.

4. Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds.

• Example: "Buzz," "crash," "whisper."
• Helps the reader to hear the scene, making it more vivid.

5. Emotive Language: Words that provoke emotions.

• Example: "The innocent child wept in despair."
• Look for words that are clearly chosen to make the reader feel a particular way.

6. Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect.

• Example: "I've told you a million times."
• This might show strong feelings or create humour.

7. Rhetorical Questions: Questions that don't require an answer but make readers think.

• Example: "Why would anyone ignore such a call for help?"
• Often used to make the reader consider the issue closely.

8. Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting ideas together.

• Example: "The laughter of children and the silence of death."
• Creates contrast to highlight particular ideas.

9. Symbolism: Using objects or colours to represent ideas.

Key Structural Techniques

1. Sentence Structure and Length

• Short Sentences: Often used to create tension, emphasise key points, or add impact. Example: "He froze. Silence. A creak in the dark."

• Long Sentences: Can slow down the pace, add description, or convey a complex, reflective tone. Example: "The forest stretched endlessly, with tall, ancient trees whispering secrets as the wind threaded softly through their branches."

2. Paragraph Structure

• Single-Line Paragraphs: Often used to emphasise a powerful point or create suspense. Example: "It was over."

• Varying Paragraph Lengths: Longer paragraphs for description or reflection, shorter paragraphs for action or dialogue. This variation affects pacing and the reader's focus.

3. Pacing

• The speed of events can create different effects:

• Fast-Paced: Quick events or short sentences build excitement or urgency, often used in action scenes. Example: "He ran, stumbling, heart pounding, breath shallow."

• Slow-Paced: Longer sentences and detailed descriptions slow things down, often creating suspense or allowing for reflection. Example: "The candle flickered softly, casting a warm glow over the dusty old room, revealing shadows that seemed to dance with secrets untold."

4. Order of Events

• Chronological Order: Events unfold in the order they happen, creating a straightforward narrative.
• Non-Chronological Order: Flashbacks, flash-forwards, or starting in the middle of an action (in media res) can add suspense or deepen character backgrounds. Example: Beginning with a tense moment from later in the story and then flashing back to how the character got there.

5. Focus Shifts

• Zooming In and Out: Writers might shift focus from a broad scene to specific details, helping the reader see the big picture and then delve into personal experiences or emotions. Example: Starting with a description of a crowded, bustling city before zooming in on a single character's emotions in the midst of it.

• Switching Perspectives: Some texts may shift between different characters' points of view, providing multiple perspectives on events or themes.

6. Repetition in Structure

• Repeated Phrases or Patterns: When a certain phrase, sentence structure, or paragraph pattern is repeated, it emphasises a theme or emotional state. Example: Repeating "It was too late" throughout the text to build a sense of regret or inevitability.

7. Juxtaposition of Scenes or Ideas

• Placing contrasting scenes or ideas side by side highlights differences or enhances a theme. Example: Juxtaposing a joyful family dinner with a scene of loneliness or struggle can emphasise themes of belonging or isolation.

8. Shifts in Tone or Mood

• Changes in tone (author's attitude) or mood (emotional atmosphere) can guide the reader's emotions and highlight different parts of the story. Example: A shift from a light-hearted tone to a serious one when a conflict arises signals the reader to pay attention to the seriousness of the moment.

9. Suspense and Tension

• Writers often build suspense through structural choices:
• Withholding Information: Delaying the reveal of important details to keep the reader guessing.
• Cliffhangers: Ending a scene or chapter at a tense moment, encouraging readers to keep reading to find out what happens next.

10. Framing Devices

• When a story starts and ends in a similar way, like beginning and ending with the same setting or image, it's called cyclical structure or framing. Example: Starting and ending with a character standing on a bridge, reflecting on their journey, which gives a sense of closure and completeness.

11. Patterns and Symmetry

• Sometimes, a text might have a pattern or symmetry in structure. This could be a mirrored event or theme that appears at different points in the text, drawing connections between ideas. Example: The story might open with a character struggling and end with them in a similar but slightly different situation, showing growth or change.