What is analysis and how do I show this?

It is likely you have been told to PQA your essay answers- point, quote, analysis. The analysis is very important as it shows why you're using that quote to illustrate that point as well as highlighting any literary devices.

Analysis should involve a number of things to show an examiner you're not only familiar with the text but also understand the writers' way of showing points. Analysis is all about FLAPing with your work- form, language, audience and purpose. For example- form- if it is a play what do the stage directions say- do they tell the actor to speak nervously or happily? Also look at the sentence type, is it short as if they are unsure what to say? What does the type of text and the way it has been crafted tell you about the quote you're using?

What language has been used? Look at individual words and phrases used-does it use violent words such as "Sophie spat out "fine"" to show angry thoughts and feelings. Can the words have further meanings such as "mother nature" being personified as a woman and thus be overpowered by man?

Looking at the audience is very important. This includes considering when the text was written and why it was written. Also how audiences from then and now would view they issues. For example a Shakespeare play was written to entertain but also show how other religions and other countries are inferior to England's at that time. Romeo and Juliet is set in Italy which was (and still is) catholic.

Finally, purpose. What is the purpose of the text or the wording used? Why would the author have written/structured it in that way? Does it give hints to the audience or does it portray emotions and feelings? Does it show the audience things the characters don't know?

Analysis is all about looking beyond the quote and showing the different possible examples of what it could mean and why.