A Level English Literature SQA

Literary Analysis Techniques

Imagery

• Imagery: Use of vivid and descriptive language to create sensory experiences.
• Visual Imagery: Descriptions that create pictures in the mind's eye.
• Auditory Imagery: Evokes sounds through language.
• Olfactory Imagery: Appeals to the sense of smell.
• Gustatory Imagery: Related to taste.
• Tactile Imagery: Concerning touch and physical textures.

Symbolism

• Symbolism: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal sense.
• Common Symbols: Examples include the dove for peace, the snake for evil, and water for life.
• Contextual Symbolism: Symbols that gain significance within the specific context of the work.

Structure and Form

• Form: The overall structure and style of a work.
• Prose: Ordinary written or spoken language without metrical structure.
• Poetry: Writing that uses distinctive style and rhythm.
• Free Verse: Poetry that lacks a consistent rhyme scheme or metrical pattern.
• Sonnet: A 14-line poem typically written in iambic pentameter.
• Narrative Structure: The ordered sequence of events that make up the story.
• Linear Narrative: Chronological order of events.
• Non-linear Narrative: Events are portrayed out of chronological order.

Characterisation

• Characterisation: Techniques used to develop characters and their personalities.
• Direct Characterisation: Explicit descriptions of a character’s traits.
• Indirect Characterisation: Revealing character traits through actions, dialogue, and interactions.
• Dynamic Character: Characters who undergo significant change.
• Static Character: Characters who remain the same throughout the work.
• Protagonist: The main character.
• Antagonist: The character who opposes the protagonist.

Themes and Motifs

• Theme: The central topic or underlying message.
• Motif: A recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story.
• Universal Themes: Themes that transcend culture and time, like love, conflict, and growth.
• Major vs. Minor Themes: Major themes are central to the plot, while minor themes complement or support the major themes.

Tone and Mood

• Tone: The author’s attitude towards the subject or audience.
• Mood: The feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing evokes.
• Creating Tone: Through word choice, dialogue, and punctuation.
• Establishing Mood: Use of setting, imagery, and diction.

Literary Devices

• Simile and Metaphor: Comparing two things ('like' or 'as' for similes; direct comparison for metaphors).
• Alliteration and Assonance: Repetition of consonant sounds and vowel sounds, respectively.
• Hyperbole: Exaggeration for emphasis or effect.
• Irony: The expression of meaning through language that signifies the opposite.
• Foreshadowing: Hinting at events to come.
• Personification: Giving human characteristics to non-human entities.
• Allusion: An indirect reference to another literary work or historical event.

Context and Interpretation

• Historical Context: The time period and historical events surrounding the text’s creation.
• Cultural Context: The social conditions, norms, and values of the time and place in which the text was written.
• Author’s Background: Understanding the author’s life can provide insight into the text.
• Intertextuality: The relationship between texts and how they refer to each other.

Critical Perspectives

• Marxist Criticism: Examines class conflict and societal structures.
• Feminist Criticism: Explores gender dynamics and representation.
• Psychoanalytic Criticism: Analyses characters and narrative through psychological theories, particularly those of Freud.
• Postcolonial Criticism: Investigates the impact of colonialism and cultural identity.