The thing you must always remember when studying a novel in English in Year 10 is: You do not simply “read” the novel and try to remember “what happens in” the novel! you must ANALYSE ANALYSE language the language style and narrative structure form of the novel.
“analyse” How do you do this??? (… how do you “analyse” a text?) You INVESTIGATE the novel You explore the text closely… and pick-out (just like in Find-a-Word puzzles) the language forms and features used by the author. So So – the one thing you simply have to learn (and understand) is the names and function of all the different Language Forms and Features(LFF)! You You have to know: – the – the technical names of each LFF (Language Form and Feature) – you – you have to know which LFF is which - and… have to understand why each one is used (what effect does each one have on “meaning” something?).
Simile He’s as mad as a cut snake
Metaphor You are a silly sausage He is an ox of a man
Pun
Repetition, 1 st person narrative and rhyme I wonder how many stars in the sky? I wonder why we have to die? I wonder how many times you say no? I wonder where this silly rhyme will go?
Alliteration The waves washed wildly over the wary surfers.
Allusion
Metaphor and allusion I am the scarlett letter and Romeo the enemy
Irony/Juxtaposition The love ‘tween their children healed the hate ‘tween the two familes
Acronym RSPCA ISA SEETEL HSC
Foreshadowing – of a major twist in the plot – creates dramatic irony… when the reader / viewer knows something that a particular character doesn’t know! Little did he know… that this person was his mortal enemy!
Oxymoron
Jargon Composer Responder Text Language forms and features Textual evidence Context Intertextual
Hyperbole I’ve told you a million times… I’m gonna kill him for playing that prank!!!! He lives and breaths cricket There was a mountain of work still to be done
Ambiguity, Contrast and imagery The figure wore a black hat and stood firm on the top stair. The child wore a white nightie and crouched on the bottom stair.
Satire/Allusion
Juxtaposition/Contrast
Satire
Irony
Personification The sun smiled down and the she-oaks sighed in the breeze. The sports car caressed the bitumen and the trees shuddered with fear
Pun/Stereotype/Imagery Bank failures in Japan We all know that financial uncertainty has hit many countries, including Japan. Did you hear? The Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches. Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived. Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, and Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black. Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.
Jargon
Pun
Ambiguity
Euphemism “ it’s not you… it’s me” “We need to talk…” Being economical with the truth James has a casual approach to homework The old woman passed away quietly in her sleep “I need to go to the bathroom” “I have to do a number 2!!”
Pun/Colloquialism
Innuendo “Men who have large noisy cars have small appeal” Scarlett Johansen has big teeth.
Hyperbole
Personification
Satire
Oxymoron
Sarcasm
Onomatopoeia
Oxymoron
Imperative
Stereotype
Stay tuned… To be continued…