English TW 3 2021
The IB big five -> used for analysing texts:
1. Audience/purpose
2. Content/theme
3. Tone/mood
4. Stylistic devices
5. Structure
The three layers of a text -> authors use these steps when they create a work:
Content: the characters, plot, and theme of a work
Language and techniques: how does the writer convey plot, characterisation, and theme?
Intent and effect: why did the author create this work and how does it affect its audience?
Purpose:
- Expressing
- Informing
- Explaining
- Exploring a theory
- Persuading or convincing
Content:
- Plot
- Characterisation
- Setting
- Perspective
Five elements to a plot:
1. Exposition or introduction -> start of the story: plot, characters and setting are established.
2. Rising action -> series of events build up to a conflict.
3. Climax -> main plot of the story, turning point.
4. Falling action -> winding up of the story, complications begin to resolve
5. Resolution -> end of a story
Plot can be developed in several ways:
- Chronological: (A, B, C)
- In medias res: the novel starts in the middle (B, A, C)
- Flashbacks or flash-forwards: parts of the narrative take place in the past or future.
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, English TW 3 2021
Characterisation
Cast usually consists of:
- The protagonist -> most important in the story (can be more than one)
- The antagonist -> provides conflict as an opposing force.
- Supporting characters: other characters who can help or hinder the protagonist.
Characters are either round or flat:
- Round: complect, many traits, experiences change during the story, always develop
throughout
- Flat character: one dimensional, only see one or two of their traits, often stereotypes.
Author can give info about characters in two ways:
1. Direct or explicit characterisation: another character, the narrator or the protagonist
describes them to the audience.
2. Indirect or implicit characterisation: the audience has to deduce for themselves the
characteristics of a character by observance the thought process, behaviour, speech,
appearance.
Setting
- Where the story takes place
perspective
1. First person
2. Second person: addresses the reader directly (you, your)
3. Third person
a. Third person objective – an impersonal recorder or neutral observer narrates the
facts or details to the readers.
b. Omniscient narrator – a narrator reports the facts, as well as interpreting and
relating the thoughts of a character. Popular in storytelling
c. Third person limited – a narrator reports and interprets the facts and events from a
single character’s perspective.
Theme
Used to describe the big ideas in a text.
- The tragedy of war
- Overcoming you fear
- Cowardice and bravery
Motif and theme:
A motif is a recurrent image, idea or symbol that develops or explains a theme, a theme is a
central idea or message.
2
The IB big five -> used for analysing texts:
1. Audience/purpose
2. Content/theme
3. Tone/mood
4. Stylistic devices
5. Structure
The three layers of a text -> authors use these steps when they create a work:
Content: the characters, plot, and theme of a work
Language and techniques: how does the writer convey plot, characterisation, and theme?
Intent and effect: why did the author create this work and how does it affect its audience?
Purpose:
- Expressing
- Informing
- Explaining
- Exploring a theory
- Persuading or convincing
Content:
- Plot
- Characterisation
- Setting
- Perspective
Five elements to a plot:
1. Exposition or introduction -> start of the story: plot, characters and setting are established.
2. Rising action -> series of events build up to a conflict.
3. Climax -> main plot of the story, turning point.
4. Falling action -> winding up of the story, complications begin to resolve
5. Resolution -> end of a story
Plot can be developed in several ways:
- Chronological: (A, B, C)
- In medias res: the novel starts in the middle (B, A, C)
- Flashbacks or flash-forwards: parts of the narrative take place in the past or future.
1
, English TW 3 2021
Characterisation
Cast usually consists of:
- The protagonist -> most important in the story (can be more than one)
- The antagonist -> provides conflict as an opposing force.
- Supporting characters: other characters who can help or hinder the protagonist.
Characters are either round or flat:
- Round: complect, many traits, experiences change during the story, always develop
throughout
- Flat character: one dimensional, only see one or two of their traits, often stereotypes.
Author can give info about characters in two ways:
1. Direct or explicit characterisation: another character, the narrator or the protagonist
describes them to the audience.
2. Indirect or implicit characterisation: the audience has to deduce for themselves the
characteristics of a character by observance the thought process, behaviour, speech,
appearance.
Setting
- Where the story takes place
perspective
1. First person
2. Second person: addresses the reader directly (you, your)
3. Third person
a. Third person objective – an impersonal recorder or neutral observer narrates the
facts or details to the readers.
b. Omniscient narrator – a narrator reports the facts, as well as interpreting and
relating the thoughts of a character. Popular in storytelling
c. Third person limited – a narrator reports and interprets the facts and events from a
single character’s perspective.
Theme
Used to describe the big ideas in a text.
- The tragedy of war
- Overcoming you fear
- Cowardice and bravery
Motif and theme:
A motif is a recurrent image, idea or symbol that develops or explains a theme, a theme is a
central idea or message.
2
