Language and Structural Techniques Reference
Understanding language techniques gives you the power to analyse any text like a pro. Nouns, verbs, and adjectives form the building blocks, whilst modal verbs show possibility or necessity. When writers use imperatives, they're giving direct commands that grab your attention.
Figurative language creates the real magic in texts. Metaphors make direct comparisons without 'like' or 'as', whilst similes use these connecting words to paint vivid pictures. Personification brings objects to life by giving them human qualities, and hyperbole uses deliberate exaggeration for dramatic effect.
Imagery appeals directly to your senses and makes writing come alive. Writers might use auditory imagery for sounds, tactile imagery for physical sensations, or olfactory imagery for smells. Alliteration and semantic fields create rhythm and connect related ideas throughout a text.
Top Tip: When you spot symbolism in a text, ask yourself what deeper meaning the writer wants you to discover - it's often the key to understanding their message!
