How to Analyse Language Choices

<h3>The Key Question</h3>

<p>When analysing language, always ask: <strong>Why has the writer chosen this particular word or phrase? What effect does it create?</strong></p>

<h3>Zoom In on Individual Words</h3>

<p>The best analysis focuses on a single word or short phrase and unpacks its meaning. This is called <strong>close reading</strong> or <strong>word-level analysis</strong>.</p>

<h3>Steps for Language Analysis</h3>

<ol>

<li>Identify the technique or word class</li>

<li>Quote precisely (a few words)</li>

<li>Explore connotations — what does the word suggest or imply?</li>

<li>Explain the effect on the reader</li>

<li>Consider the writer's purpose</li>

</ol>

<h3>Example</h3>

<blockquote>"The verb 'stalked' suggests the character moves with predatory menace, creating a sense of threat that makes the reader feel uneasy. The connotations of hunting are reinforced throughout, positioning the reader to view him as dangerous."</blockquote>