Year 7 English Study Guide: Poetic Techniques and Analysis of A Monster Calls
Core Poetic Techniques
Simile: This involves a comparison between two different objects or ideas using the specific connectors like or as.
Metaphor: This is a direct comparison between two things, stating that one thing is another to highlight shared characteristics without using "like" or "as".
Personification: The act of attributing human-like traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, objects, or animals.
Imagery: The use of vivid sensory description to create mental pictures for the reader.
Alliteration: The repetition of the same starting sounds (consonants) in a sequence of nearby words.
Assonance: The repetition of similar vowel sounds within nearby words.
Consonance: The repetition of similar consonant sounds, especially at the end of words or within them.
Onomatopoeia: Words that phonetically imitate, resemble, or suggest the sound they describe (e.g., sound words).
Hyperbole: The use of obvious and intentional exaggeration for the sake of emphasis or rhetorical effect.
Symbolism: A literary device where an object, person, or situation represents a deeper idea or quality beyond its literal meaning.
Motif: A recurring symbol, image, or idea that appears throughout a literary work to reinforce a theme.
Juxtaposition: Placing two contrasting ideas, characters, or actions side by side to highlight their differences.
Contrast: The state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association (opposites).
Allegory: A narrative in which the entire story, characters, and events represent a deeper moral, spiritual, or political meaning.
Types of Imagery (Fancy Names)
Visual imagery: Pertains to the sense of sight.
Auditory imagery: Pertains to the sense of sound.
Olfactory imagery: Pertains to the sense of smell.
Gustatory imagery: Pertains to the sense of taste.
Tactile imagery: Pertains to the sense of touch.
Kinesthetic imagery: Pertains to movement and physical action.
Organic imagery: Pertains to internal feelings, such as hunger, thirst, fatigue, or nausea.
Thermal imagery: Pertains to the sensation of heat or cold.
Structural Techniques
Enjambment: When a line of poetry runs over into the next line without a terminal punctuation mark.
Caesura: A deliberate pause or break within a line of poetry, often indicated by punctuation.
Repetition: The intentional repeating of words or phrases to emphasize a point or create rhythm.
Anaphora: The repetition of a specific word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.
Epistrophe: The repetition of a specific word or phrase at the end of successive lines or sentences.
Stanza: A grouped set of lines within a poem, often functioning like a paragraph in prose.
PEEL Paragraph Cheat Sheet (High-School Version)
P – Point
Length: Consists of 1 sentence.
Requirements:
Directly answers the prompt or question.
Explicitly mentions the literary technique being analyzed.
Mentions the specific idea or theme connected to the prompt.
Example: The author uses symbolism to show Conor’s struggle with truth.
E – Evidence Paragraph
Process:
Set the scene: Briefly provide context for the quote.
Give the quote: Provide the verbatim text from the source.
Explain the literal context: Describe what is happening in the story at that exact moment.
Example: This is shown when the monster says, “You must tell the truth,” during a moment when Conor refuses to accept his mother’s illness.
E – Explanation Paragraph
Process:
Explain the technique: Analyze how the literary device functions.
Effect on reader: Describe how the audience is meant to react or feel.
Link to theme: Connect the evidence back to the broader message of the work.
Author’s purpose: Discuss why the author chose this specific method.
Psychology: Include relevant psychological insights if applicable.
Example: The monster symbolises Conor’s inner voice, forcing him to confront emotions he has been repressing. This shows how grief affects the mind and creates inner conflict.
L – Link
Length: Consists of 1 sentence.
Requirement: Connect the entire paragraph back to the original question and the overarching theme.
Example: This highlights that facing painful truths is essential for healing.
A Monster Calls — Cheat Sheet
Core Themes
Grief: The process of dealing with loss.
Truth vs Denial: The internal battle between acknowledging reality and pretending it isn't happening.
Fear: Specifically, the fear of loss and the fear of one's own thoughts.
Guilt: The burden Conor carries regarding his mother's illness.
Healing: The journey toward emotional recovery.
Courage: The strength required to face the truth.
Symbols and Meanings
The Monster: Represents Conor’s raw emotions and the difficult truth he must face.
The Yew Tree: Symbolizes healing, physical medicine, and ancient strength.
Nightmares: Represent Conor’s inner guilt and deep-seated fear.
Stories: Illustrate that truth is often complicated and not simply black and white.
Psychology (Advanced Insights)
Denial: Conor's refusal to accept the reality that his mother is dying.
Repression: The act of Conor pushing down his feelings of guilt so he doesn't have to deal with them.
Coping mechanisms: The manifestation of the Monster as a way to help Conor manage his trauma.
Catharsis: The process of emotional release and relief that Conor eventually experiences.
Projection: The act of Conor projecting his own internal anger onto the Monster.
Sentence Starters (Use These in Exams)
Point Starters
The author uses… to show…
A key technique used to explore… is…
Evidence Starters
This is shown when…
For example, the text states…
Explanation Starters
This suggests that…
This highlights…
This reveals that…
The technique emphasises…
Link Starters
Therefore, the author shows that…
This reinforces the idea that…
Critical Reminders
In both Link and Point sentences, avoid useless exaggeration.
Ensure you get to the point quickly and clearly.