OCR GCSE English Language: Exploring Effects and Impact – Reading Literary Prose

OCR GCSE English Language: Exploring Effects and Impact – Reading Literary Prose

This tutorial will help you understand how to effectively analyse unseen prose fiction from the 20th or 21st centuries for your OCR GCSE English Language exam. The key is to explore how writers use language, structure, and form to create meaning and impact.

1. Understanding the Text:

• Read actively: As you read, underline key words, phrases, or sentences that stand out. Consider the following:
  • What is the text about? What is the main idea or theme?
  • What is the tone and mood of the piece? How does the writer achieve this?
  • Who is the narrator? What is their perspective? How does this impact the reader's understanding of the story?
  • What are the key events or incidents in the story? How do they contribute to the overall meaning?
• Annotate effectively: This is vital. Highlight key features and jot down your initial interpretations. Use the following questions as a guide:
  • Language: What specific words and phrases are used? How do they create effects? (e.g., imagery, metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, etc.)
  • Structure: How is the text structured? (e.g., chronological, fragmented, non-linear) How does this structure affect the reader's experience?
  • Form: What form does the text take? (e.g., short story, novel extract, diary entry) How does this influence the content and message?

2. Exploring Language:

• Identify literary devices: Look for the use of figurative language, such as:
  • Similes: Comparing something to something else using "like" or "as."
  • Metaphors: Direct comparison without using "like" or "as."
  • Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas.
  • Imagery: Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses.
  • Symbolism: Objects or actions that represent something else.
• Analyze the effect: Consider how these devices create impact:
  • Emotional response: Do they evoke feelings of joy, sadness, fear, anger, etc.?
  • Understanding: Do they clarify the meaning, add depth to the story, or create a specific atmosphere?
  • Character development: Do they reveal information about a character's personality or motivations?

3. Exploring Structure and Form:

• Narrative viewpoint: Who is telling the story? What is their perspective?
  • First person: The narrator is a character within the story, using "I" or "we."
  • Second person: The narrator directly addresses the reader using "you."
  • Third person: The narrator is outside the story, using "he," "she," or "they."
  • Limited third person: The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of only one character.
  • Omniscient third person: The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters.
• Structure and its impact:
  • Chronological: The events unfold in a linear sequence.
  • Non-linear: The story jumps back and forth in time.
  • Fragmented: The story is broken up into short, often unconnected sections.
  • Repetition: Words or phrases are repeated for emphasis.
• Form and its influence:
  • Short story: Focuses on a single event or character.
  • Novel extract: Offers a glimpse into a larger narrative.
  • Diary entry: Provides a personal and intimate perspective.
  • Letter: Focuses on a specific relationship or event.

4. Analyzing Themes:

• Identify key themes: What are the overarching ideas or messages the writer is trying to convey?
• Explore how themes are developed: How does the writer use language, structure, and form to highlight these themes?
• Connect to the wider world: How are the themes relevant to the reader's own life or experiences?

5. Comparison and Critical Analysis:

• Compare texts: If you are asked to compare two texts, consider how they:
  • Explore similar themes.
  • Use different language and structures.
  • Create different effects on the reader.
• Develop a critical argument: Clearly state your interpretations and support them with evidence from the text. Use a balanced approach, acknowledging different viewpoints.

6. Practice and Application:

• Practice analyzing different texts: Use past papers and model answers to familiarize yourself with the exam format.
• Develop your own critical voice: Be confident in your interpretations and use your own unique perspective to analyze the texts.
• Remember the context: Always consider the time period and social context in which the text was written.

By following these steps and applying your understanding of language, structure, and form, you can effectively analyze unseen prose fiction for your OCR GCSE English Language exam and achieve excellent results.