Text analysis for 'A Game Of Polo With a Headless Goat' Edexcel iGCSE English Language A Anthology

Technique: 1st person
plural narrative voice
Effect on reader: It's a personal experience
Shows she is part of a group (use of we)
Makes the reader feel as if they are part of the story.

Quote: "We drove off to find the best viewing spot"
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Technique: colloquial language
allusion
Effect on reader:use of slang creates a chatty tone, makes the passage seem entertaining and friendly
Using the name 'lads' makes them seem fun company and approachable and relatable for the reader
Alludes to children's cartoon 'Wacky Races' which is a hilarious race between a number of comic animated characters.

Quote: "I asked the lads if we could join in the Wacky races."
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Technique: Handling of time, hyperbole
Effect on reader: the writer employs lots of references to waiting and time. This builds a sense of suspense for the reader.
Creates a feeling of anticipation for the arrival of the race.
use of word eternity is hyperbole; communicates the sense of impatience and how long it feels like they have waited. Reader will have experienced waiting for something so this creates a feeling the reader can understand and empathise with

Quote: "We waited for eternity on the brow of the hill" "Nearly one hour later"
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Technique: verb choice
Effect on reader: use of 'perched' creates the impression of a bird on a branch.
Communicates to the reader how precarious and possibly dangerous this could be.
Creates a clear picture in the readers mind.

Quote: "Me perched in the boot"
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Technique:repetition
Effect on reader: creates a feeling of anticipation and builds excitement because the donkeys are nearly here.

Quote:"coming, coming"
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Technique: personification
Effect on reader: vehicles are being compared to an animal that roars, like a lion.
creates impression the group of vehicles is big, strong, noisy
creates tension and excitement

Quote: "fifty vehicles roaring up in their wake"
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Technique: verb/word choice
Effect on reader: use of 'dwarfed' creates a really clear and somewhat comical picture in the readers mind of how small the donkeys are to the crowds following.

describing the crowd as an entourage shows how the donkeys are important in the story

Quote:"the two donkeys were almost dwarfed by their entourage."
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Technique: use of adverbs/word choice
Effect on reader: using energetically and not cruelly the writer tries to communicate to the reader that the race is just fun and not cruel.

Quote: "using their whips energetically although not cruelly"
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Technique: factual information
Effect on reader: including informative facts are included to educate the reader as well as entertain. These facts help the reader to understand more fully the subject.

Quote:"Kibla donkey issued to achieve speeds of upto 40kph"
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Technique: onomatopeia, listing, sensory language
Effect on reader: The use of listing creates the impression of a lot of different noises.
Use of onomatopoeia and sensory language create a vivid picture in the readers mind of a vibrant scene

Quote:"horns tooting, bells ringng and the special rattles"
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Technique: allusion, metaphor, humour
Effect on reader: he writer makes an allusion to a sport the readers will understand and know (formula 1)
by comparing the donkey race to formula one racing the writer creates a comic juxtaposition between a very fast and wealthy sport and the much slower donkeys
again this underlines how much fun the sport it for the reader.

Quote:"this was formula one without rules"
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Technique: allusion
Effect on reader: alludes to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution (only best, most equipped of the species survive)
comparison of drivers who can keep up with donkeys and Darwin's theory is comic
Makes the race seem more dangerous than it is for humorous effect

Quote:"it was survival of the fittest"
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Technique: punctuation,
alliteration
Effect on reader: use of dashes to break up the sentences creates the feeling of a fast pace
alliteration of d in dive and ditch. creates a feeling of pace and fun. it emphasises this part of the text.

Quote: "ahead of the donkeys, oncoming traffic-for it was the main road-had to dive into the ditch"
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Technique: short sentence
Effect on reader: mirrors the fact that the race has been cut short by an accident.
It creates an abrupt, unfinished feeling. This creates a feeling of disappointment in the reader at not seeing the race completed.

Quote:"the race was over"
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Technique: coloquial/slang use in speech (diction)
Effect on reader: using word punters calls up associations of betting. It is a word the reader will know and associate with.
Creates a light hearted, chatty feel

Quote:"There were over a hundred punters"
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Technique: listing
Effect on reader: Using listing to describe the argument after the race about who had won creates a feeling of building anger. Repeating the use of the word rise (as tased and rising) adds to the impression that the anger is building or 'rising'.
The writer glosses over the potential violence to keep the piece light and entertaining.

Quote: "voices were raised, fists were out and tempers rising"
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Technique: direct speech
Effect on reader: the drivers confession is made to feel comical, keeping the lighthearted tone.
Using direct speech helps to keep a chatty feel, as if the reader is part of the group and experience

Quote:"But I don't even have my licence yet because I am underage!"
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Technique: understatement, slang
Effect on reader: she uses this to end the extract on a humorous note. Understating the impact her illegal driver could have had.
This keeps the reader engaged and entertained
Use of pile up again is language which the reader will understand and make associations with.

Quote:"a massive pile up in the high stakes donkey race could have caused problems"
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The seriousness with which sport can be reviewed
cultural traditions

What is the theme of 'A Game Of Polo With a Headless Goat'?

essentially chronological
begins with immediacy, writer driving off to film the race
Slow pace of opening contrasted later with speed of the donkeys.
Passage comes full circle and ends with humour
There are 3 races intertwined in the text: donkey race; race to get photos and race of spectators.

What is the structure of 'A Game Of Polo With a Headless Goat'?

Hyperbole-waiting time
repetition to build anticipation
careful and considered word choices for effect
Sensory language
allusions

What key language features are there in 'A Game Of Polo With a Headless Goat'?