English Techniques: Language + Structure

Question 1

Narrative voice

Answer 1

Who is narrating- what effect does this have

Question 2

Simile

Answer 2

A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as

Creating a vivid image

Question 3

Metaphor

Answer 3

A comparison without like or as

Question 4

Personification

Answer 4

A type of imagery in which non-human objects/animals/ideas given human characteristics

Question 5

Onomatopoeia

Answer 5

Sounds of words eg. Bang, woof

To express or underline their meaning, sensory image

Question 6

Pathetic fallacy

Answer 6

The environment(usually weather) reflects the mood of the character or scene

Question 7

Alliteration

Answer 7

Repetition of same sounds usually at beginning of words

Question 8

Assonance

Answer 8

Repetition of vowel sounds in a series of words

Question 9

Rule of three

Answer 9

Repetition in a group of three to strengthen an idea or argument

Question 10

Sibilance

Answer 10

Repetition of s sound- hissing sound created

Question 11

Connotations

Answer 11

Implied meanings suggested by a word rather than its literal meanings

Question 12

Hyperbole

Answer 12

Over the top exaggeration for effect

Question 13

Repetition

Answer 13

Words, phrases or ideas that are repeated for effect

Question 14

Rhetorical questions

Answer 14

A question asked for effect with no answer expected

Question 15

Emotive language

Answer 15

Words chosen to bring an emotional response

Question 16

Symbolism

Answer 16

An object given significance in a text that links to a wider meaning/theme

Question 17

Adjective

Answer 17

Describes a noun

Question 18

Verb

Answer 18

A doing word.

Active verbs are good to analyse(eg. Running/jumping)

Question 19

Adverb

Answer 19

Describes a verb

Question 20

Pronoun

Answer 20

First person: i ,we,me,my,our,us
Second person:you,yours,yourself
Third person:he,she,they,them,theirs

Question 21

Tense

Answer 21

Which tense has the writer chosen (past or present-

What effect does this have

Question 22

Openings

Answer 22

Start of text must interest the reader-comment on how the writer introduces ideas and raises quesions

Question 23

Focus

Answer 23

What writer focused on as the text develops- analyse what is implied, what is causing this, what will happen next

Question 24

Shifts

Answer 24

Changes in ideas and perspectives (eg outside to inside)-

Comment on how this change is effective, eg creates contrast

Question 25

Contrast

Answer 25

Difference between two things- comment on the effect a drastic difference produces

Question 26

Repetition or patterns-effect on reader

Answer 26

Can highlight key meanings, indicate a development or show a lack of change

Question 27

Pace

Answer 27

Feeling of speed in the writing-are events and ideas revealed to reader slowly or quickly- what effect is created (eg. Slow pace builds tension, fast pace may suit a piece about things happening at speed)

Question 28

Temporal references

Answer 28

References to time-comment on how time is used to speed up or slow down the pace of the text

Question 29

Order of events

Answer 29

Could be chronological/start at end/middle/flashbacks/flashforwards- how does order of events introduce and prioritise key ideas- how does this engage the reader

Question 30

Endings

Answer 30

Conclusion of text neat/leave us with questions/circular structure- how does reader feel at end have feelings change since the opening

Question 31

Witholding information

Answer 31

Clues and hinds given without revealing everything at once- analyse what’s implied by hints- how does this build the reader’s expectations

Question 32

Dialogue

Answer 32

Conversations and speech- how does dialogue move text forward

Question 33

Headings/subheadings+ questions

Answer 33

Divides content of texts into topics and sub topics- can signal start of new points- how do they guide the reader through a text

Question 34

Bullets

Answer 34

Can summarise and simplify a range of ideas- why does writer summarise certain points

Question 35

Sentence structures

Answer 35

Varied types of sentences eg. Simple, compound, complex- comment on how it affects fluency of text (sudden short sentence could reveal shocking info)

Question 36

Simple sentences

Answer 36

Usually highlight significant ideas

Question 37

Paragraphing

Answer 37

How does paragraph length affect development of tect eg. Final paragraph may summarise key points in argument

Question 38

Third person omniscient narrator

Answer 38

Narrator can see everything

Question 39

Third person limited

Answer 39

Narrator follows one character

Question 40

Free indirect style

Answer 40

Third person narrative voice gives reader direct access to charcater’s thoughts

Question 41

First person

Answer 41

I, gives own opinion
Unreliable- biased, incomplete narration
-naïve- doesn’t understand as much as reader (dramatic irony)

Question 42

Second person

Answer 42

Eg. You did this

Question 43

Intrusive narrator

Answer 43

Omniscient narrator who makes comments on characters and evengs, may reflect more generally upon significance of the story

Question 44

Simple sentence meaning

Answer 44

One independant(makes sense on it’s own) clause

Question 45

Compound sentence

Answer 45

Atleast two independent clauses can be linked with a comma, coordinating conjunction or semicolon

Question 46

Complex sentences

Answer 46

Atleast one independent clause and one dependent clause (doesn’t make sense on it’s own)

Question 47

Syndetic lists

Answer 47

List with lots of ands- builds up tension/atmosphere

Question 48

Superlative

Answer 48

-est eg. Greatest

Question 49

Narrative hook

Answer 49

Making the reader want to continue reading, giving a hint at what will happen next

Question 50

Instead of writing complex sentence write about …

Answer 50

• build up of clauses- tension

- parenthesis- highlight key phrase/word