HEURISTIC FOR ANALYZING A TEXT

Your name: Leighton Waitz

Title of the text:

The Cave

Genre: Music

1.NOTICINGS What do you notice about the text?

2.ANALYSIS QUESTIONS List the elements that

3.CONTEXTUAL CONNECTIONS Who

Describe it in as much detail as possible; use objective,

nonjudgmental descriptors:

make up the work, and then raise questions about the choices
the artist / author / creator made while developing the text.

created the text? Did one person produce it? a team? an

organization or corporation? What medium is used to
communicate the texts message?

I notice that the text is about comfort and hope. The music seems
very upbeat and energetic. The song talks about someone
coming out of a cave and experiencing a whole different life.

Line
Texture
Pace
Rhythm
Pitch
Energy
Volume

A group of people created the song. The medium that is

used is sound.

Brainstorm a list of the texts connections to social, cultural,

and/or historical contexts.
The song has a social and historical context. Socially, the song
talks about how we should all help each other through a time of
need. And I will hold on close/ And I wont let you choke.
Historically, the song has a strong tie to St. Francis of Assisi and
his conversion to Christianity.

4.TOUCHSTONES Describe the texts audience, and

5.INQUIRY-GUIDED WONDERINGS

6.POSSIBLE LINES OF INQUIRY Begin

then list the rhetorical devices (logical, emotional, and/ or ethical

appeals) the creator of the text employs to enhance the
plausibility of his/her message.

Review the notes in boxes one through four. Circle the ideas or
questions that you find especially compelling. Use this space to
generate more questions or to explore the thoughts in more
detail.

drafting an inquiry question, a generative, open-ended question

that will guide the analysis. Usually, such questions begin with
how or what.

The texts audience is young adults in need of hope or selfidentity. The song uses strong emotional devices to strengthen
the message.

How does Mumford and Sons use melody, volumes, and texture
to show the importance of ones self.