The Big 5 of textual analysis
You can apply the following questions to any text, both in and out of context.

Out context In context

Audience / purpose - Who

does the text target? What
The audience is
The films
does the author wish to anyone
viewers
achieve through the text? concenred about the
are the target
future
audience here
of humanity

Content / theme - What is The scene indirectly stresses on the

literally ‘happening’ in the
text? What is it about? What
are the main ideas of the
text?
Tone / mood - How does the
text make you and/or the
target audience feel?
Describe the atmosphere of
the text.
dangers of unchecked techonological The theme in the ending
advancement. By showing the chain
reaction oppennhiemer caused,the film is scene is one of remorse
trying to show the consequences of and shock as this is evident
nuclear innovation that has gone
unchekced
from Oppenheimers facial
expression when he says “I
think we just did”

Stylistic devices - How

does the author use
language to convey a
sentiment or message? What
kinds of linguistic tools does
he/she employ?

Structure - How is the text

organized, literally (i.e.
layout/formatting)? What
kinds of structural elements
of a particular text type do
you see?

 
 
  © Brad Philpot, InThinking
  www.englishalanglit-inthinking.co.uk