Analysis – Useful Vocabulary

- The author presents his arguments in a forceful/ powerful way.
- He writes in a matter-of-fact way and comes straight to the point.
- He prefers an emotional language.
- He is fond of long-winded sentences/roundabout ways of expression.
- He chooses some comparisons.
- He writes in a colourful/ colourless manner.
- The word…refers to…
- This expression means…/ is explicitly to be understood as…
- The literal meaning of this word is …
- This word/ term implies/ suggests that …
- This term is associated with…
- The author tries to arouse/ evoke certain associations…

Anti-utopian/ Dystopian Literature

- show the dangers of future societies

- give a counterpoint to the positive utopias of former times

- the authors are influenced by society and the age they live in (wars, rising economic,
ecological and social problems, increasing danger of disaster etc)

- make the reader reconsider the ideas of progress-orientated societies

- don’t see any room for hopeful, idealistic and optimistic speculations, but this way they
come to terms with our anxieties and hopes

- they give a warning that hopefully leads to some awareness among the people

- exaggerating is necessary from a dramatic point of view (suspense)

- by imagining the worst we may hope to avert it

Useful language material

I) How to write an introductory sentence of a summary

- This passage/extract from ... deals with .../is concerned with ...
- The problem of ... forms the central theme/ is the dominant topic.
- The writer is prinipally concerned with/ interested in the presentation of ...

II) How to write the analysis

Character
- X appears to be a stubborn/condescending/timid/talkative/inert ... character.
- Y seems to be an open-minded/tolerant/passive/solitary ... character.
- X stands in contrast to Y/forms a contrast to Y.
- X appears in a new light when ...
- X is characterized by his dry humor/narrow-minded attitude ...
- X comes across as a conceited/... character.
- He/she shows a quick intelligence when...

Point of view
- The passage is presented from an omniscient/a limited point of view.
- The story is told as witnessed by the main character/minor participant in the action.
- The events are portrayed from the point of view of a third-person/first-person narrator.
- The events are portrayed from the point of view of a single character.
- The narrator tells the story from a remote standpoint/knows the meaning of the events/gives a distorted view of the events.
- The author uses X as a focus/as a centre of consciousness.

Mode of presentation
- The narrator uses the mode of telling/showing at this point and employs a dramatic method here.
- He presents this passage as a combination of telling and showing.
- He makes use of of several narrative methods.
- He shifts the focus from telling to showing when ...
- The writer employs telling to establish a comprehensive view...
- He inserts showing for intense moments...

Theme
- The passage is a study of ... In this way it mirrors the conflict/theme of the whole novel.
- The aspect illustrated here is ...
- The problem of ... forms the central theme/ist he the dominant topic.
- The conflict seems insoluble at this point.

Language
- The author uses/makes use of employs ... as a metaphor/symbol to show/demonstrate/illustrate ...
- The author reports her view in a mixture of longer and shorter sentences.
- He/she changes to short sentences to arouse a dramatic effect.
- An instance of accumulation/enumeration can be traced in ll. ...
- The author has enumerated a string of negative/positive impressions of ... This underlines/emphasizes ...
- The text provides examples of hyperbole./ The use of hyperbole helps the writer in this section to draw attention to the point he is making.
- Irony is employed here to make fun of .../to ridicule ...
- He/she makes ironic comments on ...
- The passage is written in a humorous tone.

Useful phrases to speak about a short story

- The short story is about a decisive event in the life of ….
- The story deals with the theme of….
- It illustrates a typical example of human….
- It is a psychological study of…
- It narrates the conflict between two characters…
- The story concentrates on…
- It presents aspects of characters at a crucial moment of conflict in their lives…
- It is set in…
- It covers only a short period of time.
- There is a build-up of suspense towards the end of the story.
- It may have an abrupt opening; an open ending; a surprise ending
- The atmosphere in the story is shown in…; is revealed by…

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