DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

S ES S I O N 2
 DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
1. Genres
2. Features of Genres
3. Relationship between genres
4. A Fable vs A Short Story
5. How to analyze a Fable
6. How to analyze a Short Story
 1. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: What is a genre?
- A genre is a category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. It is a way of grouping works of
literature, art, music, or film into categories based on similarities.
- Genres are often defined by the conventions of the medium in which they are presented. For example, the conventions of a novel are
different from those of a poem or a play.
Here are some examples of genres:
• Action
• Adventure
• Comedy
• Drama
• Fantasy
• Horror
• Mystery
• Romance
• Science fiction
2. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: FEATURES OF
GENRE
1. Genres have a purpose.
While consumers may learn about a movie from the ads, they know they are getting a sales pitch with that
information, so they look for an outside source of information before they spend their money
Movie reviews provide viewers with enough information about the content and quality of a film to help them
make a decision, without ruining it for them by giving away the ending. Movie reviews are the conventional
response to the rhetorical situation of a new film opening.
2. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: FEATURES OF GENRE
2. Genres have a pattern.
The discourse structure of genres refers to the way that different genres are structured and organized. This can
include the way that different elements of a genre are arranged, such as the way that a story is told or the way
that an argument is presented. The discourse structure of genres can be influenced by many factors, including
the conventions of the genre, the cultural context in which it was created, and the intended audience.
Understanding the discourse structure of genres can help readers and viewers to better understand and
appreciate works of art or literature.
 One example of a genre with a unique discourse structure is poetry. Poetry often has a unique structure that
is different from other genres of literature. For example, poetry often uses rhyme, meter, and other formal
elements to create a distinctive rhythm and sound. Poetry can also use figurative language and other literary
devices to create meaning and convey emotion. The discourse structure of poetry can be influenced by many
factors, including the cultural context in which it was created and the intended audience.
 2. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: FEATURES OF GENRE
 Another example: The movie review is conventional because it follows certain conventions, or recognized and
accepted ways of giving readers information. This is called a move pattern.
• Here are the moves associated with that genre:
1. Name of the movie, director, leading actors, Sometimes, the opening also includes the names of people and
companies associated with the film if that information seems important to the reader: screenwriter, animators,
special effects, or other important aspects of the film. This information is always included in the opening lines or at
the top of the review.
2. Graphic design elements - usually, movie reviews include some kind of art or graphic taken from the film itself to
call attention to the review and draw readers into it.
3. A brief, summary evaluation of some aspect of the film. Movie review are supposed to evaluate a film for
potential reviewers - that is the purpose of the genre—so an evaluation is included in the first paragraph or two.
4. A brief plot synopsis. This is included not to explain the story to the readers, but to provide context for the rest of
the evaluation.
 2. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: FEATURES OF GENRE
5. Evaluations of other aspects of the film follow—quality of acting, quality of screenwriting, quality of cinematography,
quality of soundtrack, quality of pacing, etc.
6. The movie review concludes with an evaluation of who might like the movie, who might not, and a summary of its
strengths and weaknesses.
- Language: Since a genre responds to people reading for a specific purpose, each genre uses language specific to that
genre.
- Movie reviews respond to people seeking entertainment; they use language that is casual and relaxed for most
commercial movies. Reviews of films that appeal to an audience seeking a more aesthetic or intellectual experience use
language that uses a more formal tone and sophisticated vocabulary.
- Design: A genre also responds to the place it appears. The layout, artwork, and appearance of a movie review responds
to the place it appears. Movie reviews written for websites often use a standard symbol set to give the readers a quick
way to determine how the reviewer evaluated the movie: 3 stars, two thumbs, smiley faces, etc. Movie review written
for a newspaper may look different, and those written to be heard on radio or seen on TV might use sounds rather than
symbols to convey that evaluation.
 2. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: FEATURES OF GENRE
3. Genres are useful.
Writers and readers both use genres because of the cognitive and social work they accomplish. For writers,
using the patterns of a genre accepted by readers for accomplishing their purposes allows them to establish a
working relationship with readers. When writers do not use the genre usually accepted by readers—and there
are no rules, only choices—they risk alienating an audience.
 For example, if a film reviewer departs from the genre convention that keeps key plot points, especially the
ending, a secret, readers may find the film spoiled for them. On a number of movie review sites, if a reviewer
does just that, the editors mark their review with a warning label - spoilers! But familiarity with genres can also
make life easier for writers. Genres also provide the writer with general organizational patterns that can help
them arrange what they say and when they say it.
 2. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: FEATURES OF GENRE

For readers, genres help organize information so that they can more easily make sense of what they are about
to read. To use a different example, a biologist reading a report on new research knows that the discussion of
what the writers think is significant is going to be at the end of the article. Readers save themselves time by
skimming the introduction, glancing at the methods section, and going straight to the last couple of pages.
If the writer of the report has not followed the genre conventions, the reader may simply dismiss the research.
To those readers, if it takes too long to find the claims, they suspect the writer does not know the field very well
because they did not know enough to follow the accepted path
 2. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: FEATURES OF GENRE
4. Genres create expectations.
Familiarity with genres also makes life easier for readers. If they have a general idea about how research reports
work, they can read them faster and make sense of the information in them more quickly. Think of it this way. If
you open the packaging on a kit for a coffee table, and you pull out the assembly instructions, you expect to get
step-by-step instructions, including pictures, of how to put the table together. You have expectations. The writer
should fulfill them. If you open the instruction guide, and find an essay on the history of coffee tables in interior
decorating, you are likely to be both confused and angry.
 2. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: FEATURES OF GENRE
5. Genres analysis can help writers.
If you need to write a document you have never had to write before, it can be very useful to analyze others of its kind before you begin
your work. For example, when your chemistry professor assigns a lab report, she or he is likely to give you a sample of a lab report to
follow. The professor does that to provide you with a model, a sample you can analyze to understand the writing task before you.
Using the questions you use to understand a rhetorical situation can help you understand how a genre responds to it. These questions
can help you analyze any genre:
• What is the purpose of this document?
• Who is it written for and why would they want to read it?
• What is the event or occasion that requires a response?
• What kind of response does it require—an argument, an explanation, a description?
• How is that response organized—chronologically, in topical sections, in order of importance?
• What kind of language does the writer use, and does it change within the document?
• What are the design and layout features of this document
 3. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
GENRES
The relationship between genres can be complex and multifaceted. Some genres are closely related and share
many similarities, while others are more distinct and have little in common. The relationship between genres can
be influenced by many factors such as culture, history, and audience expectations
The social and cultural context of genres can have a significant impact on how they are created and received. For
example, the historical context in which a work is created can influence the themes and subject matter of the
work. Similarly, the cultural context in which a work is created can influence the way that audiences respond to
it. For example, a work that is created in one culture may not be as well-received in another culture because of
differences in values and expectations.
 One example of a work that was influenced by its social and cultural context is the novel “To Kill a
Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. The novel was written during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and
deals with issues of racism and injustice. The social and cultural context of the novel is important because it helps
to explain why the novel was so influential and why it continues to be read today. Similarly, many works of art
and literature are influenced by the social and cultural context in which they are created
 3. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN GENRES
"1984" by George Orwell: This dystopian novel reflects the author's concerns about totalitarianism and the erosion of
individual freedoms in the aftermath of World War II.
"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald: This novel explores the Jazz Age in America during the 1920s, depicting themes
of excess, materialism, and the decline of the American Dream.
"Guernica" by Pablo Picasso: This powerful painting depicts the horrors of war and was created in response to the
bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee: This novel addresses racial inequality and social injustice in the American South
during the 1930s, reflecting the cultural and racial tensions of that era.
"Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo: This French novel examines social inequality and the struggles of the working class in
19th-century France, serving as a critique of the political and social conditions of the time.
"The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dalí: This surrealist painting reflects the anxieties and uncertainties of the
interwar period, capturing the sense of timelessness and the distortion of reality.
"One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez: Influenced by the Latin American literary movement known
as "magical realism," this novel intertwines reality and fantasy to explore themes of family, history, and political turmoil.
3. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN GENRES
"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen: This classic novel explores the social conventions, gender roles, and
class distinctions of 19th-century England, highlighting the struggles faced by women in finding suitable
marriages.
"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger: Set in post-World War II America, this novel delves into the
disillusionment and alienation felt by the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, as he navigates the complexities of
adulthood.
"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe: Set in colonial Nigeria, this novel portrays the clash between African
traditions and the encroachment of European imperialism, highlighting the devastating effects of
colonization.
"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood: This dystopian novel examines themes of gender oppression
and reproductive control in a totalitarian society, reflecting the feminist movements of the late 20th
century.
3. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN GENRES
"The Stranger" by Albert Camus: Written in the aftermath of World War II, this existential novel
explores themes of alienation, the absurdity of life, and the indifference of the universe.
"Beloved" by Toni Morrison: This novel delves into the lasting impact of slavery on African-
Americans in the United States, addressing themes of memory, trauma, and the quest for
freedom.
"Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy: Set in 19th-century Russia, this novel explores themes of love,
marriage, and societal expectations, shedding light on the social dynamics and moral dilemmas
prevalent in Tsarist Russia.
"The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini: Set against the backdrop of war-torn Afghanistan, this
novel explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the complex relationship between fathers and
sons.
 3. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: A FABLE vs A SHORT STORY
• A fable and a short story both have plots with concise a development of characters and theme, but the
objective of the fable is to present the reader with a moral lesson. A fable always uses an allegory to make its
point. Short stories are typically longer than fables and may express a moral lesson or use an allegory, though
these are not necessary components of this form of writing.
 A major difference between a fable and a short story lies in the moral lesson a fable delivers to its readers.
For example, in The Fox and the Crow by Aesop, a fox dupes a crow into opening its beak and dropping a piece
of cheese on the ground. The fox achieves this by telling the crow it is noble, gracious and beautiful. When the
crow opens its beak to answer, the cheese falls on the ground and the fox gets to eat it. The moral of this fable is
to be suspicious of flattery.
Allegory, or the use of symbols to impart lessons or make a point, is another important device always found in
fables. Anyone could easily say, “Don’t trust people who flatter you because they may be trying to get
something out of you.” Aesop chose instead to use the crafty fox and the conceited crow to illustrate this point
and make the moral lesson memorable to his readers.
 4. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: A FABLE vs A SHORT STORY
• A fable and a short story can both be written to inform and entertain readers, and both can make statements
about life. A short story, however, does not necessarily take the moral high ground the way a fable does. Short
stories invite readers to participate in a brief interlude of characters’ lives and draw conclusions about the
outcome of a conflict.
 4. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: A FABLE vs A SHORT STORY
• Both a fable and a short story get to the point quickly, with succinct character development and a focused
theme. Fables, however, are often very short, which is why they are usually considered to be childhood reading.
An English translation of The Fox and the Crow has only 121 words, although some fables are much longer.
Opinions vary about the length of a short story. Some say short stories have between 2,000 and 10,000 words,
while others feel that anything over 5,000 words is a novella. Many claim that readers should be able to read a
short story in one sitting, although some people obviously have longer attention spans than others.
 5. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: HOW TO ANALYZE A FABLE
 There are many different ways to analyze the meaning of a fable depending on what type of analysis would be
useful in a given situation.
- People of different ages and educational focuses might also analyze a fable quite differently. The component
parts of a fable often bear an interesting relationship to other fables, and analyzing groups of stories together
can be very useful.
- It is also possible to analyze the meaning of fables purely as literature, although this is sometimes
problematic for stories that do not have single authors. Generally speaking, any insight into meaning that comes
from reading or thinking about a fable is a form of analysis, though it may not fall into a specific category.
 5. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: HOW TO ANALYZE A
FABLE
One of the most common ways to analyze the meaning of a fable is to look at the fable in terms of what its
lesson might be.
 Many fables are used as morality tales and specifically aim to teach the reader a lesson. Often, this lesson has
evolved over time to be appropriate to the age in which the story is told. The meaning of a fable might be
different in current readings than the original intended meaning.
For this reason, it is also possible to look at the meaning of a fable historically. Situating the fable in context
both in the age in which it was told and among other tales of the same culture or author provides unique
insight into possible meanings of the tale.
- Fables are unique in that they often represent cultural values, which means that historical information may
have a direct impact on possible meanings of the tale. Even so, it is important to remember that this type of
story has also often evolved over time, and looking at earlier versions of the same story may reveal divergent
meanings.
 5. DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: HOW TO ANALYZE A FABLE
Fables often include a number of literary devices that are used to construct meaning within the tale. In many
cases, fables have multiple authors or change over time which can make the idea of intention somewhat
complicated, but devices used without author intention still contribute to the meaning of the finished piece.
Looking at how the story constructs its point internally can be an interesting way to analyze the meaning of a
fable, though this type of analysis sometimes contrasts with the explicit moral of the story.
- Analysis is a process of drawing insight from a text, and there are many different analytical strategies that can
be applied to fables.
- Different schools of thought may come up with different meanings, as may different age groups. Looking at the
fable from multiple angles can often help elucidate the true meaning of the story if one exists.
5.DISCOURSE ANALYSIS: HOW TO ANALYZE A
FABLE
 Steps to analyze a fable:
1. Identify the key elements of the fable. Fables typically have a moral or lesson that is conveyed
through the story.
2. Look for personification. Many fables use animals or objects to represent human qualities or
characteristics.
3. Consider the setting of the fable. The setting can often provide clues about the meaning of the story.
4. Analyze the characters in the fable. Characters in fables are often used to represent different aspects
of human nature.
5. Look for symbolism in the fable. Symbols can be used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.
6. Identify the moral or lesson of the fable. The moral or lesson is usually stated at the end of the story.
 PRACTICE 1
Suggest the moral of the following fable:
 The Tortoise and the Hare
Once upon a time, a hare boasted about how fast he could run. Tired of hearing him brag, a tortoise
challenged him to a race. The hare, confident in his abilities, accepted the challenge.
The race began, and the hare quickly took off, leaving the tortoise far behind. Confident in his lead, the
hare decided to take a nap. When he woke up, he realized that the tortoise had passed him and was
close to the finish line. The hare ran as fast as he could, but it was too late. The tortoise had won the
race.
(a) The moral of this fable is that
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………..
(b) What do the tortoise and the hare represent in the fable?
PRACTICE 1
(a) The moral of this fable is that slow and steady wins the race. It’s not always the fastest or
strongest who wins, but those who persevere and keep moving forward.
(b) In the fable, the tortoise represents people who are hardworking and persistent, while the
hare represents people who are overconfident and lazy. The fable teaches that slow and steady
wins the race and that it’s not always the fastest or strongest who wins, but those who
persevere and keep moving forward.
PRACTICE 2
 The Ant and the Grasshopper
Once upon a time, a grasshopper spent the summer singing and dancing while an ant worked hard
to store food for the winter. When winter came, the grasshopper had nothing to eat and begged
the ant for food. The ant refused, saying that the grasshopper should have worked harder during
the summer.
(a) The moral of this fable is that
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………..
(b) What do the ant and the grasshopper represent in the fable?
(c) How is the setting used in the fable The Ant and the Grasshopper?
 PRACTICE 2
(a) The moral of this fable is that hard work and preparation are important for success. It’s
important to plan ahead and work hard so that you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.
(b) In the fable, the ant represents people who are hardworking and responsible, while the
grasshopper represents people who are lazy and irresponsible. The fable teaches that hard work
and preparation are important for success and that it’s important to plan ahead and work hard so
that you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.
(c) The setting of a story is the location, time, and context of the story’s plot. In Aesop’s fable “The
Ant and the Grasshopper,” the setting is a forest floor on a summer day with great weather. The
setting is used to help set the mood and better drive home any messages in the story. It is
important to note that in the fable, winter is coming on and the grasshopper is starting to feel the
pangs of hunger since food has already become scarce. The setting helps to emphasize the
importance of hard work and preparation for future needs, as well as the consequences of laziness
and procrastination.