List of Strong Verbs for Analysis

Avoid using the "to be" verb forms: is, are, were, was, etc. in your analysis.  Use verbs that are strong, colorful, in active voice, and fits in tone with the excerpt you are analyzing:

Verbs for ANALYSIS:

Alludes to
Argues
Balances
Clarifies
Compares
Contrasts
Connotes
Defines
Delves into
Demonstrates
Develops
Echoes
Elucidates
Emphasizes
Exemplifies
Expresses
Focuses
Highlights
Identifies
Implies
Insinuates
Juxtaposes
Mirrors
Negates
Observes
Organizes
Provides
References
Reinforces
Relates
Reveals
Shows
Suggests
Tantalizes
Titillates






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Middlemarch Essay

Image
How to Approach the A.P. prompt for MIDDLEMARCH How does Eliot portray characters? How does she portray complex relationship between husband and wife? Literary devices: Narrative perspective (Pov) and selection of detail. Middlemarch: underline novels!!!!! Rosamond’s personality: She was not given to weeping and disliked it. Lines 14 – 16: Rosamond thinks….. Go through the entire prompt and find examples of pov (narrative perspective) of Rosamond. Find at least three examples. Lines 77 – 79: “The thought in her mind was if she had known what he was going to be like she would never have married him.” Lines 87 - 90: “She was determined to make no further resistance or utterance.” Lines 23 – 26: This sudden trial was to a creature who had known nothing but indulgence. 52 – 53: His self blame gave her some hope that he would attend to her opinion. Tertius: Lines 48 – 50: Lydgate was bowing his neck like a creature……” Lines 34 – 35: That she had ...
Read more

Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 1

Image
Hamlet Act 2, Scene 1: In this scene Polonius is giving instructions to his servant Reynaldo to spy on Laertes, his son, in Paris. (Again, note the theme of spying) Polonius is giving Reynaldo money to give to his son, but tells him to “to make inquire of his behavior”. “Inquire me first what Danskers are in town….” This is an example of elision or omission of words (words are intentionally left out to insure the lines scan in iambic pentameter.) What word or words are left out? Dansker: Danes Polonius tells Reynaldo to inquire about Laertes’ behavior in a roundabout general way: “encompassment and drift of question” and by this way will arrive at the truth faster and more completely than by asking directly (“…come you more nearer / Than your particular demands will touch it.”) Do you think that’s true? Polonius further instructs Reynaldo, the servant, to say that he doesn’t know him well, but has some “…distant knowledge of him…” Mark: Listen well! Are ...
Read more

Oedipus Rex

Image
Oedipus Notes Act 1 There is a pestilence which has descended upon Thebes.  The people of Thebes have assembled at the front steps of Oedipus’ palace to plead with him to save them as he once did with the Sphinx. Oedipus says that he has sent Creon to ask Teiresias to come and tell them what he knows, but Creon has been gone for some time now and all anxiously wait for his return. Creon at last arrives and says he has spoken with Teiresias but first asks Oedipus if he would like to hear the news in private or in front of the people. By his comment, “I am prepared to speak, but should we not go in?” suggests that he would like to be more cautious and circumspect. Oedipus’ response is “Let them all hear it. It is for them, I suffer, more than for myself.” This is magnanimous and is suggestive of a large, generous and open heart but also one that might be foolish and a little rash.  What if the news is not good, frightening or embarrassing for him?  The crowd m...
Read more