Analysing Fiction (Edexcel) – English

Notes on the exam unit - Analysing Fiction (Edexcel) from Exam Type - English

Imagery

Descriptive language that evokes sensory experience, including visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory elements.

Simile

A figure of speech that directly compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that indirectly compares two unlike things by stating one is the other.

Personification

Attributing human qualities to non-human things to create vivid imagery.

Symbolism

The use of objects, colors, or settings to represent larger concepts or ideas.

Connotation vs. Denotation

Connotation refers to the implied meaning of a word, while denotation is the literal meaning.

Foreshadowing

A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.

Direct Characterisation

When the author explicitly describes a character's traits.

Indirect Characterisation

Revealing a character's personality through their actions, speech, and interactions.

Themes

Central ideas or messages explored in a narrative, such as love, conflict, and identity.

Historical Context

The social, political, and cultural background of the time period in which a text is set.

Literary Movement

A specific period in literature characterized by particular styles, themes, and philosophies, such as Romanticism or Modernism.

Reader Response

An approach to literature that focuses on the reader's personal interpretation and emotional response to a text.

PEE Paragraphs

A structure for essay writing involving Point, Evidence, and Explanation to build an argument.

Character Development

The process by which a character grows or changes throughout the narrative.

Narrative Perspective

The viewpoint from which a story is told, such as first-person or third-person.