Aug 14 2007
Changing Perspectives – related material
You need to find three related texts that express/represent change in some way.
You may include a poem, song lyrics, a photograph, an advertisement, an extract, a short story, a novel, an article, a web page or a book cover.
Answer the following questions:
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text?
Language features may include:
- whole text (extended metaphors, imagery, symbolism, irony, repetition etc)
- paragraphs (extended metaphors, repetition etc)
- sentences (metaphors, similes etc)
- words (onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc)
Contrasts- (before and after)
Emotive language
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
Complete for prep
DUE FRIDAY PERIOD 2
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Like a Rolling Stone
Bob Dylan
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
Peopled call, say, beware doll, you’re bound to fall
You thought they were all kiddin’ you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin’ out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You’ve gone to the finest school all right, miss lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you’re gonna have to get used to it
You said you’d never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He’s not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it aint no good
You shouldn’t let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Aint it hard when you discover that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal.
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They’re drinkin’, thinkin’ that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you’d better lift your diamond ring, you’d better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you cant refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now; you got no secrets to conceal.
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
What is the form of the text? And what change is evident in it?
The text is a song written by Bob Dylan and the change that is evident in it is the unexpected change that occurs only after it is unexpected.
Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
The purpose of the text is to discuss the merits of unexpected change, it also applies a contrast between two realities; the first reality being how the subject of the text grew up, “the finest school” and “dressed so fine allude to this, and the second reality being the one where she is now, “Scrounging for your next meal” and “no direction home” point to this. The composer also looks at the positives of this eventuation “when you got nothing, you got nothing to lose”, this gives us an insight into the thoughts of the author and tells us that they value change, even though they realize it can be negative.
The audiences of this text are all people who listen to music. Principally people who think, “They’ve got it made” because the text addresses that idea very thoroughly.
Bob Dylan created this text in 1965 as a part of his album ‘Highway 61 revisited’. It was created at a time where Bob was having mixed audience receptions and the world as a whole seemed to be unstable and out of control, it was the height of the Vietnam War and the cold war, not only was pop music changing and losing its direction but so was the entire world, this sentiment was expressed in the line “no direction home”.
What are the language features and structure of the text?
• The performer addresses the subject clearly and directly at the beginning of most lines in the song, this serves to help the performer strike to your conscious and the emotive language features also helps this.
• The imagery that is presented in this text is very strong and helps convey the contrast that the text puts across.
• There is a lot of irony in the text in the way of the contrast between the ‘educated, young, innocent girl’ and the girl now living hard on the streets.
• There is a significant amount of repetition in the text to convey the imagery that the author wants us to see, words like “you” and phrases such as “How does it feel?” are repeated numerous times.
How are these techniques used to represent the concept of change?
The concept of change is represented mainly through the contrast that the text represents in the world and the authors environment at the time. This contrast centers mainly on the irony that is present in the deeply contrasting situations and how the expectation related to change was polarized in this case. The subject in the text didn’t expect to have changed in this manner, and is anguished because of it. The author also directly addresses the subject to appeal to the problems in our life; in what areas of our life we are “complete unknown”.
Text- “Fireshadow”- By Anthony Eaton
1. The form of this text is a novel. The change evident in it is physical change in the surrounding environment, emotional change in the characters and social change.
2. I think that the purpose of the text is to entertain while informing through thee underlying meaning and theme to the story. I believe that the target audience is teens to mid 20’s. This way the readers can read the book and not see the underlying message if they chose to but if they want they can really read into the underlying message and themes. The context of this novel is both modern times as well as during WWII in a prisoner camp.
3. Structures of this text that catch the eye are the way that the writer switches with ease between the two separate stories, in different time periods, without ruining the separate stories and their individual contexts.
Language features in this text are the extended metaphor of the car crash, as the crash of his world. This metaphor is all through the book as he continually refers to it when he says he can’t be normal again because of it. As well as this the scar on his face symbolises the way that he was forced to CHANGE. In the WWII side of the story the forest in which they live has personification. Eg when they say, “it is watching and it is listening.” “Holds them like a mother”
4. These techniques are used to represent change in several ways. With the switching of time periods it shows the physical change that has happened to the environment. With the extended metaphor and the symbolism it shows how Vinnie has emotionally changed from the crash. Also with the forest having personification it shows how at first they are scared of their new home as prisoners of war but soon change to feel as if it is helping them, not keeping them prisoner. With this it also shows social change of the prisoners feeling that they need to try and fight still to accepting that they can’t do anything and just accepting their fate.
Text- Changes by David Bowie
1. The form of this text is a song and the change evident in it is mental change.
2. The purpose of this text is to entertain. The song is designed for people to listen to, though it has themes and an underlying message that the song is based on. I think that the target audience was the younger generation, as they are the ones that listen to that music and they are the ones that need to be warned about not accepting change. The context of this song is basically modern times.
3. The structure of this song is 3 verses with a chorus repeated 3 times. Language feature of this text is the repetition of word “Changes”. This gets his message across easily and clearly without the opportunity for people to get confused about what the message trying to be given is. I also think that “I watch the ripples change their size, but never leave the stream” is a metaphor of the fact that his aspirations got bigger and bigger but never made him happy.
4. This technique is used to get the concept of change across as it really puts emphasis on the word “change” therefore easily getting the message of change across to the audience without confusion. This combined by the metaphor shows how he worked hard to get what he though he wanted but he never got what he wanted, showing him he needed to change.
Text- Tomorrow, when the war began by John Marsden
1. The form of this text is a novel. The types of change evident in this text are physical, and emotional change.
2. I believe the purpose of this text is to purely entertain, as it is a fictional novel. Though under this I believe there is the message that we have to watch our backs and that just because everything seems to be a t peace doesn’t mean there is. The audience I believe is teens to probably around mid twenties, as at these ages they will still like a good fiction. The context of this text is modern day.
3. In this book I think that the war and the way that Teens are fighting it is symbolistic of the way that modern society seems to think that kids aren’t old enough to make their own choices and need adults there to help. Though when the adults are taken and the kids are left to fight it shows that it is the adults that will eventually need the kids. I think this shows that kids ARE the next generation and when the adults are old they and the world will be in the kids hands. I think this shows that time will change all.
4. I think that this presents the concept of change through time. Over time what is said above will happen and you WILL change and grow old and the kids will become adults and the change is inevitable with no way to change that. The symbolism of the war shows this really well.
Blind Melon- Change
I dont feel the suns comin out today
Its staying in, its gonna find another way.
As I sit here in this misery, I dont
Think Ill ever see the sun from here.
And oh as I fade away,
Theyll all look at me and say, and theyll say,
Hey look at him! Ill never live that way.
But thats okay
Theyre just afraid to change.
When you feel your life aint worth living
Youve got to stand up and
Take a look around you then a look way up to the sky.
And when your deepest thoughts are broken,
Keep on dreaming boy, cause when you stop dreamin its time to die.
And as we all play parts of tomorrow,
Some ways will work and other ways well play.
But I know we all cant stay here forever,
So I want to write my words on the face of today.
And then they’ll paint it
And oh as I fade away,
They’ll all look at me and they’ll say,
Hey look at him and where he is these days.
When life is hard, you have to change.
1.What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The from of the text is song lyrics, what is evident in it is that change is for the better and if you do not change then you may as well die because “the day you stop dreaming is the day you day”.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
the purpose of the text is to change and open your eye’s up to change and when life gets you down you have to change. The audience is everyone that listens to the song. The context of this song Is irrelevant because change is timeless and that is what the composer is trying to get at, that no matter what happens one will always have to do it.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text? Language features may include: - whole text (extended metaphors, imagery, symbolism, irony, repetition etc) - paragraphs (extended metaphors, repetition etc) - sentences (metaphors, similes etc) - words (onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc) Contrasts- (before and after) Emotive language
This song use before and after well to convey its point of change. For the first stanza the use a extended metaphor saying that the composer does not change and no one will remember him because he has lived such a conservative life. He also use the sun and his house as a metaphor.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
The concepts of change in “change” by blind melon is good to change because people will remember you for being an idealist. The son g is saying change and people will remember you for being cool and a free sprit, whilst if you don’t change people will look at you and go yuck, look at him.
me and all my friends
we’re all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there’s no way we ever could
now we see everything that’s going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don’t have the means
to rise above and beat it
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
it’s hard to beat the system
when we’re standing at a distance
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
now if we had the power
to bring our neighbors home from war
they would have never missed a Christmas
no more ribbons on their door
and when you trust your television
what you get is what you got
cause when they own the information, oh
they can bend it all they want
that’s why we’re waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
it’s not that we don’t care,
we just know that the fight ain’t fair
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
and we’re still waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
one day our generation
is gonna rule the population
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change
John Mayer
What is the form of the text?
What change is evident in it?
Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text
One of the texts that I have chose to write about is the song “waiting on the world to change” by John Mayer. I believe that this particular text has qualities that identify change in a way that is simple and straightforward to understand. Briefly, the song is about a figure in society, in this case being John Mayer, being pushed and shoved by society in a way that doesn’t allow im to cast his thoughts about the problems of the current world. In the ending part of the text the writer says that one day his generation will rule the population, indicating that this will be the turning point of society in his eyes. It explores that fact that even though he and the people he interacts with know that the world has problems, they cannot voice their thoughts as the “superpower”, in this case being politics and media, are always hindering their ideas. The use of repetition is used to reinforce the concept that they are waiting on the world to change with the feeling of being completely powerless. Similar to repetition but the use of imagery is prominent in this text as the words that are used to construct this text build a mental picture in your mind and gives you a personal feeling about their troubles and what is going to happen.
The second text that I wish to write about comes from a website about how people can change no matter what his or hers past is like. In the image below consists of a spiral staircase, alone the staircase there are many signs with words on them indication many decisions that we as humans have to make to achieve something. I believe that the staircase is there to resemble the journey of life, as life is never easy, shown by the steep staircase and the spiral illustrates to us that life is also unpredictable and anything can happen in any order. The signposts along the way show to us that there are many decisions that we as humans make, and between the signs there are arrows in the direction of up and down the stairs. This I believe is the imagery that we can make a decision and that decision will result in going up or down in the quest for achievement. This picture uses simple but effective imagery for example with the clouds and the staircase reaching up into the sky.
2Pac – Changes
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
Changes is a song that features the need to change in low-income areas in the USA.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
This song is a protest against the government’s policies of where and what to spend money on. While the USA is putting millions into defence, there are huge social problems in the ghettos and instead of fighting poverty, they are fighting drugs. The audience would be the majority of American youth as 2pac was one of the most influential singers in the 1990’s.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text?
There is great use of imagery in this text. “I see no changes all I see is racist faces” “2 shots in the dark now Huey’s dead”. Repetition is also very strong in this text with each verse starting with “I see no changes”
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
It is emphasising these problems that need immediate attention. This song is not dealing with an actual change but what needs to happen in the future.
John Mayer – Waiting on the World to Change
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
Again this song is not addressing a change but instead of what needs to happen. This is addressing the population’s attitudes towards war of how if it was up to the population, there would be no soldiers away.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
This song is addressing the population’s attitudes on war but also how it is out of their power to do anything about it. John Mayer is an extremely popular singer today so this song would be attracting a very broad audience. This is a relatively new song so the context is today.
3. What is the language techniques used to present the concept of change?
Repetition is used quite extensively throughout. This gives a very strong and clear message using high modality. It is also using imperative voice to a certain extent.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
The chorus is “So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change We keep on waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change It’s hard to beat the system When we’re standing at a distance So we keep waiting (waiting) Waiting on the world to change”
Pink – Dear Mr. President
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
This song is addressing what American society has come to and what social issues they now have to fix.
2. Identify the audience, purpose and context of this text.
Pink is a quite controversial singer today and her songs quite often appear in the Top 40 charts. This song has only been released for around a month so the context is relevant to issues society is fighting today. The purpose of this song is to identify the social problems that exist within modern American society and ask why the government is not addressing them. Not only this she is also challenging social values as accepting people no matter what sexuality they are.
3. What are the language techniques used to present the concept of change?
Imagery is used strongly. this gives a clear and concise view of where she stands and why she has these views. There are also a lot of rhetorical questions. These give the affect of questioning the system and what has become of modern America.
4. How are these concepts used to represent the concept of change?
These effects are showing what american society has come to today and demonstrating how the government needs to but wont address and help resolve these social problems.
Text 1) Gattaca
1) The text is in the form of a movie and the change that is evident in this text is an emotional change in the form of and identity change
2) The context of this text is that it is in the future when the genetically superior are treated as the upper class and the “non valid” or “Christ births” treated as lower class. The audience for this movie is a very savvy one most probably aimed at adults with a lot of tertiary education. The purpose of this text is to confront the idea of genetic superiority as a “non valid” was able to pose as a genetically superior and enter the genetically elite as an impostor.
3) There is a lot of imagery, symbolism, irony and metaphors in this text because it is a movie. Some of these include a trial of strength and endurance that the “non valid” beat his “superior” brother in by swimming out further into the ocean and his brother gives up first. This is ironic in the way that “superiority” was not achieved at birth.
4) Juxtaposing a “non valid” next to a “superior” and seeing that they are not so superior in the end.
Text 2) “The times they are a-changin’” Bob Dylan
1) This text is in the form of a song and it is foreseeing a change in society
2) The purpose of the text is to warn about the coming change “come senators and congressmen please heed the call”
3) Throughout the text there is rhyme, metaphor “you better start swimming or you will sink like a stone” There is repetition of the chorus “the times they are a-changin”. Bob Dylan uses a lot of different metaphors for the same thing which is a social upheaval: “The loser now will later to win”, “The line is drawn the curse it is cast, the slow one now will later be fast”, “The present now will later be past, The order is rapidly fading”, “The first one now will later be fast”.
4) These Techniques present the concept of change by stating quite bluntly what he perceives through metaphor and rhyme, “you better start swimming or you will sink like a stone” not only bluntly states what he perceives but also quite bluntly tells the listener a course of action.
Text 3) “Dazed and confused”- Led zeppelin
1) This text is in the form of a song and the change that is evident in it is an emotional change evident in the quote: “sweet little baby I want you again”
2) “Led zeppelin” were around in the late ‘60’s early ‘70’s and this song is aimed at the youth of that time. The purpose of this song is to express the inner anguish of the songwriter.
3) The most used feature in this song is rhyme i.e. “Been dazed and confused for so long it’s not true, Wanted a woman never bargained for you, Lots of people talking few of them know, Soul of a woman was created below”. This song is quite forward in its language using a lot of pros i.e. “everyday I work so hard brining home my hard earned pay, try to love you baby but you push me away” is very plain language.
4) These techniques are used very simply to put across a very simple change, which is his attitude toward the girl. The use of rhyme is very effective to get his anguish though quite effectively.
Come on come on
I see no changes wake up in the morning and I ask myself
is life worth living should I blast myself?
I’m tired of bein’ poor & even worse I’m black
my stomach hurts so I’m lookin’ for a purse to snatch
Cops give a damn about a negro
pull the trigger kill a nigga he’s a hero
Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares
one less hungry mouth on the welfare
First ship ‘em dope & let ‘em deal the brothers
give ‘em guns step back watch ‘em kill each other
It’s time to fight back that’s what Huey said
2 shots in the dark now Huey’s dead
I got love for my brother but we can never go nowhere
unless we share with each other
We gotta start makin’ changes
learn to see me as a brother instead of 2 distant strangers
and that’s how it’s supposed to be
How can the Devil take a brother if he’s close to me?
I’d love to go back to when we played as kids
but things changed, and that’s the way it is
[Bridge w/ changing ad libs]
Come on come on
That’s just the way it is
Things’ll never be the same
That’s just the way it is
aww yeah
[Repeat]
[2]
I see no changes all I see is racist faces
misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under I wonder what it takes to make this
one better place, let’s erase the wasted
Take the evil out the people they’ll be acting right
’cause both black and white is smokin’ crack tonight
and only time we chill is when we kill each other
it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other
And although it seems heaven sent
We ain’t ready, to see a black President, uhh
It ain’t a secret don’t conceal the fact
the penitentiary’s packed, and it’s filled with blacks
But some things will never change
try to show another way but you stayin’ in the dope game
Now tell me what’s a mother to do
bein’ real don’t appeal to the brother in you
You gotta operate the easy way
“I made a G today” But you made it in a sleazy way
sellin’ crack to the kid. ” I gotta get paid,”
Well hey, well that’s the way it is
[Bridge]
[Talking:]
We gotta make a change…
It’s time for us as a people to start makin’ some changes.
Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live
and let’s change the way we treat each other.
You see the old way wasn’t working so it’s on us to do
what we gotta do, to survive.
[3]
And still I see no changes can’t a brother get a little peace
It’s war on the streets & the war in the Middle East
Instead of war on poverty they got a war on drugs
so the police can bother me
And I ain’t never did a crime I ain’t have to do
But now I’m back with the facts givin’ it back to you
Don’t let ‘em jack you up, back you up,
crack you up and pimp smack you up
You gotta learn to hold ya own
they get jealous when they see ya with ya mobile phone
But tell the cops they can’t touch this
I don’t trust this when they try to rush I bust this
That’s the sound of my tool you say it ain’t cool
my mama didn’t raise no fool
And as long as I stay black I gotta stay strapped
& I never get to lay back
‘Cause I always got to worry ’bout the pay backs
some punk that I roughed up way back
comin’ back after all these years
rat-tat-tat-tat-tat that’s the way it is uhh
[Bridge 'til fade]
What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The form of this text is a song by 2pac by the name of ‘Changes’. The change that is evident in it is simple. It is depicting the changes that need to be made by humans to get rid of all the inequalities in the world such as racism, conflict and any other inequalities there are.
Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
The purpose of the text is to address the audience, people in the age of 15 – 35, about the effects of inequalities. The purpose is to show everyone in the audience that these problems are happening constantly.
What are the language features and structure of the text?
Language features may include:
- whole text (extended metaphors, imagery, symbolism, irony, repetition etc)
- paragraphs (extended metaphors, repetition etc)
- sentences (metaphors, similes etc)
- words (onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc)
- Contrasts- (before and after) Emotive language
Colloquial language is used throughout the text as is imagery and metaphors.
How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
They are used to present the concept of change. This is because the colloquial language used will engage the intended audience and keep them engaged. Also, this form of language is simpler and easier for many people to understand, therefore more people will engage and understand what the message is.
Rush of blood to the head
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
This text is a song by coldplay. It discusses how society has changed and how what we accept is normal in society is a lot different now.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
The purpose of this text is to entertain, and the audience is the younger generation. The context is now so it is relevant to our society now. This text focuses on changes in society. I believe it is explaining how irrational society is these days. The line at the end of each verse is “ blame it on a rush of blood to the head”, which represents irrational actions. This could be eluding to drugs in society and they impact they make or children with add pills. It mentions the violence of society with war ever present, and how people start wars over nothing. It also visits how people often forced and pressured into believing or doing something.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text?
The structure of the text is strophic form with verse and chorus. Language features include whole text with a chorus being repeated after each verse. Emotive language is used to create feeling.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
The imagery in the text creates the picture the artist wants to convey about society. Irony is used to emphasise the problems.
Change, the inevitable.
Change is to one man the death of a friend,
To another the birth of a child.
Change is the shifting of soft winds of spring,
to a hurricane deadly and wild.
Change is the moving of the hourglass sands,
It’s the coming of dawn after dark.
Change is taking one step at a time,
The emotion in each persons heart.
But change in the end, will not change at all
It’s the one constant in everyone’s lives
Change is the light at the end of the tunnel
The healer who opens our eyes.
Jake Harris
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The text is a poem called “Change , the inevitable”. It discusses the variety of change and how change is different for different people.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
The purpose of the text is to discuss how change is always occurring. The audience is most likely people who enjoy poems or english students like myself. The context is contemporary. This text is discussing how change is always occurring, whether it is the simple change of the coming of dawn or dusk, or the birth of a child into the world, change is inevitable.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text?
This poem uses imagery constantly throughout the text eg. “a hurricane deadly and wild”. There is also repetition throughout the text, the words “change is the” start every sentence. Symbolism is used in the text as the different changes are symbolising something eg. change can be the start or end of life.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
Symbolism is used to represent change with the start of new life or the end of life. Imagery represents how change takes it form and how it can appear in any circumstance.
Changes David Bowie
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The of the text is a song in a pop format. The song is about change in society. The song discusses how we are changed through time both physically and mentally. We see things from a different perspective.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
The purpose of the text is to discuss how we won’t be the same forever and we need to be prepared for the future when things won’t be the same. The audience is younger people who will be affected by this change in the future. David bowie is warning them that rock and roll won’t be around forever and he says “oh, look out you rock and rollers” to say this.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text?
There is great imagery in the text. the second verse is very figurative and creates an image. He uses the image of a river to discuss how people are unwilling to change and follow the crowd. The song is written in strophic form with verse and chorus.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
The use of symbolism is use to represent change. For example the use of the ripples in the stream represent the crowd. The use of repetition is the probably the main way that the concept of change is present. This is done by ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.
Anberlin Change the World
• What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The form of the text is a song, written by a Christian band called Anberlin. The change is evident, as the title suggests, change the world
• Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text?
The purpose of this text is to encourage Christians to do something about their faith. To get out there and change the world, by bringing people to know Christ. The intended audience would be teenages and inparticular Christian teenagers.
The context of the song describes in the first verse how we will only find pain in this world. Pain will live on and on. The chorus repeats that we are lost. We are the lost ones, we are the lost ones.This is stating that we are lost but can still change the world and rewrite history through God. We could strike the chord is saying that we could make a sound, a difference.
The secound verse states that things of this life will fade. Who needs them anyway?. It states this by using metaphors of bottles and and desire. Finishing the verse by saying There’s more to life than this, Don’t give yourself away
• What are the language features and structure of the text? Language features may include: - whole text (extended metaphors, imagery, symbolism, irony, repetition etc) - paragraphs (extended metaphors, repetition etc) - sentences (metaphors, similes etc) - words (onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc) Contrasts- (before and after) Emotive language
The song uses many language features, such as: metaphors, The bottle holds no answers and we could strike the chord. repetition Don’t give yourself away, don’t give yourself away, This line is also imperative voice. Emotive language is always used as they sing with great passion. I would list these rhymes that mean everything to me
• How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
These techniques don’t represent the concept of change but encourage change. Change is represnted as a good thing which should be taking place in the world. The language features show this through clever metaphor
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
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1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a novel about a boy who lived in Afghanistan in the period of the 1970’s. When the Soviets invade Afghanistan he and his father flee to Pakistan and later to the West Coast of the United States. He returns to Afghanistan later to rescue his old friends son, who is being held captive by the Taliban.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
The purpose of this text is to demonstrate how people will always be re-visited by things they have done in the past, usually bad. In this case Amir the main character betrays his old friend his when they were kids living in Afghanistan and now his friend is dead and his son is being held captive by the Taliban. The audience of this text is anyone who has ever felt compelled to go back in their past and put things right. Also it would appeal to those who thought that all Afghani’s where Muslim terrorists.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text? Language features may include: - whole text (extended metaphors, imagery, symbolism, irony, repetition etc) - paragraphs (extended metaphors, repetition etc) - sentences (metaphors, similes etc) - words (onomatopoeia, alliteration, etc) Contrasts- (before and after) Emotive language
The main language feature of the text is the symbolism and imagery used by Hosseini of Afghanistan and the main characters involved. For example later in life to Amir Afghanistan represents his homeland but also where the trouble in the world is at the moment. When he returns to Afghanistan to rescue his best friend son, the son represents his old friend who has been killed.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
These techniques represent change by describing the context of the text. He shows how the world has changed and the relationships with the people who he once knew. By using symbolism he represents the changes he has experienced over his lifetime. When Amir returns to Afghanistan he repairs the damage he left when he moved to the United States. The techniques demonstrate how Amir is really feeling and how the change affected him.
John Mayer: Waiting on the World to Change
• What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The form of this text is a song. Change is evident in it as it speaks throughout the song whole text about waiting on the world to change.
• Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text?
The purpose of this text is to suggest that there is something wrong with the world. It talks about how there is something wrong with the world but it is hard to bet so, hang in there are wait. Waiting on the world to change.
The audience of the text is teenagers, as the song genre is popular among teenagers.
The context of the text sates that he is trying to change the world but is finding it hard as he doesn’t have the power, so he is content in waiting on the world to change,
• What are the language features and structure of the text?
The text doesn’t use many features. Repetition is use regularly as the main line. So we keep on waiting, waiting on the world to change. The structure is very simple with simple rhyming.
• How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
There are not many techniques used, so therefore I realize this text was not a suitable choice.
Repetition is used to show that change is necessary, and that they are waiting for that change
Season of Change: By Butterfly
• What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The form of this text is a poem. Change is clearly shown, as the others are in the title. The poem describes relational change between two close friends.
• Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text?
The purpose of this text is to express feelings of sorrow, with a relational breakup. This simple poem was written by a young girl who had just experienced a falling out with a close friend. The audience of this text would be teenagers experiencing the same feelings.
• What are the language features and structure of the text?
Rhetorical questions are used at the start of the poem. Why am I so different?
What did I ever do? Emotive language is found throughout the text You were my friend, when times were blue. It uses simple rhyming such as blue and through.
• How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
The concept of change is represented as a bad thing. The writer wishes it to be as it used to be, but now the relationship has changed.
“Friends” The Things They Carried By Tim O’Brien
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
“Friends” is a short story by Tim O’Brian, which articulates a change of heart in a character, who decides against killing his terminally injured friend.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
This short story comes from a book called “The Things They Carried”. This is a collection of fictional short stories, written in 1990, about a platoon of American soldiers in the Vietnam War. I don’t believe there is a specific audience for the text, however I feel that it will be read mainly by older males, especially returned veterans. The main purpose of the extract may be to entertain the reader, however there is also a message about how a change of perspective causes a change of decision.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text?
The text is a recount of past events, which gives the language a different feel. It The language used in this extract is mainly colloquial, making the message clear and simple to understand. The lack of figurative and emotive language is, itself, a technique used to emphasise the main idea. Irony is a main feature of the end, as the injured character passes away soon after his friend has decided against killing him. To add to this, Jenson feels relieved at the news of Strunk’s death, feeling that his friend had escaped further suffering.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
These techniques help to present the concept of change by evoking certain emotions in the reader. The lack of metaphorical language is used to really bring out the starkness of the story, and thus express
Changes by David Bowie
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
“Changes” is a song that expresses the idea that we may yearn for change, but when we finally get where what we want, it is never as good as we had expected. “Every time I thought I’d got it made, It seemed the taste was not so sweet”
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
The purpose is to inform the listeners of how change can affect us, in ways we don’t expect. The target audience is mostly younger people, who normally listen to such music, however it was written in the 1980’s, so more of the 30-40 age group will be targeted as well.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text?
The song contains 5 stanzas. 3 choruses and 2 verses. The choruses change slightly each time. The language throughout is highly figurative, with the composer employing many literary devices in order to better convey his ideas. These include many 1-2 line metaphors, repetition, and personification. Much obvious repetition is used in the chorus. Eg: “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes”. Symbolism is used in the middle stanza, where people trying to become the best, are represented by ripples in water, spreading out, getting bigger, but never actually getting anywhere. of the ripples getting bigger, but never getting anywhere, which represents people struggling to get to the top, but they never see that it isn’t worth it. The sense of irony throughout the song, that people dream of becoming the best, but that they don’t see how bad it is, being the best, is portrayed well.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
All these techniques help make the song more enjoyable, and allow the listener to get a clearer understanding of the text and the ideas in it. As said above, the symbol of the rippling stream represents people attempting to “get to the top”, trying to change. Repetition reinforces the concept of change throughout, while the metaphors describe it’s positive and negative aspects.
Star Wars Episodes 1-6
1. What is the form of the text and what change is evident in it?
The Star Wars saga is a film series that follows the physical journey of a young boy across a fictional universe.
2. Identify the purpose, audience and context of the text.
Star Wars started in 1977, and was finally finished in 2005. It was originally created for a young audience, perhaps 12-18 years, but has since grown in size to be a fully-fledged classic. The primary purpose of any film is of course, to entertain. However, Star Wars also has a strong moral undercurrent, depicting the battle between good and evil.
3. What are the language features and structure of the text?
The whole text is actually 2 trilogies long, with “long gaps” between each movie. With film, language features are not so important as set, colour and sound choices. The most famous aspect of Star Wars, lightsaber battles, are in fact highly symbolic. Each time, the evil character fights with a red saber and the good, with a green or blue one. These represent the clash between good and evil.
The sound choice for different situations allows the viewer to empathise with certain characters, or build a prejudice against them.
4. How are these techniques used to present the concept of change?
During the tragedy of Star Wars 3, Anikan journeys along the path to the dark side. The music choice, and his change in personality (slightly arrogant to full of fury) help to present this change.
Hands Held High, By Linkin Park
“Hands Held High” is a song that has a great deal of change evident in it. It demonstrates how the changing situations in the Middle East have affected the people in there. It really takes the view of a terrorist, with imagery of them walking down streets, and the public panicking and running, and they don’t really care what happens to anyone, they are just obeying their leaders, to make a point.
The target audience is Americans, the ones that are causing this destruction and anarchy in the Middle East. The purpose is to make them see the consequences of their actions, the terrible effects that the rebellion against the Americans has created for most who live there. The context is that of the modern terrorist fearing USA, where they are only making their problems worse
Language features include imagery, repetition, contrast, tone and plenty of emotive language. Emotive language and imagery are used to create the scene that will make listeners sympathise with the innocent people that their country has destroyed. Repetition is used to emphasise subtle points and make them important. Contrast is used to accentuate how terrible the results are on different groups that have been affected.
Examples of how the war has effected them are used in the song, “It’s ironic, at times like this you pray,
but a bomb blew the mosque up yesterday,” sow how changes have been forced upon them that are harmful to their standard of living.
Repetition of “Amen” accentuates how they are now praying for this destruction to end, how they have been forced to do so, because they have no way to end the problem themselves.
While the first paragraph demonstrates change with a revenge motive, change that a few have taken to strike back at the powerful entity that has destroyed their homes, family and homes.
The Simpsons Movie
The Simpsons Movie is in movie form, and deals with the change of yourself, your personality, for the sake of those around you.
The purpose is mainly to amuse the audience, however it does have a subtle purpose of demonstrating to the audience that sometimes you need to personally change for the good of those around you. The context is modern day Al Gore, “An Inconvenient Truth,” era USA, from the several references to it.
Language features used are music choice, irony, contrast. Music is used to set the situation for each character and make them empathise or dislike thim. Irony is used to provide humour and let the message be displayed subtly rather that blatantly, creating and easy to watch movie. Contrast is used to highlight how the effects of change can be beneficial, for example by showing the consequences of a failed attempt at change, compared to a successful change.
These techniques present a positive view on change, how if you make a change that it beneficial for others, the gain will be far greater than the loss.
The Children of Hurin, JRR Tolkien
This novel is a long, physical journey, where one major character, Hurin, undergo tremendous social and psychological change.
The purpose is to provide an epic story of one unfortunate character, who is cursed because of his father’s past deeds to an evil king. The audience and context are mixed because it was originally written in a post war era setting, with comparatively literate readers, but was published by Tolkien’s son into an era where many who will read it are bred to love the particularly successful movie trilogy.
Major language language features include irony, repetition and simile. The two greatest examples of dramatic irony are where nothing goes right for anyone he has ever had an attachment with in Turin’s 30-year life, and he has no idea of this curse, their lives end in bloody destructive battles, or unlikely events caused by his presence. The second is where he marries his sister who he has never met, and who has complete amnesia, and so she is doubly doomed to a highly unnatural death. Repetition is used to show how he has a highly negative affect on everyone around him, changing both himself, and the lives of those around him, to terrible result. Simile and imagery are used to create vivid images of the scenes that take place, and helps give you a mixed feeling of the character, an effect that is intended.
These techniques give the overall effect that change is terrible, and often futile. The results for the character, who’s life is in a constant state of flux, are those of death and destruction. As a result he is forever trying to change and minimise the effects of those around him, trying to lead a comparatively normal life and failing miserably