1. NAB will be on Friday 18th March
Textual Analysis
NAB will be on Friday 18th March

2. What is textual analysis?
Textual analysis is similar to close reading except that close reading focuses on non-fiction whereas textual analysis focuses on fiction.
You will be asked questions on:
An extract from a short story or novel
An extract from a play
A poem.

3. What kind of questions?
You will answer questions on how the piece of literature is written:
the writer’s techniques
the effects the writer creates

4. Language techniques
Writers choose every single word very carefully. They use a number of language techniques. These techniques are also sometimes called the features of the text, or aspects of the text. You are familiar with these from our close reading practice:
Word choice
Structure
Imagery

5. When you are presented with a text first ask yourself what is this text about?
In other words identify theme.
Next you will have to analyse the techniques that the writer uses to portray the theme.

6. Techniques How does the writer create certain effects?
Through techniques such as
Word choice
Structure
Imagery
Simile, metaphor, personification
Tone

7. Imagery Creating pictures with language
Simile: a figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another using like or as.
Look for the similarities between the two things being compared.
What is the effect of the comparison?

8. Imagery Creating pictures with language
Metaphor: a comparison in which one thing is said to be another.
Look for the similarities between the two things being compared.
What is the effect of the comparison?

9. Imagery Creating pictures with language
Personification: a figure of speech where an inanimate, non-living object is written about as it was a person.
Again ask, what is the effect of this?

10. Word Choice
This is when we talk about words that have been very carefully and deliberately chosen to obtain particular effects. Ask yourself
what is the meaning of the word or phrase?
what are the connotations of the word or phrase?
comment on the effect of the word or phrase.

11. Structure You are likely to be asked about sentence structure:
Length: noticeable long or short? What is the effect of this?
Sentence type: statement, question, exclamation, command.
Pattern: list, repetition
Grammar: is it a minor sentence (one without a verb)?

12. Punctuation
This is part of sentence structure. Used to shape sentences and organise words.
, Comma: separates short items in a list, can indicate a pause, parenthesis.
: Colon: used to introduce a list, a quotation, an idea, information, an explanation or a statement.
; Semi-colon: separates longer phrases within lists; or connects two different but linked ideas together.
- Dash: parenthesis, or to introduce a piece of information
‘ ’ Inverted commas: quotes, dialogue, or to indicate that something is not genuine.
() Brackets: paranthesis
… Ellipsis: to tail off a sentence.

13. Repetition
When a word or phrase is repeated more often than we would expect
What is the effect of this?
Usually to emphasise an emotion or an idea.

14. Contrast
A form of opposite.
Look at both sides of the contrast

15. Attitude
Our attitude is how we feel about something; our opinion or reaction.
Try to work out what the writer’s attitude is by examining techniques such as word choice and imagery.

16. Endings
You will often be asked why the ending of a text is suitable. This might involve looking at the last line(s) of a poem, or the last sentence or paragraph of a prose text.