Analysing Fiction Exam Techniques

Analysing fiction extracts requires a systematic approach to understanding the text, interpreting its meaning, and effectively communicating your insights. Here's Revision World’s guide to help you navigate through the process.

How to Analyse a Fiction Extract

Read Carefully: Begin by reading the extract multiple times to fully understand its content and context.

Annotate: Make notes in the margins, highlighting key details, literary techniques, and any questions or observations you have.

Identify Key Elements: Focus on characters, setting, plot, language, and themes. Consider how these elements interact to create meaning.

Analyse Literary Devices: Look for examples of imagery, symbolism, foreshadowing, irony, and other literary techniques used by the author.

Consider Structure: Examine the narrative structure, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Evaluate Tone and Mood: Reflect on the author's tone and the atmosphere created in the extract.

Connect to Context: Consider the broader context of the text, including the author's background, historical context, and genre conventions.

Understanding an Exam Question

Read the Text Carefully: Pay close attention to the wording of the question, ensuring you understand what is being asked.

Identify Key Terms: Highlight or underline key terms and instructions in the question, such as "analyse," "evaluate," or "discuss."

Plan your Answer: Take a moment to plan your response, considering which aspects of the extract you will focus on and how you will structure your analysis.

Stick to the Question: Ensure your response directly addresses the question posed, avoiding tangents or irrelevant information.

How to Structure a Paragraph

Topic Sentence: Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main point or argument you will discuss.

Evidence: Provide evidence from the extract to support your argument. Use quotations to illustrate your points.

Analysis: Analyse the significance of the evidence, explaining how it contributes to the overall meaning of the text.

Link to Theme or Purpose: Connect your analysis back to the broader themes, purpose, or context of the text.

Concluding Sentence: End the paragraph with a concluding sentence that summarises your main points and transitions to the next paragraph.

Using Quotations

Select Relevant Quotes: Choose quotations that directly support your argument or illustrate key points.

Integrate Smoothly: Introduce quotations with context and smoothly integrate them into your analysis.

Provide Analysis: After presenting a quotation, analyse its significance and explain how it contributes to your argument.

Use Quotation Marks: Enclose quotations in quotation marks and include page numbers (if applicable) to properly attribute the source.

Avoid Over Quoting: Use quotations sparingly and ensure they are effectively integrated into your analysis rather than simply dropped into the text.

Remember to practice these skills regularly, both with fiction extracts and in response to exam-style questions, to improve your ability to analyse fiction effectively and confidently.