Identifyexplain how meaning is enhanced through choice of

Identify/explain how meaning is enhanced through choice of phrases (2 g) Lesson 3 -Fiction English is an amazing language. It can also be quite confusing. We have so many words - and many of them have very similar meanings. In this lesson we will look at why authors choose to use particular words and what effect those words have.

Identify/explain how meaning is enhanced through choice of words Meaning of words and phrases – Many writers use what are called ‘literary devices’. Literary devices include things like metaphors, similes, repetition and personification. These devices are carefully chosen with an effect in mind. Think of some similes and see how you can describe the same object in 2 different ways using different similes. Then do the same for personification. Example: The snow was a soft, white blanket. The snow was a colourless, cold sheet. Both of these use a metaphor to describe snow but both are quite different in terms of the effect on the reader. The first one creates an image of something pleasant (soft blanket), whereas the second one creates an image of being uninviting (colourless, cold)

Read the following text and answer the questions on the next page. Dear Mum, I hope you and Rosie are keeping well. I’m not sure how long this letter will take to reach you; I’m posting it from one of the islands we’ve stopped off at to shelter from yet another storm. The weather has been particularly bad of late. We just seem to be battling one storm after another which is challenging our strength and resolve. I think I’m finally getting my sea legs though as I haven’t vomited for at least a week now! That’s definitely progress, don’t you think? Seriously though, the weather needs to settle soon as we must catch a decent haul of fish in order to make this trip worthwhile. There’s no coming home until we do. Captain Abrahams is doing an amazing job of looking after me. He watches me like a hawk and he’s really patient when I make mistakes – which can be quite often! I’m lucky to have him, as mistakes can prove to be fatal out here. The lads are a great bunch too; they pull my leg a little but I know they don’t mean any harm by it. They do their best to keep me out of trouble and out of harms way. They understand how hard it is to be away from home for so long, although they seem so well adjusted now, unlike me. I miss you guys so much. I miss my warm soft bed and I most definitely miss dry land! All best

Learning check: You do. . . 1. What is the effect of the phrase ‘I think I’m finally getting my sea legs’? Write the answers to these questions on a piece of paper, so you can then check your understanding, then click one more time for the answers. 1. ‘He watches me like a hawk. . ’ What literary device is this and how does effect the reader? ANSWERS: 1. ‘. . they pull my leg a little but I know they don’t mean any harm by it. ’ Explain what is meant by this phrase and the impact it has 1. on the reader. 2. Remember the strategies… Meaning of phrases Inference The person who is writing the letter was not used to being at sea but they are getting used to it. This is a simile. It shows that the Captain notices everything Jack does. This means the Captain is both thorough and caring and makes the reader like the Captain. Pulling someone’s leg means that you are teasing someone.

Identify/explain how meaning is enhanced through choice of words and phrases The boat lurched right and then left as it rode the roller-coaster waves deep into the dark, stormy night. Each time it lent dangerously to the side, Stan feared that it would just keep on going and submerge them all in the cruel, raging sea. Miraculously, the boat kept righting itself Question: ‘. . . as it rode the roller-coaster waves deep into the dark, stormy night. ’ What is the effect of this metaphor on the reader? again, only to tip dangerously over to the other side. Stan didn’t know how much more of this he could take. First: let’s identify the metaphor The roller-coaster waves Second: let’s look at the effect of this metaphor A roller-coaster goes up and down and there is no control over what it does or where it goes.

Identify/explain how meaning is enhanced through choice of words and phrases The boat lurched right and then left as it rode the roller-coaster waves deep into the dark, stormy night. Each time it lent dangerously to the side, Stan feared that it would just keep on going and submerge them all in the cruel, raging sea. Miraculously, the boat kept righting itself Question: ‘. . . as it rode the roller-coaster waves deep into the dark, stormy night. ’ What is the effect of this metaphor on the reader? again, only to tip dangerously over to the other side. Stan didn’t know how much more of this he could take. Answer The roller-coaster waves suggests the people on the boat are out of control. The waves are dictating the course of the boat and makes the reader feel anxious or nervous about those in the boat.

Learning check: You do. . . Task: Now, complete these questions below about the rest of the text - send your answers to your teacher when you are finished. The boat lurched right and then left as it rode the roller-coaster waves deep into the dark, stormy night. Each time it lent dangerously to the side, Stan feared that it would just keep on going and submerge them all in the cruel, raging sea. Miraculously, the boat kept righting itself again, only to tip dangerously over to the other side. Stan didn’t know how much more of this he could take. They had been riding this storm for the last 2 hours but it had felt like an eternity. Thankfully, the sickness had now passed, largely due to the fact that he had nothing left in his stomach to throw up. He was bruised and battered from being flung around the cabin like a ragdoll. Luckily, the table and chairs were bolted down, giving him something solid to hold on to. Anything that hadn’t been secured to the floor, was now scattered all over the room. He dared not poke his head into the galley kitchen. The noises he had heard from there suggested that the contents of the cupboards were now sliding up and down the floor. Suddenly, the cabin door burst open and a large, weather-beaten man stumbled into the room. “You ok Stanny boy? You holding out alright? ” shouted the man above the noise of the storm.

“I think so Captain. When’s this storm going to quit? ” Stan shouted back. “Soon Stan, soon, ” the Captain replied. He gave Stan a reassuring smile and ruffled his hair with a large rough hand. “We’ll be sailing past the island soon so that’ll help protect us a little. The lads are getting tired, so when the sea starts to behave herself, they’d really appreciated some supper. Only when it’s safe to do so mind. I don’t want you hurting yourself. This will pass soon, I promise. We need to get those nets out. The only fish we’re catching at the moment are the ones getting washed up onto the boat by the storm!” He winked at Stan then lurched towards the direction of the door. He stepped fearlessly back out onto the deck as the wind slammed the door behind him. Questions: 1. ‘He was bruised and battered from being flung around the cabin like a ragdoll. ’ What is the simile in this sentence and what is the effect of the whole sentence on the reader? 2. ‘. . . weather-beaten man ’ Explain what is meant by this and the effect it has on the reader. 3. ‘Soon Stan, soon, . . ’ What is the effect of repeating the word ‘soon’? 4. . Find and copy an example of personification in the last paragraph. 5. ‘He stepped fearlessly back out onto the deck…’ What does the word fearless tell about the type of person the Captain is? Remember to either write the answers on a google doc and send it to your teacher, or on a piece of paper. If you write it on paper, you will need to take a picture of your work and send it to your teacher.

Well done! Now send your answers to your teacher.