David's Teaching Blog: AS LL- ANALYSIS REVISION & QUESTIONS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

ELLA 1 INTERGRATED ANALYSIS AND TEXT PRODUCTION

ANALYSIS QUESTIONS – SPIES

PLANNING FOR THE ANALYTICAL TASK:

Identify precisely the key elements of the task:

1. Which character / relationship / theme are you being asked to comment upon – highlight / underline key words

2. Note that all the analytical questions use the words HOW does the writer – you must make sure you can comment on the literary and linguistic techniques used.

Select relevant material from the text:

1. In your revision make sure you have learned a clear timeline of events – you must be able to find the key passages you need to refer to for evidence very quickly in the exam.

2. Select a maximum of 3 key episodes / incidents to refer to in your answer – this will ensure that you write in good depth and detail about the writer’s techniques (rather than a more general description of a character / behaviours across the whole novel)

3. Jot down page references for quotations - the point they illustrate and language / literature feature used by the writer. i.e. several PEEs. Aim for a good range of different techniques – make sure you have the terminology to identify them precisely.

Write a sequenced plan:

1. A 1 – 2 sentence introduction to focus the essay on the key topic of the question

2. A sequence of paragraphs to explore the character / relationship / theme as directed by the question – it is most straightforward to take a chronological approach.

3. Make sure every paragraph opens with a topic sentence to direct the examiner to the new point you are about to explore / explain. Make sure this new point is explored by close analysis of techniques – lots of quotes plus analytical comment (technique used and the effect)

A01 15 MARKS You need to show you can choose relevant linguistic and literary concepts and terminology to analyse the text.

A02 15 MARKS You need to show in detail that you understand and can analyse the ways in which form (the novel form), structure (the organisation of events for effect), and language (used in dialogue and prose) are used to create effects / impact.

REVISE THE PRESENTATION OF CHARACTERS, RELATIONSHIPS AND KEY THEMES FOR THE ANALYTICAL ESSAY.

Look back over the past questions for analysis and make sure you could answer them. Write a plan for each in which you identify the key episodes you would analyse to answer the question.

Think about possible new questions: e.g.

How does Frayn portray the relationship between Stephen and Keith? OR between Stephen and Mrs Hayward?

· Explore how Frayn portrays memory.

Here are some other a analytical questions to consider when writing on Spies.

How does Frayn portray Keith’s father?

Choose two or three extracts to explore in detail.