Language & Literature · Topic 3.1
Analysing Texts
Learn to identify literary devices, understand story structure, and explain how authors create effects on the reader. This topic covers Criterion A — Analysing.
What Does “Analyse” Mean?
Analysing a text means breaking it down to understand how and why the author made specific choices. It is not enough to just identify a device — you must always explain its effect on the reader. Think of it as answering: What did the author do? How did they do it? Why does it work?
Language & Literature · Topic 3.1
Literary Devices
Literary devices are techniques authors use to create meaning, emotion, and imagery in their writing.
Key Vocabulary — Literary Devices
| Device | Definition & Example |
|---|---|
| Metaphor | A direct comparison saying something IS something else (“Life is a journey”) |
| Simile | A comparison using “like” or “as” (“fast as lightning”) |
| Alliteration | Repetition of the same consonant sound at the start of words (“Peter Piper picked…”) |
| Personification | Giving human qualities to non-human things (“The wind whispered”) |
| Imagery | Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) |
| Onomatopoeia | A word that imitates a sound (“buzz”, “crash”, “whisper”) |
| Repetition | Repeating a word or phrase for emphasis or rhythm |
| Hyperbole | Exaggeration for emphasis or effect (“I’ve told you a million times!”) |
How to Spot the Difference
Simile vs Metaphor: A simile always uses “like” or “as” to compare. A metaphor says one thing IS another directly, without “like” or “as”.
- Simile: “Her eyes were like stars.”
- Metaphor: “Her eyes were stars.”
Personification vs Metaphor: Personification specifically gives human qualities to non-human things. A metaphor can compare anything to anything.
Language & Literature · Topic 3.1
Story Structure
Most stories follow a common pattern called Freytag’s Pyramid. Understanding this structure helps you analyse how an author builds tension and resolves conflict.
Freytag’s Pyramid — The 5 Stages
- Exposition — introduction to characters, setting, and the starting situation. The reader learns who the story is about, where it takes place, and what normal life looks like.
- Rising Action — events build tension as the conflict develops. Problems appear and get more serious, pulling the reader deeper into the story.
- Climax — the turning point of highest tension. This is the most exciting or dramatic moment — the main character faces their biggest challenge.
- Falling Action — events following the climax where the tension begins to decrease. Loose ends start to be tied up.
- Resolution — the conclusion where the conflict is resolved. The reader finds out how the story ends and what has changed.
Key Vocabulary — Story Elements
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Plot | The sequence of events in a story from beginning to end |
| Conflict | The central problem or struggle in the story (person vs person, person vs nature, person vs self) |
| Narrator | The voice telling the story (first person “I” or third person “he/she/they”) |
| Foreshadowing | Clues the author drops early in the story hinting at what will happen later |
| Suspense | A feeling of uncertainty or excitement about what will happen next |
Language & Literature · Topic 3.1
Character Analysis
When you analyse a character, you look at what they say, do, think, and how others respond to them. This tells you about their personality and role in the story.
Ways Authors Reveal Character
| Method | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Actions | What the character does — do they help others or act selfishly? |
| Dialogue | What the character says — are they kind, sarcastic, or secretive? |
| Thoughts | What the character thinks — are they worried, confident, or confused? |
| Appearance | How the character is described — what does their appearance suggest? |
| Others’ reactions | How other characters respond to them — are they feared, loved, or ignored? |
Types of Characters
- Protagonist — the main character the story follows; the reader usually sympathises with them
- Antagonist — the character (or force) that opposes the protagonist and creates conflict
- Static character — a character who stays the same throughout the story
- Dynamic character — a character who changes or grows as a result of events in the story
Example Analysis
“Mia clutched the letter to her chest, her hands trembling.”
From the character’s actions (clutching, trembling), the reader can infer that Mia is feeling strong emotion — either fear, excitement, or anxiety. The physical detail makes the moment feel real and personal to the reader.
Language & Literature · Topic 3.1
Setting & Themes
The setting is where and when a story takes place. The theme is the deeper message or lesson the author explores through the story.
Setting
| Aspect | What It Includes |
|---|---|
| Place | The physical location (a city, a forest, a school, a different planet) |
| Time | When the story takes place (past, present, future, a specific historical period) |
| Atmosphere | The mood created by the setting (dark and scary, warm and safe, mysterious) |
The setting is not just a background — it can affect the mood of the story and influence how characters behave. A story set in a dark, stormy forest creates a very different feeling from one set on a sunny beach.
Theme vs Topic
Topic = what the story is about on the surface (e.g., “a boy and his dog”).
Theme = the deeper message or lesson (e.g., “loyalty and friendship can overcome hardship”).
Common Themes in Grade 6 Texts
- Friendship — the value of loyalty, trust, and supporting others
- Courage — facing fears and doing the right thing even when it is difficult
- Identity — discovering who you are and where you belong
- Good vs Evil — the struggle between right and wrong
- Growing up — learning from mistakes and becoming more mature
- Belonging — feeling accepted by a group or community
Language & Literature · Topic 3.1
Analysing for Effect
The key skill in Criterion A is explaining the effect of an author’s choices on the reader. This section shows you how.
Critical Rule: Do NOT just identify a device — always explain its effect. “The author uses a simile” earns fewer marks than “The simile ‘…’ creates an image of speed, making the reader feel the urgency of the situation.”
The Analysis Formula
- Name the device — “The author uses [personification / a simile / imagery]…”
- Quote the example — “…when they write ‘[exact words from text]’…”
- Explain the effect — “…which creates / suggests / makes the reader feel…”
Useful Effect Words
| Category | Words to Use |
|---|---|
| Creating images | vivid, powerful, dramatic, striking, visual |
| Creating mood | tense, peaceful, eerie, joyful, unsettling |
| Reader response | sympathy, excitement, curiosity, fear, suspense |
| Author purpose | emphasises, highlights, reinforces, reveals, contrasts |
Key Vocabulary — Tone
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Tone | The author’s attitude toward the subject (e.g., hopeful, angry, humorous, sarcastic) |
| Mood | The feeling the text creates in the reader (e.g., tense, calm, excited) |
| Narrative voice | The perspective from which the story is told (first person or third person) |
Language & Literature · Topic 3.1
Practice Q&A
IDENTIFYIdentify the literary device in “The trees danced in the storm” and explain its effect.
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Model Answer
This is an example of personification — the trees are given the human ability to dance. The effect is to make the storm scene feel animated and alive, suggesting that the wind is so powerful that even the trees are moving in a dramatic, almost joyful way.
DESCRIBEDescribe the purpose of the exposition in a short story.
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Model Answer
The exposition is the opening section of a story. Its purpose is to introduce the reader to the setting (when and where the story takes place), the main characters, and the background situation or conflict. A well-written exposition helps the reader understand the world of the story before the main events begin.
EXPLAINExplain how an author might use the setting to create a mood of fear.
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Model Answer
An author might set the scene in a dark, isolated place — such as an old house at night or a deep forest. They could use imagery appealing to sound (“creaking floorboards”) and sight (“shadows stretched across the walls”) to create an eerie atmosphere. The lack of light and safety makes the reader feel vulnerable and uncertain, which builds a mood of fear.
ANALYSEAnalyse the effect of the metaphor in “The classroom was a zoo.”
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Model Answer
The metaphor compares the classroom directly to a zoo, suggesting that the students are behaving wildly and noisily — like animals. This creates a humorous and vivid image for the reader, helping them picture the chaos. The word “zoo” also implies that the situation is out of control, which emphasises how difficult it is for anyone to concentrate or maintain order.
Language & Literature · Review
Flashcard Review
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile compares using “like” or “as”; a metaphor says one thing IS another directly without “like” or “as”
Tap to reveal
What is personification?
Giving human qualities or actions to non-human things (e.g., “The wind whispered”)
Tap to reveal
What is the climax of a story?
The turning point — the moment of highest tension or the most important event in the narrative
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What is the difference between theme and topic?
Topic = what the story is about on the surface; Theme = the deeper message or lesson the author explores
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Name the 5 stages of Freytag’s Pyramid.
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution
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What is alliteration?
The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words (e.g., “Sally sells seashells”)
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What is the difference between tone and mood?
Tone = the author’s attitude toward the subject; Mood = the feeling the text creates in the reader
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What is a protagonist?
The main character the story follows; usually the character the reader sympathises with
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What is imagery?
Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind
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What is foreshadowing?
Clues the author drops early in the story that hint at what will happen later, building suspense and curiosity
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What is the difference between a static and dynamic character?
Static = stays the same throughout the story; Dynamic = changes or grows as a result of the story’s events
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What three steps make up the analysis formula?
1) Name the device, 2) Quote the example, 3) Explain the effect on the reader
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What is hyperbole?
Exaggeration for emphasis or effect (e.g., “I’ve told you a million times!”)
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What is onomatopoeia?
A word that imitates a sound (e.g., “buzz”, “crash”, “sizzle”)
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Name three types of conflict in a story.
Person vs person, person vs nature, person vs self (internal conflict)
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Language & Literature · Practice Test
Practice Test
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