What you'll learn
How to analyse an unseen extract from a novel or short story.
What to analyse
- Narrative voice/point of view (first person, third person, omniscient or limited) and its effect.
- Language: diction, imagery, sentence structure and how they create atmosphere.
- Characterisation: how the writer presents character through speech, action and description.
- Structure of the extract: how tension or mood builds.
Writing the answer
- Move through the extract, linking method to effect.
Exam tips
- Focus on how the writer creates effects, using precise quotations.
- Comment on the impact of narrative viewpoint.
Common mistakes
- Summarising the extract rather than analysing it.
- Ignoring the narrative voice.