Commentary Guide

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Commentary Guide

Introduction

Structure

⇢ Chronological, cyclical, flashback

Layout

⇢ Pace, dialog, sentence structure, punctuation

Central theme

⇢ Man versus self

⇢ Man versus Nature

⇢ Man versus society

⇢ Man versus man

⇢ Man versus technology

Point of view

⇢ Perspective of narrative

Voice (writer's attitude):

Tone (impact on reader)

Persona/narrative voice:

⇢ First person, third person, omniscient narrator

Structure

⇢ Break up per idea or paragraph

⇢ Each 'section' is a mini-investigation

Link paragraphs to one another ⇢ how do they contribute to the central idea?

What is the turning point in the extract?

Literary conventions/features

⇢ These are the tools/mechanics of the author; why did he/she chose to use it?

⇢ Label feature + mention implications/impact/why author chose to use it

Standard introduction formula:

In the poem/this extract of [Title], written by [Name Author], the narrator deals with situation x. Written in [narrative voice], the poem/extract has a [structure].