Language Paper 1 Question 2
Alex Sarychkin
Teacher
Introduction
Question 2 is the language analysis question. You’re tested on your ability to comment on the choice of language that the writer has made and, importantly, the effects on the reader.
The assessment objective is AO2:
Explain, comment on and analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers, using relevant subject terminology to support their views
You will be asked to answer a question on a short extract taken from the longer extract the whole paper is based around.
You will be asked to consider how the writer uses language to capture the interest of the reader.
Only answer for the section of the text that they give you.
Approach & Tips
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Highlight the focus of the question – this supports you to select the correct evidence.
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Scan the text and highlight information that relates directly to the focus of the question – annotate your ideas.
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Start your answer using the words of the question and give your overall idea about the question focus.
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Go into detail, writing about the evidence in the extract in chronological order, ranging throughout the text. Use the annotations you made in Step 1 to support you. Zoom into specific word choices.
To get the highest marks, avoid feature spotting - a ‘feature’ is only worth marks if you can demonstrate your understanding of why the writer chose to do this.
No answer provided.
Ensure your quotes are directly relevant to the focus of the question – use the question to guide your analysis.
No answer provided.
Always explain the effect of language choices that the writer makes.
No answer provided.
Avoid general/non-specific comments about the reader’s response – such as ‘This makes the reader want to read on’.
No answer provided.
Extract & Model Answer
Look in detail at this extract, from lines 10 to 20 of the source:
She flung back the coverlet and tiptoed across the nursery floor, noiseless as a thief. If anyone came in, she would be scolded for walking barefoot. She reached the window and slipped her hand between the curtains. There were two sets between herself and the outside world: claret-coloured velvet on top, frilled muslin next to the glass. The muslin was sooty from the London fogs; though the windows fit tightly, the fog always found its way in. Clara leaned forward and peered through the peephole she had made. Her face lit up.
The view that greeted her was dismal enough. The trees in the square had shed their leaves, and the city was dark with grime. But the sky was white, not grey; there was even a wisp of blue sky between two clouds. It was a rare clear day. Professor Grisini would surely come. Clara let the curtains fall back together and turned her back to the window. She padded past her sisters' dollhouse and her brother's rocking horse, which she was not supposed to touch.
In this extract, the writer shows Clara's movement to be somewhat sneaky and secretive, almost as if she does not wish to be caught. The writer opens with a powerful verb, 'flung', as we see the excitement of Clara leaving her bed. However, this is quickly juxtaposed with the word 'tiptoed', implying that Clara does not wish to be heard, suggesting to the reader that this is a moment of suspense. This is further compounded through the interesting simile where she moves 'noiseless as a thief'. The use of 'thief' here suggests she may be doing something that could be frowned upon, and perhaps the reader is meant to see Clara as a devious character. Her movements continue to be secretive as she 'leaned forward' and 'peered through the peephole', two phrases that suggest she is attempting not to be caught and that her movements must be relatively sneaky. The writer uses a metaphor when he states that 'Her face lit up', a metaphor suggesting that she is happy and excited. Interestingly, through the use of pathetic fallacy, the natural world starts to reflect Clara's movements as we see a 'wisp of blue sky', a common image of hope and happiness. Towards the end of the extract, we once again return to the verbs that suggest secretive behaviour, as she 'padded past her sister's dollhouse', and once again we see that she may not be allowed to as she was 'not supposed to touch'. Overall, Clara's movements suggest to the reader that she is doing something that could get her in trouble.
No answer provided.
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