How to Analyse Language in AQA Paper 1 Question 2

Analyse language effectively by choosing precise quotations, examining the writer’s choices closely and explaining their effects on the reader. Avoid simply identifying techniques.

A clear method

For each main point:

1. Select a short quotation from the specified lines.
2. Identify a significant language choice, such as a verb, adjective, metaphor, simile or personification.
3. Zoom in on a key word and explore its meanings or associations.
4. Explain the effect created and connect it to what the writer is describing.

An association is an idea or feeling linked to a word. For example, the verb “stalked” may be associated with hunting, patience and danger.

Worked example

Imagine the source says:

“The storm stalked across the silent town.”

You could write:

The writer personifies the storm through the verb “stalked”. This verb is associated with a predator secretly following its prey, making the storm appear deliberate and threatening. The adjective “silent” creates an uneasy atmosphere because the town seems vulnerable and unprepared for the approaching danger.

This works because it uses a short quotation, analyses individual words and explains the overall impression created.

Develop your analysis

Try to explore more than one possible meaning when the evidence supports it. Useful phrases include:

• “The word ‘…’ suggests…”
• “This has associations with…”
• “This makes the reader imagine…”
• “Alternatively, this could imply…”

Choose the strongest examples rather than analysing every technique you notice. Detailed analysis of a few well-selected quotations is usually more effective than a long list of features.

Common exam mistake

The most common mistake is feature spotting: writing something like “The writer uses a metaphor” without explaining it. Naming the technique is only the beginning. Always analyse the specific words and explain how they shape the reader’s impression of the subject.