Language Features- Instant Messaging

Common Language Features in Instant Messaging

Colloquialisms and Slang-
Colloquialisms would be used because the conversation is generally relaxed, informal and between two people that understand.

Representations of Paralinguistic Features (eg 'haha')-
This would be used to show emotion over the messaged, and because the conversation is relaxed.

Elision-
This is a common feature of Instant Messaging because of the relaxed and informal tone. The nature of Instant Messaging (ie the fact that it is a fast way of communicating) would also be a reason this would be used.

Abbreviations-
The are once again used to create and fit in with the fast pace of the messaging service, as it takes less time than typing out full words.

Poetry- Practise Paragraphs (GCSE) (Hide and Seek and Telephone Conversation)

Explain the mood in ‘Hide and Seek.’

The writer uses caesura to create a tense mood in the poem ‘Hide and Seek.’ This can be seen in the line ‘Don’t breathe. Don’t move. Stay dumb.’ This line creates tension as it is a contrast against the longer, more light-hearted lines in the first part of the poem. The short sentences give the impression that the boy is scared, and his thoughts are quick as he is under pressure. The writer has done this to make the reader slow down their reading from the flowing lines before, adding to the increasing feeling of dread that is felt by both the reader and the boy in the poem. The writer also creates a sinister mood in the poem. He does this by changing the structure of the poem from line 21 onwards. The first 20 lines of the poem have a regular rhyme scheme of ABCDD which gives the poem a closed form structure for the majority of the poem. However, at line 21 the rhyme scheme is lost and the poem goes into free verse. The writer has done this to reflect the way that the child is free from his hiding place, and also to create a sense on unknown. Whilst the boy was hiding from his friends, he knew that they were out looking for him in the garden. However, just as we cannot predict the rest of the poem’s structure due to the change, once the boy is out into the open he can’t see any of his friends. This creates a sense of unease and gives the poem an almost sinister end.

Explain the mood in ‘Telephone conversation.’

The writer uses caesura to create an incredulous mood in the poem ‘Telephone conversation.’ This can be seen clearly in line six when it says ‘silence.’ This line makes the reader feel incredulous as we, along with the man in the poem, are forced to stop and think about what the woman has asked him. The use of caesura means that we are forced to pause suddenly, which takes us by surprise, reflecting the comment of the woman. This adds to the overall mood of the poem, as it provides a contrast against the first few lines of the poem, which were much more light-hearted. The writer also uses ambiguity to create a humorous and light-hearted mood towards the end of the poem. This can be seen in the line ‘“wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?”’ This line is ambiguous as it could be the man asking the woman to see him before she judged him, or it could mean that the man is mocking the woman and telling her to look at his behind, which he has referenced earlier in the poem. This ambiguity creates a light-hearted contrast to the otherwise fairly serious poem, as the reader feels joy at the fact that the man is finally managing to get his own back on the landlady who has been so rude to him. 

Poetry- Example Essay (GCSE) (Piano)

Explain how the poet conveys powerful emotions in ‘Piano’

The writer uses onomatopoeia to convey powerful emotions in the poem ‘Piano.’ This can be seen in the line ‘the boom of the tingling strings.’ This line creates powerful emotions as it makes the reader feel what the child in the poem was feeling, and shows just how much of an effect the music had on the child. ‘Boom’ contrasts against ‘tingling.’ Whereas the use of ‘boom’ emphasises the power of the music and memory, ‘tingling’ is a much softer and more soothing description. The writer has chosen to do this to show the two sides to the memory felt by the child- the music though bringing him peace and calming him at the time, is able to bring back strong and overpowering memories. This suggests that, perhaps, the memory is bittersweet, as the man looking back on his childhood can feel the strength of the effect that the music has on him.

As the contrast between ‘boom’ and ‘tingling’ was used in the first stanza, the writer uses another contrast in the second to show the different emotions that the person is feeling as a child compared to being an adult. This can be seen in the line ‘with winter outside and hymns in the cozy parlor.’ This contrast between a safe, comforting place and a harsh, unforgiving place emphasises the difference between childhood and adulthood, ‘winter’ being representative of growing up and ‘cozy parlor’ being childhood innocence. The writer’s purpose in doing this was to show that the person looking back on their memories feels the pain of nostalgia for a better time. This conveys a powerful emotion, as it makes the reader remember their own past and realise that growing up is very much like looking for a place where you feel warm and protected to a place ‘outside’ where you must fend for yourself.

The writer uses the structure of the poem to further emphasise how closely linked and powerful the memories are. For example, the poem has a regular rhyme scheme of AABB. The use of rhyming couplets gives the poem lyrical quality (reflective of the song at the heart of the poem) and, therefore, adds to the sense of nostalgia. The person’s memories are so clear in their mind that they flow like a song, showing that they are immersed in the past and strengthening the emotion. Enjambment is also used for this reason, as it shows that he is unable to stop the memories taking over (‘in spite of myself.’)

Finally, the writer uses similes and metaphors to strengthen the emotions felt by the person in the poem. ‘My manhood is cast’ and ‘flood of remembrance’ are both metaphors for how the man is feeling as he is lost in his thoughts. ‘My manhood is cast’ shows that the man cannot go back to his childhood, and that makes him sorrowful. It is also a memory for ‘fishing out’ a memory, showing that he must have had to relive many different experiences and remember many different emotions in order to get to the memory he is now at. This suggests he has, for some reason, suppressed that memory, further suggesting it was not a completely joyful one. ‘Flood of remembrance’ shows that he has no control over his emotions. ‘Flood’ could mean tears, which is suggested also in the next line, ‘I weep like a child for the past.’ However, it could also be emphasising how overcome with emotions the man is, that it is like a flood, washing over him with no suggestion of stopping anytime soon. As a flood is a quick and unpredictable event, it suggests that he had forgotten how bittersweet the memory was, and was therefore taken aback when the emotion overcame him. A simile is used in ‘weep like a child.’ This shows that the man desires to be a child again, as everything was more carefree in the past. This idea is clear throughout the poem, in the contrasts used and the various language features.

Poetry- Example Essay (GCSE) (Do Not Go Gentle)

How does the writer present death in ‘Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night?’

·         Metaphors- ‘close of day,’ ‘dying of the light’

·         Language- ‘wise men,’ ‘frail deeds,’- own father etc. Irony (death- weak, dying- strong)

·         Form and structure- Villanelle poem- like a prayer/hymn- religious connotations (funeral)

·         Mood- empowering- makes the reader stop fearing death but rather see it as one final challenge.

‘Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night’ is about a son who is begging his father to fight against death, and not just let it take him without any struggle. The writer uses a variety of techniques to present death in the poem.

One way that he does this is through using metaphors. Throughout the poem, there are numerous metaphors for death, such as ‘close of day’ and ‘dying of the light.’ ‘Close of day’ suggests that death is like sleeping. This suggests that death is a peaceful thing, and perhaps that the person that is dying will wake up to something better- like a heaven. The writer’s purpose for using metaphors is to make death seem like a more understandable concept and take away the fear that is often associated with dying. By comparing death to sleep and suggesting that there may be something better waiting on the other side, the writer brings comfort to the reader and almost makes them see death as more of a peaceful thing than something that should be feared. This, however, is contradicted when the writer says things like ‘rage against the dying of the light,’ which suggests that a peaceful death is not as significant as that of someone who has fought the peace until the end.

The writer using language to strengthen these ideas about fighting against death throughout the other tercets and the final quatrain. ‘Gentle’ and ‘rave’ show a contrast in language. This is used by the writer to show the difference between what death should be met with, and what it should not. ‘Gentle’ is a calm and peaceful word, whereas ‘rave’ suggests strength, anger and will. ‘Rave’ is a much stronger word than ‘gentle,’ and so it overpowers it, like the way that the writer thinks that dying overpowers death. Irony is used by the writer. Death is described as being weak and powerless, whereas dying is considered strong and almost admirable. This shows the writers views on death, and that he believes that death is much easier than life, and so people should choose the most difficult option and fight to hold onto life. Further on in the poem, the writer suggests things about his own father. It is said that ‘wise men’ fight against death, even if they know that it is the right thing for them. This could suggest that the writer’s father is starting to give up on life, and is maybe beginning to see death as the best option for him. The writer is trying to tell his father that he must hold on, even if it is not easy and he does not want to, and that he would be a wise man if he did that. This suggests that the writer believes death to be for the weak and feeble people, as the wise people know that it must be fought against.

The writer has used a villanelle form for his poem. This gives the poem a song-like feel to it, almost like a hymn or a prayer. The writer has chosen to do this to extend the theme of death throughout the entire poem, as prayers are said at funerals after people have died. Hymns are also religious songs that are sung at funerals, and so the writer is trying to suggest that death has taken the person that the funeral is for, but that they fought death until the end. The poem is a popular choice for funerals, as it can often bring the family of the person that has died peace to hear that their loved one fought with all of their might until the very end. This emphasises the message of fighting death, as it makes the reader or listener also want to be remembered as someone that tried to live rather than gave into death, and so they will try to do the same when it comes to their death.

The mood of the poem could be described as many different things. Some may describe it as a sombre and depressing poem, as it is talking about people dying, and the writer is asking his father to try and hang onto life. However, I believe that the poem has more of an empowering mood. This is because of the thought that people should fight against death, and that the writer has used many words which, when together, form an almost unbreakable barrier between the reader and death itself. The language that the writer has used makes the reader feel, in a way, invincible against death and gives them the will to carry on fighting to live. This can really empower people and unite them against dying in an easy way, as the writer believes is wrong. The mood, in my opinion, is far from depressing, as it is not the writer talking about death, but talking about life. This emphasises the message of death, as it shows that it will never be strong enough to outdo life, and it is simply one final challenge in the lives of strong people.

Of Mice And Men- Useful Quotations (GCSE)

‘Water is lined with trees- willows fresh and green’
Who says it to whom? Narrator 
What does it refer to? The brush
What do we learn from it? The brush is described in a way that is very serene and peaceful. It is almost linked the garden of Eden, which suggests that it is the perfect place. The garden of Eden later becomes tarnished when Eve sins, which reflects the way that the brush stops being peaceful after George shoots Lennie.
 

“Let’s have different colour rabbits George”

Who says it to whom?  Lennie to George

What does it refer to? The Dream

What do we learn from it?  We learn from this that Lennie is very childlike, as he seems to think that rabbits come in a variety of different colours. It also shows that he is very excited and cares a lot about the dream, as he wants to know every single little detail about every part of it.

 

“He’s awright. Just ain’t bright”

Who says it to whom? George about Lennie

What does it refer to? They are trying to get the boss to hire them, and Lennie nearly ruins it

What do we learn from it? This shows that George does stick up for Lennie in a fatherly way, as he defends him saying that he is ‘awright.’ It also shows that George finds it difficult to express his emotions towards Lennie, as he can’t think of anything nicer to say. At the same time, George thinks that he is better than Lennie (even though he is defending him) because he says that he isn’t clever, implying that he is to have the right to say it. So he is selling them both to the boss at the same time.

“He figures he got you scared and he’s gonna sock you at the first chance he gets”

Who says it to whom? George to Lennie

What does it refer to? Curley trying to start on Lennie

What do we learn from it? We learn that Curley is a manipulative man that uses his position at the ranch as a way to control others. It also shows the extent of George’s concern for Lennie, as George admits earlier in the quote to being ‘scared.’ This all goes to show that George and Lennie have a father-son relationship, as George is constantly looking out for Lennie.

“So he reaches out to feel this red dress an’ the girl lets out a sqwuark”

Who says it to whom? George to Slim

What does it refer to? What happened in Weed

What do we learn from it? We learn about what happened in Weed. This quote also foreshadows the death of Curley’s wife, as she dies in a similar way to this, when Lennie won’t let go of her dress. The way that George says ‘sqwuark’ suggests that he thinks the girl was overreacting and shouldn’t have screamed like she did. ‘Sqwuark’ has connotations with birds, and hunting. When Lennie snaps Curley’s wife’s neck, she is killed as you would kill a bird after hunting. This almost compares the girls to Lennie’s prey. This quote also shows the trust that Slim instils in the other men, as George is willing to tell him all about what happened.

“Got a luger”

Who says it to whom? Carlson to Candy

What does it refer to? The shooting of Candy's dog

What do we learn from it? This foreshadows Lennie’s death, as he is killed with Carlson’s luger. When Carlson is talking about it in relation to the dog, he says that he will shoot it in the back of the head and that it ‘won’t hurt him none at all.’ This basically spells out what is going to happen to Lennie, as it is George’s intention to kill Lennie painlessly.

“When they can me here I wisht somebody’d shoot me”

Who says it to whom? Candy to George

What does it refer to? Candy's dog

What do we learn from it? This shows that Candy knows that he is reaching the end of his time at the ranch, and he knows that the best and kindest thing for him would be to be put down. Nobody would do this, though, as he is a human and not a dog. This quote shows the depth of Candy’s depression and worry about the future.

 

“dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags it paws”

Who says it to whom? The Narrator about Lennie

What does it refer to? Lennie having animalistic characteristics

What can we learn from it? We learn that Lennie has animalistic qualities. This suggests that he has a lot of strength, as is associated with the animal.

“Trouble with mice is you always kill ‘em”

Who says it to whom? George to Lennie

What does it refer to? Lennie's enjoyment of petting small things

What can we learn from it? That Lennie has a lot of strength and is not very good at looking after things because of it. It suggests that Lennie has had many mice and each one has ended in death, which foreshadows the fact that Lennie has the ability to kill.

“we’re gonna get a jack together and  …live off the fatta the lan’”

Who says it to whom? Lennie to George

What does it refer to? The Dream

What can we learn from it? We learn that Lennie and George have a plan for what they are going to do, which has been thought out in a lot of detail. This suggests that the thought of it brings them comfort, as they have talked about it a lot.

“if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come right here an’ hide in the brush.”

Who says it to whom? George to Lennie

What does it refer to? The fact that Lennie will do something bad at some point

What can we learn from it? We learn that Lennie has systematically done something bad in every place that he has been. George now knows to tell Lennie what to do in advance because he knows that something is going to happen like it has everywhere else. This foreshadows what will happen after the death of Curley’s wife.

 

“They let the nigger come in that night”

Who says it to whom? Candy to George

What does it refer to? It refers to Crooks being allowed to come into the bunk house and the subject of racism.

What can we learn from it? We learn about the racism that was around in those times, and how Crooks was usually ostracised from the other workers because of his race, but was allowed to go into the bunk house for a drink with the others at Christmas, which was very rare. This reflects the times that the book was set in. 

“The old man came slowly into the room…And at his heels there walked a drag-footed sheep dog, gray of muzzle, and with pale, blind old eyes.”

Who says it to whom? Narrator about Candy and his dog

What does it refer to? The age of the dog

What can we learn from it? From this we can learn that the dog’s age is affecting his health. This also refers to Candy, because he is in the same sort of situation as his dog. This demonstrates a type of rare friendship that is apparent in the Candy/dog relationship, as they are still best friends even though they are both old and useless. 

“His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch.”

Who says it to whom? Narrator about Curley

What does it refer to? Refers to Curley's standoffish attitude 

What can we learn from it? From this we can learn that Curley is threatening and is going to be a lot of trouble to everyone else at some point in the story. From the way that he is stood, we know that he is trying to act like he is a force to be reckoned with. Curley is bracing himself by crouching slightly, as if he is ready to attack. 

“Curley’s married a tart”

What does it refer to? This refers to Curley's wife

What can we learn from it? We learn that none of the men have any respect for Curley’s wife, and she has a negative reputation. This reflects the time, as sexism was very common in the 1930s.

“He moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty”

Who says it to whom? Narrator about Slim

What does it refer to? This refers to Slim’s power and superiority over the other men.

What can we learn from it? We learn that Slim is considered like a God by the other men on the ranch, and is held with a lot of respect. This suggests that he is at the top of the hierarchy, and has earned the respect of everyone else. 

“He jus’ wanted to touch that red dress, like he wants to pet them pups all the time.”

Who says it to whom? George to Slim

What does it refer to? The incident that happened in Weed

What can we learn from it? We learn from this quote that Lennie doesn’t mean to do the things he does, and he doesn’t really know what is happening. It also foreshadows the death of Curley’s wife, because she dies in the same sort of situation. The quote shows George and Lennie’s close bond, as it is as if George is defending Lennie’s actions so that he is not told off for something he couldn’t help.

“Maybe if I give you guys my money, you’ll let me hoe in the garden”

Who says it to whom? Candy to George and Lennie

What does it refer to? The Dream

What can we learn from it? From the quote, we can learn that Candy is desperate for a place where he will be useful and wanted. This is because he is almost begging George and Lennie to let him have a part on their dream ranch (even willing to pay them) just so he can get away from the ranch where he is useless. Candy says ‘maybe you’ll let me’ which suggests that it is not that he can’t do it, but that he has not been allowed to do it. This is probably because a more able-bodied man would have taken his job. 

“I ought to have shot that dog myself”

Who says it to whom? Candy to George

What does it refer to? Candy's dog being put down

What can we learn from it? From the quote, we can learn about how close the bond between Candy and Candy’s dog was. Candy says that he shouldn’t have let a stranger shoot his dog, because he was so close to the dog that he thought that he should have been the one to put it out of its misery in the end. This shows how much Candy loved the dog, and the extent of their friendship. It also foreshadows Lennie’s death, because George shoots Lennie so that it is quick, as opposed to the other men doing it. This shows that Lennie is like the dog, in the way that he and George were good friends and George ultimately ‘put him down.’

“Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier”

Who says it to whom? Narrator about Curley

What does it refer to? Curley's size and angry disposition 

What can we learn from it? From the quote we learn that Curley uses his anger and threatening nature to make up for his lack of height. Terriers are associated with being small and often vicious dogs, and so by referring to Curley as such it suggests that he is the same. By contrast, Lennie is a big and gentle man, like perhaps an Irish wolfhound. Smaller dogs often go for larger dogs as a method of defence because they cannot rely on their size. This is what Curley is doing with Lennie. 

Of Mice And Men- Example Essay (GCSE)

Why are George and Lennie different from the other men?

George and Lennie are different from the other men in many ways.

One way in which they are different is through their friendship. This friendship is shown in the quote 'got kinda used to each other after a little while.' Their friendship sets them apart from other men because travelling alone was normal for the time. OMAM (Of Mice and Men) is set in 1930's America. In that time, loneliness was expected and it was unheard of for men to travel and be friends with one another. This is made apparent throughout the book when different ranch workers ask about their relationship. 'After a little while' suggests that it didn't come naturally to George and Lennie to make friends, which backs up the idea that their thoughts are typical of the time. Although they are best friends, the word 'kinda' shows that George is hesitant to show the extent of his friendship with Lennie, which once again suggests that admitting feelings for people doesn't come naturally to him. These are all typical views of the time.

Another way in which George and Lennie are different is through Lennie's mental disability. In the quote 'I wanna tend rabbits', it is obvious that Lennie's mind works in a more childish way that that of other men. Lennie's mental disability makes him act like a child. The disability sets them apart from the other men because mental disabilities were viewed differently in the 1930s. People with them were often institutionalised, or expected to stay at home about be cared for by a family member. Lennie still works on ranches with George, showing that he isn't like the other men of the time. George likes to keep Lennie's problem under wraps, as he knows that Lennie could be locked up or not given a job because of it. This is why he tells Lennie not to talk to the ranch's boss when they are looking for work. Lennie is demanding, which is shown in the word 'wanna.' This is another childish trait that he has that proves his child like nature and justifies his dependency on George.

A final way that Lennie and George are different to the other men is because all of the other ranch workers had grown to accept that they would be working on ranches their whole life, and they had given up on anything better. George talks about this in this quote: 'With us it ain't like that. We got a future.' Though the other workers have dreams too, the American Dream, they are all quite happy to carry on working and travelling from ranch to ranch. George and Lennie are not like this. They are only working until they have enough money to buy a small farm for themselves. George and Lennie had already worked everything out and knew exactly what they had to do to be able to reach their dream, which makes them different to the majority of other men in 1930's America. George knows this, and that is why he says 'with us it ain't like that.'

A/N- example essays for the GCSE subjects were written when I was studying the books, which was around the Y9-11 mark. My writing has greatly improved since then, but these essays were marked at around an A, so I thought I'd leave them as they were. I find that this gives a more accurate representation of GCSE level work.

Thank you!

Anna xx

Of Mice And Men- Example Essay (GCSE)

Explore the theme of violence and aggression in Of Mice and Men.

Of Mice and Men was set in 1930s America. In this time, The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl had meant that many men lost homes, ranches and agriculture and were forced to migrate in search for work. This created a tense environment on the ranches that the men went to work on, which is presented in the novella.

Physical violence is shown through Curley’s attitude towards the other men. Curley tries to fight Slim for supposedly sleeping with his wife, and then fights Lennie. Steinbeck has chosen to use Curley as the example of violence in the novella because it shows that he is trying to exert his dominance over the other men and make himself look threatening and tough. Curley is described as being like a ‘terrier,’ and George asks ‘what’s he got on his shoulder’ when he first meets him. This shows that he is aggressive right from the beginning, and, when Candy says that Curley has something against ‘big guys,’ it is obvious that most of the violence and aggression from Curley comes from his own insecurities. Carlson is another character that is associated with physical violence. Carlson kills Candy’s dog without hesitation and shows no remorse or empathy after doing so. This shows that men were very much pursuing their own interests and did not care for each other at the time. Steinbeck chose to do this to show the tension on the ranch at the time that the novella was set and how violence was commonplace.

Lennie, though physically violent in some parts of the novella (for example in the fight between him and Curley) does not actually mean to do this. Lennie regrets any violence he take part in. Steinbeck chose to make Lennie in this way to show the difference between Lennie and the other men on the ranch. Lennie does not really know what is going on in the grand scheme of things because of his mental disability, and so he is not as affected by the high tension or attitudes of the other men. George is aggressive but not in a way that is violent. This can be seen when he shouts at Lennie when they are sleeping by the river and tells him that he’d be better off without him. This is a result of the difficulty finding work and the fact that Lennie stops George from holding down a stable job. This fits the context of the novella because it shows the pressure on the migrant workers to find jobs and how easy it was to lose said job. Another character that is aggressive but not so much violent is Crooks, and this can be seen when he shouts at Lennie for coming in his room. Steinbeck chose to make Crooks defensive rather that violent like Curley to show that the bad treatment of Crooks had prevented him from trusting people easily. This fits the context because it reflects the way that segregation and racism in 1930s America caused divides and tension.

Overall, the theme of violence and aggression is prominent in Of Mice and Men, and this is meant to clearly reflect the times that the novella is set in and the difficulties faced in this period.

A/N- example essays for the GCSE subjects were written when I was studying the books, which was around the Y9-11 mark. My writing has greatly improved since then, but these essays were marked at around an A, so I thought I'd leave them as they were. I find that this gives a more accurate representation of GCSE level work. 

Thank you!

Anna xx