Analysing Fiction (WJEC)

Elements to Analyse in Fiction:

When you approach a fiction text for analysis, consider these key elements. Think of them as lenses through which you can examine the story.

1. Plot and Narrative Structure:

• Plot: The sequence of events in a story. Consider:

  • Exposition: How is the setting, characters, and initial situation introduced?

  • Rising Action: What events build tension and lead to the climax?

  • Climax: The turning point of the story – the moment of highest tension.

  • Falling Action: Events that follow the climax and lead towards resolution.

  • Resolution (Denouement): How are the conflicts resolved? What is the outcome?

• Narrative Structure: How the story is organised and presented.

  • Chronological Order: Events presented in time order.

  • Non-linear Structure: Flashbacks, flash-forwards, fragmented timelines. Why is this structure used? What effect does it create?

  • Pacing: How quickly or slowly does the story unfold? Where is the pace quickened or slowed down, and why?

  • Turning Points/Pivotal Moments: Key moments that change the direction of the plot or characters' understanding.

  • Beginnings and Endings: How does the opening hook the reader? How satisfying/unsatisfying is the ending? What questions are left unanswered?

2. Characterisation:

• Characters: The people (or beings) in the story. Consider:

  • Protagonist: The main character, often the hero.

  • Antagonist: The character who opposes the protagonist, often the villain.

  • Supporting Characters: How do they contribute to the story? What is their relationship to the main characters?

  • Character Development: How do characters change and evolve throughout the story? What causes these changes?

  • Character Motivation: What drives characters' actions? What are their desires, fears, and goals?

  • Character Relationships: How do characters interact with each other? What do these relationships reveal?

  • Methods of Characterisation:

    • Direct Characterisation: The narrator directly tells us about a character's traits.

    • Indirect Characterisation: We learn about a character through their actions, speech, thoughts, appearance, and how other characters react to them.

• Types of Characters:

  • Round Characters: Complex, multi-faceted characters with depth.

  • Flat Characters: Simple characters with few traits, often serving a specific function.

  • Static Characters: Characters who remain the same throughout the story.

  • Dynamic Characters: Characters who undergo significant change.

  • Stereotypes/Archetypes: Characters that conform to familiar patterns or roles.

3. Setting:

• Setting: The time and place in which the story occurs. Consider:

  • Time Period: Historical era, season, time of day. How does time influence the story?

  • Place/Location: Geographical location, specific places (house, city, country). How does place shape events and characters?

  • Atmosphere/Mood: The feeling created by the setting (e.g., suspenseful, peaceful, oppressive). How is this mood created through description?

  • Symbolic Setting: Does the setting represent something else (e.g., a dark forest representing fear)?

  • Social/Cultural Context: What are the social norms, values, and beliefs of the setting? How do these impact the story?

  • Pathetic Fallacy: When the weather or environment reflects the emotions of characters or the mood of the story.

4. Themes and Ideas:

• Themes: The underlying ideas or messages explored in the story. Themes are often abstract concepts. Common themes include:

  • Love, Loss, Death, Betrayal, Revenge, Justice, Injustice, Good vs. Evil, Power, Corruption, Identity, Prejudice, Social Class, Isolation, The Nature of Humanity, The Impact of Society, Coming-of-Age, The Passage of Time.

• Identifying Themes: Themes are rarely stated directly. You need to infer them from:

  • Recurring motifs and symbols.

  • Character conflicts and resolutions.

  • Significant events and outcomes.

  • The writer's overall message or perspective.

• Universality of Themes: Consider how themes resonate beyond the specific story and relate to broader human experiences.

5. Language and Style:

• Word Choice (Diction): Why has the writer chosen specific words? Consider:

  • Connotations: The implied meanings and associations of words.

  • Imagery: Language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch).

  • Figurative Language:

    • Simile: Comparison using "like" or "as."

    • Metaphor: Direct comparison, saying something is something else.

    • Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or animals.

    • Hyperbole: Exaggeration for effect.

    • Understatement: Downplaying something for effect.

    • Irony: Contrast between what is said and what is actually meant (verbal), what a character thinks and what the reader knows (dramatic), or what is expected and what actually happens (situational).

  • Sound Devices:

    • Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds at the start of words.

    • Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words.

    • Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds.

    • Rhythm and Pace: How does the sentence structure and word choice create a particular rhythm or pace?

• Sentence Structure (Syntax): How are sentences constructed?

  • Sentence Length: Short sentences for impact, long sentences for description.

  • Sentence Types: Simple, compound, complex sentences. Declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory sentences.

  • Repetition: Why are words, phrases, or sentence structures repeated?

  • Dialogue: How is dialogue used to reveal character, advance plot, or create realism?

• Tone: The writer's attitude towards the subject matter and audience. (e.g., Humorous, serious, sarcastic, critical, sympathetic, ironic, nostalgic). How is tone created through language?

6. Narrative Voice and Perspective:

• Narrator: Who is telling the story?

  • First-Person Narrator ("I"): Narrator is a character within the story. Offers a personal, subjective viewpoint. Consider reliability.

  • Third-Person Narrator ("He/She/They"): Narrator is outside the story.

    • Third-Person Limited: Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.

    • Third-Person Omniscient: Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters (or is "all-knowing").

    • Third-Person Objective: Narrator only reports what can be seen and heard, like a camera.

• Point of View: Whose perspective are we seeing the story through? How does this perspective shape our understanding?

• Reliability of Narrator: Is the narrator trustworthy? Are they biased, limited in knowledge, or intentionally misleading?

• Shifts in Narrative Voice: Does the narrative voice change during the story? Why? What effect does this have?

7. Form and Genre:

• Genre: The type of story (e.g., novel, short story, novella, gothic fiction, science fiction, romance, crime fiction, historical fiction, etc.). What are the conventions of the genre? How does the text conform to or subvert these conventions?

• Form: The structure and shape of the text. Consider:

  • Chapter Structure: How are chapters organised? What is the function of ¹ chapter breaks?  

  • Use of Sections/Parts: Is the text divided into larger sections? How do these sections contribute to the overall meaning?

  • Epistolary Form: Story told through letters.

  • Dramatic Monologue: Story told through one character's speech.

  • Stream of Consciousness: Narrative style that mimics the flow of thoughts.

Writing Your Analysis

• Focus on the Question: Ensure your analysis directly addresses the question asked in the exam.

• Relevance: Only comment on aspects of the text that are relevant to the specific question.

• Keywords: Keep referring back to the keywords in the question throughout your answer.

• Conciseness: Be concise in your explanations to cover a wider range of points. Get to the point quickly and avoid lengthy introductions.

• Evidence: Support your points with textual evidence, including brief and relevant quotations. Integrate quotes smoothly into your sentences.

• Range of Points: Aim to make a range of different points from across the whole text, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding.

• Chronological Approach: Work through the text chronologically in your answer to avoid overlooking important ideas and ensure a structured analysis.

• Subject Terminology: Use relevant literary and analytical terms (e.g., metaphor, simile, imagery, tone, symbolism) to enhance your analysis and demonstrate your understanding of literary concepts.

• Personal Response: Develop an informed personal response to the text, showing your own understanding and interpretation.