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As part of your final grade, you have to pass
a textual analysis NAB.
Textual analysis involves looking at a text
(poem, extract from a story, extract from a
play) and answering questions on how it was
written
A writer chooses each word very carefully and
uses tricks and skills to get their message
across
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All textual analysis papers contain specific
kinds of questions
If you learn how to answer each type of
question, you should be able to receive
maximum marks!
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Word choice
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These questions are about specific words
chosen by the writer
You have to comment on the actual meaning
of the word (denotation) and what the word
suggests (connotation)
You MUST explain the effect of this word
choice
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Imagery
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To find out what image or picture the writer
is trying to create in your head
You could be asked about simile, metaphor,
personification and symbolism
For each of these, how have to comment on
the EFFECTIVENESS of the technique and how
it adds to your understanding
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A figure of speech in which one thing is
compared to another using the words ‘like’ or
‘as.’
The similarity between the two things is
compared to give us an image of what the writer
is describing.
The burglar stalked the building like a cat
This gives us an image of how the burglar walked
round the building
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A figure of speech in which one thing is
compared to another by saying that one thing is
the other
The similarity between the two things is
compared to give us an image of what the writer
is describing.
My little brother is a monkey.
Obviously the writer does not have a monkey for
a brother; it gives us an image of how his brother
acts
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When a inanimate, non-living object is given
human traits
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It can be thought of as a special kind of
metaphor
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The couch groaned under his vast weight.
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A couch cannot groan, but this description
gives us an image of the noise the couch
made
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If you are asked about about the image
created by a language technique, you could
answer this way-
The metaphor ‘The world rolls under the long
thrust of his heel’ suggests that the jaguar acts as
if he is making the world go round with his
footsteps.
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Listing
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Short sentences can be demonstrative of a
climax or anti-climax.
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Alliteration
◦ repetition of a sound at the beginning of two or
more words in a sentence
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Repetition
◦ why is something repeated?
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Sentence
Structure
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Overall when you read a passage you should
try to identify:
◦ linking words
◦ development of an argument
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To help you identify these you can look at:
◦ first words in paragraphs
◦ topic sentences to establish and trace argument
◦ links between paragraphs
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When asked to look specifically at ‘Sentence
Structure’ you will need to analyse:
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punctuation
length
climax/anti-climax
repetition
word order/syntax
(These are the same things you would look at in the structure
of a poem)
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Full stops (.) = point finished
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exclamation mark (!) = tone
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colon (:)= explanation or to introduce a list
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semi-colon (;) = balancing two points or divide
phrases in a list
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brackets/commas/dashes (,-) = parenthesis
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inverted commas (“ ”) = doubt on what is being said,
or to identify titles.
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Tone
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Tone = voice
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Obtain an overview of the whole passage before
picking out detail.
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Look at key words in introduction to the passage and
to each paragraph/section.
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In order to gain full marks in a tone question you
must: identify the tone, give evidence, explain how
appropriate this tone is or how it helped you
understand the overall message in the passage.
Types of tone you may be asked about include:
sarcasm, nostalgia, humour, serious, fearful, ironic,
tongue-in-cheek, doom-laden, anger.
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Mood
 Mood is similar to tone but you need to
identify the emotion that lies behind what is
being said and what is creating the tone.
Atmosphere
 As above but looking for involvement of the
senses. For example: ‘stench’ – decay,
neglect, unpleasantness.
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Rhetorical questions
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Forces the reader to react to a question.
A question is asked by the writer but an
answer is not expected
You are meant to agree with the writer’s
overall point.
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Non-rhetorical questions
 Provokes an answer, involves the reader.
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Engages the reader in a ‘conversation’.
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Establishes a relationship.
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Sets up a topic.
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1)
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Every time you make a point about a text, you
must
back it up with evidence (i.e. quote) and
comment on how well the techniques are
used in relation to the focus of the question
(i.e. evaluate)
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If you are asked to quote an expression, this
means a word or phrase (i.e. no more than 3
or 4 words)
If you are asked to explain why something is
an appropriate word choice, you must look at
the connotations (what is suggested by the word) or
the sound created by the word
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