What you'll learn
How to analyse the language a writer uses and its effects.
Key techniques
- Diction (word choice) and connotation.
- Imagery: simile, metaphor, personification, symbolism.
- Sound: alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia; rhythm.
- Style: the writer's characteristic way of using language.
Analysing effect
- Always ask: what effect does this create, and why did the writer choose it?
Exam tips
- Zoom in on individual words in a quotation.
- Connect technique → effect → meaning.
Common mistakes
- Naming devices without explaining their effect.
- Vague comments like 'it makes it interesting'.