5. Analyse/ Examine

1. Definition:

Describe and explain in detail certain aspects and/or features of the text.

2. Examples:

-Analyse the opposing views on social class held by the two protagonists.

-Examine the author’s use of language.

-Analyse/Examine the main character’s attitude towards the situation.

-How does Mrs Walter present this report on the decision of the House of Lords made in February 2002? What kind of language and point of view does she choose and what is their effect?

3. Description:

Analysis is a detailed examination of certain aspects of a text. You focus on the way they are presented and their effects on the text as a whole. Additionally, you present the author’s use of language and stylistic devices that create a specific intention of the text.

4. Useful Vocabulary:

Here are some useful phrases if you analyse/examine the author’s point of view:

The writer…

-Attacks the idea that…

-Doubts the evidence for…/that…

-Questions the facts about…/the claim that…

-Criticizes the attitude of…

-Pokes fun at…/ridicules the idea/suggestion that…

-Gives a prejudiced view of…

-Warns of a development that could…

-Has a critical/sceptical view of…

-Has a positive attitude towards…

Useful phrases if you analyse/examine the author’s language:

-The author makes use of colloquial/informal/formal language.

-The author’s use of words and expressions like…and…shows…

-The author’s use of…is a play on words as it can be understood to mean…

-The author’s attitude to…is expressed by his use of language like…

-The author’s use of stylistic devices such as …and…emphasize that…

5. Advice:

When you write an analysis of a text it is useful to refer to an outline of the text to make sure you include everything important in the text. Significant phenomena should be analysed in a detailed way. A good analysis requires quotations that serve as reasons for your results and that should be carefully included into the fluent text.

by Sarah Stöppel