TEXT ELEMENTS
You need an organised approach to writing a text response.
You need to:

Know the five key areas of text and how context influences text construction and
development.

Construct a study sheet.

Understand the conventions, terms and features associated with different forms of texts
and their genres.
No matter what type of text you are asked to write you need to able to discuss your texts in
terms of their issues and experiences as well as the five key areas.
FIVE KEY AREAS + CONTEXT
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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CONTEXT
Context refers to the surrounding circumstances and influences on the author and text.
These circumstances include:

Political.

Social.

Educational.

Religious.

Family.

Cultural.

Influential people.

Other experiences.

Economic factors.
Knowing the context of a set text and the author before you read it provides you with an
insight into the background of the texts and the factors that influenced the construction of the
text.
You also need to consider the actual context within the text. For Example: Geographical
location of story/cultural, political and social setting and how it affects the issues and
development of the text.
The Wife of Martin Guerre by Janet Lewis, reveals the role of women in a patriarchal society
in the sixteenth century village of Artigues that is isolated due to its climate and geography.
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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FIVE KEY AREAS OF TEXT
There are 5 key areas you need to consider when studying most literary texts.
Understanding these areas; themes and issues, setting, plot, character, style and how they
influence one another in the construction of the text helps develop your knowledge and
appreciation of the text.
You need to be able to write about your text using these terms. The context acts like an
umbrella over the key areas. Setting, plot, character and style all help to develop and explore
theme. Not all these areas are always covered in every literary text eg. a poem, unless it is a
ballad might not necessarily contain plot.
THEMES AND ISSUES
The themes, issues and messages of a text are central to the purpose of the text. The writer,
film-maker, playwright or poet selects and arranges material in the text to support and
develop their themes. They can refer to the subject of the work.
These themes may be stated directly by a character or in the author’s introduction or title.
The film, Gattaca, explores issues of genetic perfection and conformity in a sterile futuristic
setting.
Because readers have a variety of experiences and therefore interpret texts differently two
people can read the same text and elicit different themes. Knowing the context of the text
and the issues the author is interested in can provide the reader with central themes
beforehand. You need to read the text closely in order to identify and track the development
of themes. See next page for list of themes/issues.
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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COMMON THEMES IN TEXTS
Betrayal of friends and/or family.
Change vs. Continuity
Commitment
Conformity and individuality – One character standing alone.
Cultural conflict
God-made vs. Man-made
Role of women in society
Effect of death on characters
Dependence vs. Independence
Family relationships – Destruction of or building of
Fantasy vs. Reality
Gender
Honour among friends
Discovering identity of self
Jealousy vs. Trust
Man’s justice vs. God’s justice
Loneliness
Power and politics
Racial prejudice
Religion effects family
Sexual Harassment in the workplace
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SETTING
Setting refers to the time and the place including cultural, geographical and historical in
which the text is set eg. The Third Man is set in post World War II Vienna which is crumbling
and run by black market interests.
The setting helps the reader visualise the characters in their environment and can create
expectations and understanding about why characters behave as they do.
This is done more easily in plays and films where you can actually see the setting. When
studying novels it is a good idea to draw labelled sketches of written, physical settings or
arrange your classroom furniture where possible if the text is set indoors. The setting
influences the characters and plot.
PLOT
The plot refers to the events of a text and their order. A plot usually contains some basic
elements and these elements can occur in a variety of structures.
BASIC ELEMENTS OF PLOT
Action:
Introduction of key characters.
Exposition:
Background material provided so that reader feels knowledgeable about
what is happening in text.
Conflict:
Argument, fight, dissatisfaction, unhappiness etc with another character. It
can also be internal. For example: character arguing with his conscience
about something he has done or likely to do.
Complication: When a character is suddenly confronted by an unexpected problem or
unfortunate turn of events. For example: sudden illness.
Rising action: Events that lead up to climax.
Climax:
The ‘highest point’ of a single action or story, the big moment preceding
events seem to lead to. For example: the death of a villain. There can
be more than one climax in a plot.
Resolution:
Coming to terms with problem either by self or with help of others, difficult
choice has been made. For example: friends helping you get over a
death in the family. Solving of a problem.
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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STRUCTURE
The structure of the text is the order in which these events happen. This is deliberately
planned to emphasise the message(s) in the most effective manner.
Possible structures include:
(a)
Chronological – Events arranged according to how they would occur in ‘real time’.
(b)
Retrospective – Events arranged so story begins with final moment.
(c)
Flashbacks – Providing background information where necessary.
(d)
Traditional linear – Beginning, middle and end.
A plot can be simple eg. Boy meets girl, falls in love, she rejects him, he leaves – miserable
ever after. It can also be complex and include sub plots eg. Minor characters indulging in
conflict forming a second, complete story etc. Some texts can be devoid of a plot and
concentrate solely on description of characters or the setting or emotion, as in a poem.
CHARACTERS
Characters are persons or creatures who do and say things in text. They help communicate
the author’s messages and point of view and help develop themes through their actions,
thoughts, feelings, descriptions and dialogue.
Character types you should know include:

Protagonist – Most important character, usually hero, in a drama (play, film) or narrative
(story). For example: Griet in the novel, Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Antagonist – Name given to describe character that is in opposition to hero
(protagonist) in a drama or narrative.

Rounded characters – Fully developed individuals who are capable of complex
emotions and actions and can be unpredictable.

Flat characters – One-sided and are based around a single identifying trait. For
Example: Revenge. The reader sees only this trait about the character and no other
sides.
A character can be the narrator of the story. For example: In Gattaca.
When this is the case the reader is presented with only one perspective and it is important
for the reader to be aware of the possible limitations of the narrator.
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STYLE
Style is made up of the following elements and they all influence one another.

Language.

Tone.

Form and genre.

Point of view.

Film techniques.
Authors write using the elements of style that enables them to convey their message(s), to
the audience they want, in a manner that is effective.
Bruce Dawe, the poet, writes in a direct, uncomplicated style using a lot of Australian
vernacular. This gives him what is termed a ‘common man’ voice, which can enable a larger
audience to relate to his messages.
Authors from the nineteenth century employed a far more wordy style with emphasis on
description rather than action. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is an example of this
style.
LANGUAGE AND EXPRESSION
The intended audience and purpose of the text influence the author’s style by determining
the choice of language needed to suit the audience so that it understands the purpose and
messages conveyed.
Authors can choose to use colloquial, jargon, personal, formal language depending on their
audience and purpose. To make their characters convincing they choose language people
from that time would have spoken. For example, in Garry Disher’s novel, Divine Wind uses
some language we would consider racist. Shakespeare’s distinctive style reflects the
language spoken at the time and was what his audiences expected.
TONE
Tone indicates the author’s attitude towards his subject matter including characters, themes,
institutions etc. Tone is a characteristic of voice. In plays and films this can be demonstrated
by changes in an actor’s voice and manner. In writing the author uses language to indicate
tone. Some common tones used by writers include:
Curious, joyful, cautious, regretful, guilty, thoughtful, aggressive, positive, negative, fearful,
bored, shocked.
(See more examples in Language Analysis section.)
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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POINT OF VIEW
Point of view is the perspective from which a text is seen or told. You need to ask yourself,
‘who is telling the story?’
Three principal points of view most commonly used are:

The first person narrator in which the point of view is solely that of the character telling
the story.

They may be a central or minor character who either observes or participates in the
action. A first person narrator cannot see into the minds of the other characters. This
device significantly reduces the reader’s sense of author’s presence in the text.

The point of view of a single character who is used by the author as a central observer
or participant in the action (third person narrative).

The omniscient (godlike) point of view enables the writer to present the inner thoughts
and feelings of his characters. The narrator has no part in story.
FORM AND GENRE/TEXT TYPE
An author chooses the form and genre/text type that enables them to best communicate
their message(s). An author needs to know the conventions of their chosen form and genre
and to feel comfortable writing in it.
Genre conventions include:

Types of characters

Storylines

Settings

Themes

Film techniques

Music

Iconography – costume and props
The different forms in VCE selected texts are: Play, novel, short story, film and poetry.
Different text types include; horror, naturalistic drama, historical drama, war, biographical,
autobiographical, science fiction etc.
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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FILM TERMS AND TECHNIQUES
Term or technique
Definition
Example/effect
Camera shots
Camera angles
Camera movement
Framing
Mise-en-scene
Lighting
Iconography
Soundtrack
Editing
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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TEXT CHEAT SHEET
 Andrea Hayes Cambridge Checkpoints 2009 VCE English Units 3 & 4 p21
Title:
Author:
Themes
(3-5)
Main characters
(3-4)
Plot
(8-10)
identify TPs
Setting(s)
Cultural, historical,
social
Style features
POV, language, film
techniques, tone,
genre
(3-5)
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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VOCABULARY LIST
Advertise
Dramatically
Outweigh
Apostrophe
Deceptive
Opportunities
Aggressive
Disadvantages
Onomatopoeia
Approximately
Dogmatic
Particular
Argument
Dialogue
Political
Alteration
Domineering
Pragmatic
Admirable
Downtrodden
Presence
Amiable
Difficult
Personally
Apprehensive
Extraordinary
Personification
Ardent
Expression
Philosophical
Argumentative
Especially
Peculiar
Assertive
Emotional
Preposition
Authentic
Flattering
Resolution
Benefit
Happy
Religious
Bizarre
Horrendous
Resilient
Behaviour
Inexperienced
Sanctimonious
Biased
Ignorant
Self-Interested
Beginning
Immoral
Sinful
Contemplating
Improbability
Seriously
Compulsory
Intelligent
Solution
Character
Interesting
Themes
Challenging
Incompetent
Technology
Communication
Licence (Noun)
Technically
Cliché
Leisure
Terminates
Charming
Malevolent
Tolerant
Courageous
Minimum
Treacherous
Cowardly
Materialistic
Timid
Consonant
Manipulative
Unforgiving
Circumspect
Merciless
Unctuous
Considered
Militant
Uncivilised
Consequences
Malleable
Undoubtedly
Chauvinist
Meticulous
Unbiased
Compelling
Moral
Unjust
Captivating
Melancholy
Wicked
Comma
Motive
Wise
Conclusion
Mischief
Weight
Continuous
Marriage
Weather
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The Essentials – Year 11 English
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ACTIVITY
Write as many alternatives as you can to ‘says’ in the target below.
SAY
S
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