English iGCSE Text Analysis-Fiction/descriptive writing

Writers often use present tense often to create excitement and suspense.
Makes events feel vivid and immediate

Tense

Writers use 1st person to put the reader in the shoes of the character and show exactly how they are thinking and feeling.
This can help the reader to connect more with the character, feel closer to them and understand them better.

First Person point of view

When writers use this it gives the impression you are watching the characters and story.
It can feel less intimate and like you are more removed for the characters and story.
It can be easier for the writer to tell the whole story not just one characters point of view.

Third Person point of view

Dialogue will be in " " when dialogue is used
It can help readers feel more connected and can reveal facts about the character like dialect or accent.
It can add a feeling of realism and relatability.

Dialogue Use

Not in speech marks. Summarises what was said and can give a lot of information in less time than the entire dialogue would. Can help keep a story moving and feel more pacy than pages of direct speech

Indirect or reported speech

Comparing one thing to another. e.g. teeth like daggers. Indicated by 'like a' or 'as a'. Used for artistic effect, add description.
Choice of object or word for the simile creates different effects.
Helps the reader picture more vividly

Similes

Saying one thing is another. e.g. giraffe necked girl. Add description, for effect.
Choice of word for metaphor creates different effects.
Helps the reader picture more vividly

Metaphors

Words that sound like the word they describe.
Sensory description, makes it more real for the reader because they will know the sound which is being described. Calls up or creates a feeling or impression
Helps the reader picture more vividly

Onomatopeia

Used for suspense, urgency, shock, tension.
Series of short sentences for emphasis.
After a long sentence. abrupt, shocking.
Draws readers focus to that one thing.

Short sentences

If the writer has noticeably varied their sentence lengths, then comment on that as a technique and explain why you think they did it.

Variety in sentence length

An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
Reinforcing positive or negative feeling
Choice of word e.g. wind howled; use of work howled brings to mind wolves, has connotation of danger or being hunted.

Connotations

Hook for the reader
Can be used in fiction to add tension or suspense
Sense of confusion or mystery

Series of questions

Use for suspense

Elipsis ...

to draw the reader's attention to a particular point in time first

Flash back or flash forward

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words.
Creates a rhythm
Can reinforce a feeling or connotation e.g. 'silly sally' hissed the man...the alliteration and use of S together with the word hissed makes you think of snakes which has connotations of slyness or deviousness....etc

alliteration

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Allegory

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
Example: "This list of literary devices will turn me into a bona fide Mark Twain."

Allusion

a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned.
Anachronisms are often used for comedic effect.
Example: A Renaissance king who says, "That's dope, dude!" would be an anachronism, since this type of language is very modern and not actually from the Renaissance period

anachronism

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines
Used for emphasis and to evoke strong feelings in the audience
It's often seen in poetry and speeches, intended to provoke a emotional response in its audience.
Used to create patterns and sometimes rhythm in poems
A famous example of anaphora is Winston Churchill's "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" speech. Throughout this speech, he repeats the phrase "we shall fight" while listing numerous places where the British army will continue battling during WWII. He did this to rally both troops and the British people and to give them confidence that they would still win the war.

Anaphora (repetition)

the giving of human qualities to an animal, object, or idea

Personification

Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity.
Generally technique in poetry

Assonance

(n.) A word or phrase used everyday in plain and relaxed speech, but rarely found in formal writing (Example: y'all, gonna, wanna)
Adds to characterisation

Coloquialism

a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases
Example: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." — John F. Kennedy
Often in speeches

Chiasmus

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Example: When an elderly person is forced to retire, some might say they're being "put out to pasture."

Euphemism

Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.

Consonance

the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences
Example: In Lyndon B. Johnson's speech, "The American Promise," he repeats the word "problem" in a use of epistrophe: "There is no Negro problem. There is no Southern problem. There is no Northern problem. There is only an American problem."
Used in speeches for emphasis

Epistrophe

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.
Creates suspense and tension for the reader

Foreshadowing

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Hyperbole

A common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if you take it literally.
e.g. let the cat out of the bag

Idiom

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

Imagery

the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
dramatic or comedic effect
Characterisation

Irony

placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast
help create a clearer picture of the characteristics of one object or idea by comparing it with those of another.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness

Juxtaposition

the unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar
comedic effete?

malapropism

conjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence')
dramatic effect
descriptive
can have connotations based on choice of word

Oxymoron

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

paradox

A play on words
comedic effect

Pun

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Satire

A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well

Symbolism

A type of alliteration in which the "s" sound is repeated.

Sibilance

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character
revelled through choice of words, connotations, use of irony etc

Tone

Used to support the tone or mood
Can be used to extend a metaphor or match context For example, if a sports report uses the metaphor of the match being a battle, does the rest of the report talk about 'fighting' for points, or players as 'foot soldiers'?

Word choice

A sentence with multiple phrases that create a list.

Listing

A technique of grouping together three words, ideas, or phrases for emphasis

Rule of Three

Technique where the environment (usually the weather) reflects the emotions of the main character.

pathetic fallacy

figure of speech in the form of a question posed for rhetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer

rhetorical question

A type of metaphor where you use part of something to refer to the whole. For example, in the phrase 'all hands on deck', the hands are people and the deck is the ship.

synecdoche

stands out to the reader
can sometimes indicate a change in viewpoint or significant point in the text

Shortened paragraph

Straightforward, factual style can feel more direct
A more flowery style can convey a more descriptive story

Style