Analytical Writing

Introduction

Prior to writing the introduction, make some notes on the context, main themes, list the literary techniques and author's intention. The context involves the author, year, title and genre. Once you have all this information, you can then progress to write your overarching introduction

Example 1

• Author: Robert Frost American poet in England

• Year: 1916

• Title: The Road Not Taken

• Genre: Narrative poem

• Theme: nonconformity, choices

• Literary techniques: iambic tetrameter, ABAAB rhyme scheme, symbolic, nature imagery

• Tone/ Mood: depressing, regretful, longing, nostalgic

Written in 1916 by American Poet Robert Frost, the narrative poem The Road Not Taken explores complex themes such as nonconformity, choices and decisions. Using a range of literary techniques, Frost creates a musical and lyrical quality to convey the ambiguous nature of life choices. By adopting an ABAAB rhyme scheme and structuring his sentences in iambic tetrameter, Frost creates a calming rhythm to his poem. To represent the different paths and choices, Frost uses the symbol of the two roads diverged in the yellow wood. By commenting that the two roads are equally “fair”, Frost is communicating how there is never an obvious better choice. However, Frost doubts that “he would ever come back”, suggesting that it doesn’t matter what choices one makes, but whether or not you follow through with them. - Jason Zhao

Example 2

• Author: Robert Frost American poet in England

• Year: 1923

• Title: Nothing Gold can Stay (Poem Animation)

• Genre: short poem

• Theme: loss of innocence, youth and beauty are fleeting, impermanence of life

• Literary techniques: symbolism, nature imagery, AABBCCDD

• Tone: melancholic, nostalgic, longing, dejected

Written in 1923 by American Poet Robert, the short poem Nothing Gold Can Stay explores complex themes such as the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, as well as the impermanence of life. Although it only has one stanza, it utilizes a range of literary techniques to convey Frost’s loss of innocence and melancholic mood. By adopting an AABBCCDD rhyme scheme, Frost creates a lyrical and calming rhythm to his poem. To represent life and nature, Frost utilizes the radiant symbol of gold. Unfortunately, Frost feels dejected and refutes the permanence of beauty, by stating that “dawn eventually goes down to day”, and “nothing gold can stay”. In other words, Frost is inspiring the reader to appreciate the beauty of life, but recognise that it is fleeting. Frost is inspiring the reader to make the most out of the present moment. - Jason Zhao

Example 3

The poem Stopping by the woods on a snowy evening by Robert Frost. The character travels through a village, farmhouse, lake and the woods. Robert describes the traveller’s journey and has a message to keep on persevering. He uses imagery to spark a detailed image in the reader's mind. He uses a AABA rhyme technique to keep the text flowing. He keeps a warm and soft feeling in the reader. It has a calm, sad and lonely feel. - Nathan Yen

Exercise 4: Try it yourself!

• Author: columnist Richard Glover

• Year: 1923

• Title: A walk through the ages in just one trip to the park (Link)

• Genre: discursive text

• Theme: Coronavirus pandemic, depressing nature of the lockdown, Coronavirus rules

• Literary techniques: hyperboles, imagery, sarcasm

• Tone: sarcastic

Exercise 5: Try it yourself

• Author:

• Year:

• Title: (Link)

• Genre:

• Theme:

• Literary techniques:

• Tone:

PART 2| BODY PARAGRAPHS

Make your life easier by structure your paragraphs according to a template. Here is a suggestion below.

1)Common theme: Environmental sustainability, protection of flora and fauna, conservation of wildlife

Author name utilises a range of techniques to convey a powerful message about common theme in his poem title.

2) Most notable technique, meaning and effect: Imagery, metaphor, simile, alliteration, assonance, consonance, exclamation, dialogue, direct speech, rhetorical, enjambment, rhyme

For instance, author’s last name utilises technique name in ‘quote the part containing the technique’ to depict the idea of message and meaning of technique, thus effect on reader.

3) Connective, second most notable technique, meaning and effect

Moreover, author’s last name incorporates the technique name in ‘quote the part containing the technique’ to reinforce the message and meaning of technique, thus the effect on reader.

4) Third most notable technique, meaning and effect

5) Concluding sentence: summarise overall message but in different words to your initial topic sentences

Subsequently, author’s last name emphasises the message through effective list techniques.

Example 6: Poem

William E Stafford conveys a powerful message about the death of innocent, wild animals due to ignorant drivers in his poem ‘Travelling through the Dark’. Stafford utilises imagery in ‘under the hood purred the steady engine’ to depict the car as a cold blooded killer, thus making the reader feel fear and sympathy towards the dead deer and its child. Moreover, Stafford incorporates the personification of the deer in ‘dragged her off’ to reinforce the plight of the deer and its unfortunate fate, thus evoking reader sympathy. In addition, through the personification of the wilderness in ‘I could hear the wilderness listen’, Stafford further positions us to think from the perspectives of nature, thus evoking a sense of responsibility to protect the environment. Stafford emphasises the importance of vigilant driving and animal conservation through the effective use of imagery and personification. - Nathan Yen

Example 7: Poem

Steven Herrick conveys a powerful message about how some animals struggle to survive in the poem ‘The Koala and the Cyclist’. Herrick uses imagery in ‘I saw the koala crawl through the burnt forest’ to depict the idea of the lonely, malnourished koala, thus making the reader feel sympathy for it. Moreover, Herrick incorporates the depressing anecdote* of ‘I saw the koala crawl through the burning forest’ to reinforce that the koala was alone and hungry, thus evoking pity and melancholy from the reader. In addition, through the personification the ‘furry little fellow crept closer’, Herrick further increases relatability and attachment to the koala, thus making the reader more aware of the koala’s plight. Herrick emphasises the vulnerability of wildlife in bushfires through the effective use of personification, imagery and anecdote. - Nathan Yen

Example 8: Poem

Jack Davis conveys a powerful message about the death of a tree in his death of a tree. Davis utilises personification in ‘the power saw screamed’ to depict the loud sound of the saw, thus making the saw easier to imagine and easier to relate to. Moreover, Davis incorporates personification again in ‘she leaned forward’ to reinforce the fact that the tree was falling, provoking the reader to feel grief and evoke a sense of loss. In addition, through the imagery of ‘the underside of the leaves pale, Davis further demonstrates the pitiful death of the tree, thus evoking reader sympathy. Davis emphasises the death of the tree through effective personification and imagery. - Nathan Yen

Example 9

In The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood utilises a range of techniques to create an intriguing story about a girl imprisoned following a catastrophic event. For instance, Atwood utilises the imagery of the gymnasium’s interior design, such as ‘stripes and circles painted on it, hoops for the basketball nets' but she notes that “the nets were gone”. This enables the reader to visualise what the place used to be, evoking a strong sense of loneliness and emptiness. Furthermore, there is olfactory imagery of the gymnasium’s smell which comprises the “pungent scent of swear, sweet taint of chewing gum”. This reveals the protagonist’s memory, highlighting the suddenness of the event, creating a sense of trauma and nostalgia. Subsequently, the auditory imagery of the events within the gymnasium such as the “unheard sound” and how the “music lingered” showcase the protagonist’s longing for the beautiful past. - Nathan Yen

Example 10

Using a range of techniques, the author evokes sympathy towards Ree’s family situation. For instance, there is a metaphor when the mum is compared to “a cat, a breathing thing that sat near heat and occasionally made a sound”. This adds depth revealing the unmindful and inconsiderate nature of Ree’s mum, highly neglecting her children and familial responsibilities. Using a backstory of the mum’s pleasant past, not only does this add intrigue to the text, juxtaposition further emphasises her current mental instability.