Text Analysis (Plan)
Text Analysis
I General information 1. Who is the author? 2. What is the title? 3. Is the title clear or obscure? 4. What feelings and expectations does the title arise? 5. Who is the narrator: ➢ The author him/herself (a person who knows everything about the facts and the characters but takes NO part in the action of the story) ➢ External narrator ( i. e. an outsider who speaks of people they knew but whose role in the plot is merely that of an observer) ➢ One of the main characters ➢ One of the minor characters
NB In the 2nd,3d and 4th cases he story is usually told in the 1st person, but it is absolutely wrong to associate that “I” with the writer who wrote the story. The “I” of the story is either one of the characters or the narrator. ➢ There is no narrator, we learn what happens through the characters’ thoughts and dialogues NB The story may also be told by several narrators. 6. What personal pronouns are used in the story?
II Contents 1. When and where does the action take place? 2. Which details define the plot? 3. What events prove that the action happens in …? 4. Are events presented in a chronological order or are there flashbacks? 5. Give a short summary in a about 10 lines, no more. 6. Are there any subplots (other events) and what is their purpose? 7. Is there a climax or anticlimax? (нарастание сюжета/его убывание)
III Characters 1. Who are the main characters? 2. What about minor characters? What is their function? Their features. What is their class in the society? (upper/lower/middle/working, etc.) 3. Is there a conflict? Is it external or internal? 4. Does the hero(ine) have to fight against any opposing force? 5. What feelings do the characters express? What are their physical and moral features? 6. What is the relationship with the others and environment? 7. The method of the characters’ portrayal? It can be direct (when the author
I General information 1. Who is the author? 2. What is the title? 3. Is the title clear or obscure? 4. What feelings and expectations does the title arise? 5. Who is the narrator: ➢ The author him/herself (a person who knows everything about the facts and the characters but takes NO part in the action of the story) ➢ External narrator ( i. e. an outsider who speaks of people they knew but whose role in the plot is merely that of an observer) ➢ One of the main characters ➢ One of the minor characters
NB In the 2nd,3d and 4th cases he story is usually told in the 1st person, but it is absolutely wrong to associate that “I” with the writer who wrote the story. The “I” of the story is either one of the characters or the narrator. ➢ There is no narrator, we learn what happens through the characters’ thoughts and dialogues NB The story may also be told by several narrators. 6. What personal pronouns are used in the story?
II Contents 1. When and where does the action take place? 2. Which details define the plot? 3. What events prove that the action happens in …? 4. Are events presented in a chronological order or are there flashbacks? 5. Give a short summary in a about 10 lines, no more. 6. Are there any subplots (other events) and what is their purpose? 7. Is there a climax or anticlimax? (нарастание сюжета/его убывание)
III Characters 1. Who are the main characters? 2. What about minor characters? What is their function? Their features. What is their class in the society? (upper/lower/middle/working, etc.) 3. Is there a conflict? Is it external or internal? 4. Does the hero(ine) have to fight against any opposing force? 5. What feelings do the characters express? What are their physical and moral features? 6. What is the relationship with the others and environment? 7. The method of the characters’ portrayal? It can be direct (when the author