LANGUAGE 

:
When talking about language there are a number of things to look for:

 the literary devices an author uses, like similes and metaphors

 the emotive language - language designed to make the reader feel a certain way
 the connotations of particular word choices
 the types of words used in the text, eg dialect words, long and complicated words
or short and straightforward words
 the types of sentences used, eg long or short, simple or complicated
Find out about the characters by looking closely at the words they use in dialogue. If
they use long, difficult words, it might show how clever a character is (or thinks they
are!).

Language also tells us a lot about the underlying ideas of a text. Words have two
sets of meanings:

 denotations - their dictionary meaning 

 connotations - the ideas they link to 
For example, the word 'desk' literally denotes a table, but it has connotations of work
and study.

Words can reveal a theme, such as death, or love, or create a particular mood in a
scene. For instance, specific words and phrases might be used to create tension.

Literary devices
Here are some literary devices you might find in a text: 

Device Example Effect

His home is presented as a secure and

Metaphor ‘His home was his castle.’
safe place to be.

‘She had a smile like the Her smile seems bright and full of
Simile
sunrise.’ hope.

The wind is given the human

‘The wind screamed through
Personification characteristic of ‘screaming’. This
the trees.’
creates an uneasy atmosphere.
 Device Example Effect

'The clouds crowded together The emotion of the situation comes

Pathetic fallacy (a type
suspiciously overhead as the across through the description of the
of personification)
sky darkened.' weather.

‘Stephen tried and tried and The repetition emphasises Stephen’s

Repetition
tried to get the ball in the net.’ desperation at his failed attempts.

‘The choir, the altar, the old

A clear sense of the church is conveyed
Listing wooden pews, the heavy
by listing the features of the inside.
door…’

‘The suffocating steam filled The repetition of the ‘s’ sound adds to
Alliteration
the room.’ the discomfort of the room.

‘Howling, the cat ran through We get a sense of the cat’s terror from
Onomatopoeia
the house.’ the sound of the word ‘howling’.

When you identify literary devices in a text, try to link them to a main theme or idea, a
character or the setting.

Example

Here is an extract from Rumpole and the Blind Tasting, a short story by John Mortimer.
Rumpole is a lawyer. What literary devices does Mortimer use in this extract, and what effects
do they create?

It is a good few years now since I adopted the habit of noting down the facts of some of my
outstanding cases, the splendours and miseries of an Old Bailey hack, and those of you who
may have cast an eye over some of my previous works of reminiscence may well be muttering
‘Plus ҫa change, plus c’est la même chose’ or words to the like effect. After so many cross-
examinations, speeches to the Jury, verdicts of guilty or not guilty, legal aid cheques long-
awaited and quickly disposed of down the bottomless pit of the overdraft at the Caring Bank,
no great change in the Rumpole fortunes had taken place, the texture of life remained much as
it had always been and would, no doubt, do so until after my positively last case when I sit
waiting to be called on in the Great Circuit Court of the Skies, if such a tribunal exists.

Rumpole and the Blind Tasting, a short story by John Mortimer

Analysis

 The first person narrator is Rumpole. He directly addresses the reader – ‘those of you’.
This creates an informal tone and makes the reader feel the narrator is talking to them. 
 The long sentences suggest that Rumpole likes the sound of his own voice. 
 Mortimer uses complex vocabulary to create the impression of an educated character. For
example, ‘reminiscence’ instead of memory. This is also shown by the use of French. 
 The list of Rumpole’s jobs shows us how Rumpole spends his time. It suggests that he is
only interested in his work.
 This is supported by the final metaphor - the ‘Great Circuit Court of the Skies’. This
suggests that Rumpole’s work will continue even after death.

STRUCTURE:
The structure of a text refers to its shape as a whole. This can mean the order of the plot
events in a story, novel or play. 

Think about how the structure works in terms of the effects it creates. Ask yourself why the
paragraphs are ordered the way they are. Is it important for us to know certain bits of
information before we get to the next part of the text?

Look for links from the beginning to the end of a text. For example, is there a repeated image?
Or is there a significant change in an attitude, character or setting?

Structural devices

Structural devices include:

 story arc – has a beginning, a middle and an end, usually with a crisis point that is resolved
in the end
 flash-back – the main narrative takes place in one time, but there are episodes from the
past 
 circular narrative – the last line of a piece takes you back to the beginning of it
 dual narrative - gives two sides of a story, alternating between viewpoints

Language and Structure Devices - Effects

Quick revise
Language Device
Adjective (Describing word)

 Effect: Adds more vivid description

Verb (Doing word)

 Effect: Adds a sense of pace and urgency to the description.

Adverb (Adds more information to a verb)

  Effect: Adds a sense of pace and urgency to the description.

Similes (Comparing using like or as)

 Effect: Helps describe people, objects, places and is usually quite literal.  

Metaphors (Comparing saying it is something else)

 Effect: Helps describe people, objects, places and is usually an unrelated

comparison.

Foreshadowing

 Effect: Hints and clues about the ending.

Pathetic Fallacy

 Effect: When the weather reflects mood and human emotion

Structure Device
Simple Sentences

 Effect: Used to create a dramatic effect such tension.  It also might suggest fear
and fast-paced action or thoughts.

Long Complex Sentences

 Effect: Can be used to add lots of descriptive detail; or for a character it can be

like a stream of consciousness in which they reveal all their thoughts.

Short Paragraphs

  Used for impact and to draw attention from the reader.

Punctuation e.g. Ellipsis 

 Effect: All punctuation is used for effect e.g. A author’s use of an ellipsis can be
used to create a cliff hanger and suspense; or to show a character’s uncertainty.