LANGUAGE TECHNIQUE
Passive verbs
Verbs are doing words
which can be split into
different categories. The
actions of the character
(what they ‘do’) can
often tell you a lot about
them.
Aggressive verbs
Verbs are doing words
which can be split into
different categories. The
actions of the character
(what they ‘do’) can
often tell you a lot about
them.
EXAMPLE
He sat and looked around.
EXPLANATION OF EFFECT
The passive verbs ‘sat’ and ‘looked’ are
completely none-threatening and suggest the
calmness of the character and his willingness to
sit patiently and quietly and take everything
else.
Notice how I haven’t repeated the work passive
in my answer.
He stormed around demanding everyone’s
attention.
Positive verbs
Verbs are doing words
which can be split into
different categories. The
actions of the character
(what they ‘do’) can
often tell you a lot about
them.
Imperative verbs
Verbs are doing words
which can be split into
different categories. The
actions of the character
(what they ‘do’) can
often tell you a lot about
them.
Adverbs
Adverbs describe verbs (
the ‘add’ to the ‘verb’ to
tell us a little bit more
about how the action is
performed. They usually
end in ‘ly’ but not
always.
Adjectives
Adjectives are describing
words. Unlike adverbs
(that describe verbs)
adjective describe nouns
(people, places, things)
Without giving it a second thought, she jumped at
the chance.
The aggressive verb ‘stormed’ suggests that the
character has a tornado effect on the room and
is filled with his own sense of importance. This
is further evidenced by the verb ‘demanding’
which either shows the man’s importance or his
arrogance.
Notice how my explanation links directly to the
words in the quotation, explaining what they
show and suggest.
The use of the positive verb ‘jumped’ suggests
her eagerness to take the opportunity.
Notice how I haven’t given an overly long
explanation.
Juxtaposition
When two things are in
sharp contrast with each
other
The smelly old tramp, in his weather-worn clothes
slowly shuffled his way across Canary Warf’s
gleaming white pavements and looked up at the
sparkling glass offices that seemed to be touching
the sky.
Negative imagery
When the reader is
given a very negative
image usually about a
place. This will be done
The darkest green vines slowly wrapped
themselves around the once-white porch of the
house.
“You must change, Edna”
The use of the imperative ‘must’ gives us a
sense of the speaker’s control over Edna. He is
clearly the more dominant of the two and
seems very sure of himself.
Slowly, he turned his head.
The use of the adverb ‘slowly’ adds suspense to
the opening of the paragraph. It is an eerie
description that is designed to make the reader
eager to find out more.
With a swift handshake, he left.
The use of the adverb ‘swift’ exaggeratess his
desperation to leave the building.
The large and wondrous house left me feeling a
little overwhelmed
The coupling of the adjectives ‘large’ and
‘overwhelmed’ gives a strong sense of how
overbearing this building is. The addition of the
adjective ‘wondrous’ gives the house a fantasy
element which certainly makes it seem less
scary and may intrigue the reader.
Notice how I examine the wording of the
sentence and deconstruct it using my
knowledge of word types.
The use of juxtaposition in Ms Tunney’s
description emphasised the hugeness of the
gap between rich and poor in London.
Notice how I’ve thought about what it is that
the description is contrasting and haven’t just
gone for a literal interpretation.
The use of imagery to describe the house is
extremely negative. The ‘green vines’ that we
would normally associate with nature and light
and ‘darkest green’ and the verb ‘wrapping’
creates an image of strangulation or suffocation
through detailed
description.
Positive imagery
When the reader is
given a very positive
visual image usually
about a place. This will
be done through
detailed description.
Seeing her freshly painted picket glistening in the
sunlight gave Mrs Vandecamp enormous pleasure.
Metaphor
Something that is
described as something
else.
Or
in the reader’s mind. Thus suggesting that the
house is not a warm or inviting place to be.
The passage is filled with positive imagery. The
use of sunlight connotes happiness and the
verb ‘glistening’ emphasises the gloriousness of
the sunlight and exaggerates its effect on the
neighbourhood. The use of the superlative
‘enormous’ to describe the pleasure she is
feeling suggests, perhaps, that Mrs Vandecamp
is someone who takes pride in appearances.
Notice how I have used my full knowledge of
language features to analyse this simple
sentence. It would have been too easy to stop
as ‘positive imagery’ when there are so many
other interesting words to point out.
This metaphor suggests that the atmosphere or
energy was palpable. Electricity makes an
interesting metaphor as it suggests that this
energy is flowing from person to person like a
current; but there is also an element of danger.
The atmosphere was electric
Or
Something that is not
meant to be taken
literally but has some
other meaning
On the left were 6 enamal slop jars holding brilliant
red geraniums.
Simile
A simile is a comparison
using ‘as’ or ‘like’
The crowd were like an ocean of faces in front of
us.
He was as big as a lion – but not as strong.
Personification
When an inanimate
(non-human) object is
given human qualities or
attributes
Keeps hunger locked up till lunch time.
The gate’s sharp teeth kept intruders out.
Alliteration
The noticeable
repetition of a letter or
sound within a phrase or
sentence
Repetition
The noticeable
repetition of a word or
phrase within a
sentence/paragraph/
chapter/ novel
He gave me the sensation of sinking slowly into the
bottom of the ocean
It’s your responsibility to buy your food, it’s your
responsibility to make your own lunch, and it’s
your responsibility to clean up after yourself.
Interestingly, amidst all of the chaos and
squalor of the Ewell place there are several
‘brilliant’ red geraniums. This acts as a
metaphor to show that beautiful things can
grow from horrible places. It also represents
Mayella’s tenderness in looking after the
geraniums so well that they could have
‘belonged to Miss Maudie Atkinson.’ In TKAMB,
Mayella Ewell is as beautiful as the geraniums
she protects, but, unlike the geraniums that
have survived their surroundings, she has been
damaged and tainted.
The use of a simile describing the crowd as ‘an
ocean of faces’ emphasised the crowd’s size
and seeming endlessness. Just like an ocean,
the writer implies that the crowd reaches as far
as the eye can see.
Personifcation is used effectively to give
Shreddies the pretence of a physical power –
one that will ‘lock up’ your hunger until
luchtime. The suggestion of physical strength
makes the breakfast cereal seem more
powerful that other brands at keeping hunger
at bay.
Personifying the gate’s posts as ‘sharp teeth’
create an extremely dangerous image and
perhaps suggest that anyone who dares to
enter the enclosure will be ‘consumed’ by it.
The repeated ‘s’ sound mirrors Scout’s
sensation of ‘sinking slowly into the bottom of
the ocean’ by slowing the sentence down and
making it sound very drawn out – exactly how
Francis is making her feel!
The repetition of the word ‘responsibility’ has a
rhetorical effect on the reader especially
because of its triple use. The repeated use of
the pronoun ‘your’ makes the statement much
more direct and could connote aggression or
resentment on behalf of the speaker who feels
passionately about the responsibility his
Contrast
Similar to juxtaposition
but not as obvious
Hyperbole
Literally means
exaggeration. Hyperbole
is used to evoke strong
feelings
Superlative
A superlative is when
something is described
as an extreme. It usually
ends in ‘est’
The filthy dump was surrounded by a neat row of
white camellias .
The whole world was staring at me
The package took forever to arrive
"The [New York City] subway has the
longest rides of any subway in the world,
the biggest stations, the fastest trains, the
most track, the most passengers,
the most police officers. It also has
the filthiest trains, the most bizarre graffiti,
the noisiest wheels, the craziest passengers,
the wildest crimes."
Sarcasm
Dry humour that can be
scornful or hurtful.
Foreboding
The sense that
something bad is going
to happen
I found Jesus. He was behind the sofa.
Mixed Tenses
When a character
confused past and
present tense within a
sentence
Poor spoken grammar
When a character is not
speaking using standard
English grammar (it just
doesn’t sound right)
Dialect
Dialect is specific to the
area in which you live.
Southern Dialect is
characterised by
friendliness and
slowness
Colloquial language
Colloquial language is an
informal way of
speaking, usually seen in
relaxed and familiar
settings with familiar
people.
Contraction
A contraction is two
I do boxing and karate before school today
It all went quiet and he turned his head to reveal
the ominous look on his face.
‘We was walking through the valley’
audience should take.
The writer uses contrast to emphasise the
importance of appearances to the people of
Hillsborough Village.
The obvious use of hyperbole implies that the
girl was feeling very insecure. The exaggerated
claim that ‘the whole world’ was staring refers
to the extent of her embarrassment.
Obviously, the package did not take ‘forever’ to
arrive. The use of hyperbole here shows just
how anticipated the package was.
The use of superlatives shows just how extreme
a journey you will be experiencing on the New
York Subway.
The use of sarcasm makes a mockery of many
people’s search for Jesus who, he claims has
been hiding ‘behind the sofa.’
There is a strong sense of foreboding when ‘he
turned his head to reveal the ominous look on
his face.’ This tension is created firstly, by the
drawing out of the sentence – in which nothing
really happens. This builds up suspense.
Secondly, the description of his expression as
‘ominous’ is even more threatening tone to the
sentence and the sense that anything could
happen.
Notice how I consider more than one reason
why the sentence is foreboding.
The use of mixed tenses makes a character
sound uneducated and almost childlike. The
effect of this will be exaggerated if the are
speaking to an educated character.
Because Mr Jones speaks with poor grammar
he seems uneducated.
‘I know’d it was him’
Hey y’all! Keep off of my property, y’here?
Strong dialect can lend a character of its own to
the speaker. The way Southern Dialect blends
words like ‘you’ and ‘all’ together gives it an
extremely laid back and relaxed tone. Despite
the fact that it is an exclamatory statement, it
sounds almost friendly.
Dunno really, what you think?
Speaking colloquially can show that a character
feels relaxed. In the wrong situation, however,
it can make them look foolish.
I wouldn’t stay there if I was you…
The use of a contractions in his speech makes
Mr Saltfurrow appear quite relaxed and natural
words that have been
joined together using an
apostrophe. Speaking
this way is quite
informal.
Dash
In dialogue or speech, a
dash could indicate that
someone has not
finished what he/she
wanted to say; or, that
they have been
interupted
Elipses
Could be used for
dramatic effect or , like a
dash, could indicate that
someone has trailed off
or not finished what
they wanted to say.
Exclamation/
Exclamatory sentence
Used for emphasis,
could show extreme
emotion/ feeling or offer
certainty.
Interrogative sentence
During dialogue,
interrogative sentences
usually indicate power.
The person asking the
sentences has the
power, the person
answering does not.
Listing
Can be used to
emphasise the amount
or volume of something
despite the fact that he is on trial
“There is one thing –”
The use of the dash here signifies an unfinished
statement. Perhaps it indicates that whatever
the ‘thing’ is, Helen does not feel she can say it.
Perhaps she regrets beginning the sentence. Or
maybe the long pause demonstrates her
nervousness with the subject matter.
“There is one thing ...”
The use of ellipses here indicates a more
purposeful pause and leaves the reader in
suspense. It could demonstrate the speaker’s
nervousness over the subject matter; or that
she has trailed off/lost her thread.
You’d be mad to miss it!
The writer uses exclamatory sentences to
emphasise the strength of the speaker’s
feelings. The use of the exclamation mark
coupled with the hyperbole ‘mad’
demonstrates the writer’s desperation to get
everyone on board.
Notice how I link my analysis to the words in the
quotation so that it isn’t just general
Mr Marshal leads the discussion with the
repeated use of interrogative questions which
suggests that he is in control. The use of the
words ‘were you?’ demonstrate the
thoroughness of his examination. The fact that
he does all of this ‘softly’ makes him even more
intimidating as a character.
But you weren’t there Mr Brown, were you? Said
Mr Marshall, softly.
What is it? What’s it going to be like?
We never had the most privileged of upbringings.
No bathroom, no inside toilet, no colour TV, no
fridge or freezer, no carpet in the bedrooms, no
beds. They do say the best things in life are free;
not too sure myself!
The list of questions suggests that the character
is excited and curious about what he is trying to
discover. It seems almost childlike
The use of a list helps to emphasise how
deprived the children were. The repeated use
of the word ‘no’ before each noun exaggerates
their lack of amenities.