‘Understanding Chic’

Question 1

Genre and mode

Answer 1

-Autobiographical travel memoir.

Question 2

Text producer and text receiver

Answer 2

-People who an interest in Paris or fashion.

Question 3

Variation, register and representation

Answer 3

-Semi formal.
-Reflective and introspective.

Question 4

Lexis and semantics

Answer 4

-Violent semantic field to describe the Parisians attitude towards tourists
“savages” “power animals”.
-“Chic savages” oxymoronic descriptions of Parisians highlighting their dual personalities to tourists and fellow Parisians.
-Lexical field of fighting “bite back, stand your ground, stings” shows the animosity that Paris has towards her.

Question 5

Grammar

Answer 5

-Sophisticated language, juxtaposing her childhood narrative, again reinforcing the retrospect.
-Caesura makes the text sound like a monologue, yet very conversational tone.
-Noun phrase “quick, embarrassed tears” illustrates shock.

Question 6

Phonetics

Answer 6

-Childlike excitement through plosive and figurative language.
-Patterns of sounds suggest careful crafting.
-Densely alliterate sentences “possessed personal pluck” highlighting key moments n her double journey.

Question 7

Graphology and mode

Answer 7

-Written mode.

Question 8

Pragmatics

Answer 8

-Embodied knowledge is exhibited withing Cavassoni’s childhood feelings, the opinions towards the French are characterised through the slap she received.
-An actual schema of Paris isn’t very explicit, though it is implied.

Question 9

Narrative and discourse

Answer 9

-Text is written chronologically.
-Closes on an oxymoronic description of Parisians as “chic savages” acknowledging their complex identity, civilised in presentations if not in behaviour.
-Clearly portrays a childhood sense of adventure through plosive phonetics and figurative language to show her excitement.