How to analyze a poem,speech, play, newspaper article, novel, short story, essay etc

How to analyze a poem,speech, play, newspaper article, novel, short story, essay etc

1. 2 LANGUAGE & STYLE

   • a) simple or complex?colloquial, slang - formal?
   • b) Form of address (person): first p. (to identifiy with reader); second p. (to speak directly to reader); third p. (to illustrate, give examples, narrate
   • c) rhyme & rhythm - to attract reader's attention and hold interest
   • d) Figures of speech
     • 1 Repetition & anaphora 2 Exaggeration & hyperbole 3 metaphor & simile ('like') and symbolism4 antithesis (contrast) 5 personification 6 irony & satire 7 enumeration, climax & anticlimax 8 alliteration
   • e) Effect/aim of writer
     • 1 to identify with reader 2 to persuade reader (argument) 3 make reader laugh (humour) 4 appeal to reader to take action 5 to ask for support 6 to make/stress/emphasize a point 7 to educate, inform or teach a lesson

2. 3 COMMENT

   • b) political/social comment & examples
   • a) own views/ideas/thoughts on the theme
   • c) religious/moral comment & examples
   • related topical issues from the news

3. 1 CONTEXT & CONTENT

   • a) What do you know about the poet/speaker/writer/journalist and background (intended readers)
     • km
   • b) Summarize the text - in your OWN words