QUESTION ONE: PROSE

Analyse how the writer sees the personal value of taking a photograph. In your answer you should include examples of techniques used in the text, and explain their effects. (These might include, but are not limited to: dialogue, metaphor, and verb use.)

In the prose, Why not?, the author uses writing techniques to reveal the personal value of taking a photograph. Some of the writing techniques integrated are metaphor, personification and repetition. Furthermore, these techniques reveal the writers purpose; to demonstrate the importance of each and every moment of our lives and to ensure that we make the most of them.

The writer uses metaphor to further enhance the uniqueness of a moment in time. For example, the writer describes the sky; “It’ll spiral up and fly away with each passing minute.” Although the sky does not really “spiral up” or “fly away”, it can be compared to this. This is because things that “fly away” are often never seen again or at least not seen for a long time. For example a family member or friend leaving on an aeroplane or a young bird flying out of it’s nest. The moment in time is thus, compared to flying away in order to enhance to readers the idea that every moment is unique and will not be seen again. This demonstrates to readers the writers belief in the value of a photograph due to each and every moments uniqueness. It also reflects the writers purpose; to demonstrate the importance of each and every moment of our lives and the importance of making the most of them.

The writer integrates repetition into the prose, in order to further convey the personal value of a photograph. In the prose, the writer explains many different reasons for wanting to photograph the sky. For example the reason that it “will never be seen again”, and the reason that each aspect of the photograph is very special. Both of these reasons begin with “I could…”. This use of repetition drags out the list of reasons. It does this in the same way that a child asking are we there yet? repeatedly, makes a car ride seem so much longer than it is. This makes the list appear longer, making the personal value of a photograph appear more greater and larger than it is. This therefore also enhances the writers belief that each and every moment is unique and we need to make the most of each and every moment to get the most out of life.

Finally, the writer uses personification to