Commenting on the Writer's Methods Flashcards
All 14 cards in this deck
What counts as a 'method' in Question 4?
Anything the writer does to shape the reader's impression: language choices, structure (placing, shifts, endings), narrative perspective, dialogue, setting, characterisation through action, and symbolism.
What is the basic pattern for commenting on a method in Question 4?
Method + quotation + impression + link to the statement, e.g. 'By having her laugh while she looks away, the writer suggests her cheerfulness is forced, which challenges the idea that she is happy.'
How can dialogue be a method in Question 4, and what does it often reveal?
What characters say, and how, shows their relationships and hidden feelings. Short, clipped replies can suggest tension; polite words that clash with actions can show someone hiding the truth.
What is characterisation through action, and why is it useful evidence?
Showing what a character is like through what they do rather than telling us. Actions can contradict what a character says or claims to feel, which gives you strong evidence to challenge a statement.
How can setting work as a method in Question 4?
A setting can reflect or contrast with a character's mood (pathetic fallacy, for instance). It shapes the reader's impression of how a character feels without the writer stating it.
How can a writer use contrast as a method to shape the reader's impression?
Setting two characters, moods or moments against each other sharpens both. A calm character beside a panicking one seems even calmer, so contrast can support or challenge a statement about who is in control.
What is symbolism, and how can it strengthen a Question 4 point?
An object, colour or image that stands for a bigger idea, e.g. a locked gate for being shut out. Explaining it shows perceptive understanding of how the writer conveys an idea the statement is about.
Why might narrative perspective matter when you evaluate a statement about a character?
If we see events through one character's eyes, our impression is shaped by their feelings and may be unreliable. You can question a statement by pointing out that we only have that character's view.
How can the ending of the given lines be used as a method in Question 4?
Writers often place a change or reveal at the end. Pointing out how the final lines confirm or overturn the earlier impression is a strong way to weigh the statement.
Why is naming a technique not enough in Question 4?
Feature spotting ('The writer uses a simile') earns little. Marks come from explaining what the method makes the reader think or feel and how far that supports or challenges the statement.
How long should your quotations be in Question 4?
Short: a word or a brief phrase, embedded in your own sentence. Long quotations lead to retelling; short ones let you comment closely on how the writer creates an impression.
In 'He laughed at the joke, but he did not look at her.', what method is used and what impression does it create?
Characterisation through action that contradicts what he appears to feel. The laugh suggests ease, but avoiding her eyes suggests guilt or discomfort, so the reader senses he is hiding something.
In 'By the time she left the hospital, the rain had stopped and the pavements were shining.', what method is used and how could it shape the reader's impression?
Setting used to reflect mood. The end of the rain and the shining pavements suggest relief or hope after something difficult, so the reader expects good news even before it is stated.
In 'She washed the cups, dried the cups, put the cups away, and took them out again.', what method is used and what does it suggest about the character?
A list of repeated actions. The pointless routine (putting the cups away and taking them out again) suggests she is anxious or distracted, keeping busy to avoid thinking about something.