Cómo analizar textos/películas, A level

This study guide called “Cómo analizar/evaluar un texto literario o película para A level Spanish”, is for students of A-level Spanish who are studying for the exam questions on literary texts/films. It aims at helping students excel at their exams by practising their close reading and film analysis, as well as learning more about the Spanish language, its people and their culture.

This study guide covers the 9 main aspects to watch out for, when writing an essay, as well as giving advice on essay-writing. Each chapter contains an exam-like question and a model answer, and after reading the text, students have to answer comprehension and vocabulary questions. Also, answers to all the questions can be found at the back of the study guide, therefore it can be used in class, as homework or as self-study for more independent students.

The guide is divided into nine chapters, one for each of the most important aspects of essay writing for A level Spanish:

1.Characterisation
2.Argument/plot
3. Themes/topics
4.Structure
5. Literary and cinema techniques
6.Language (use of language and relevant quotes)
7.Socio-historical context
8. Essay organisation of the test
9.Symbols and symbology

The guide contains references, quotations and examples taken from 9 of the main literary texts/films for A level AQA and Edexcel, namely:

1.La Casa de Bernarda Alba de García Lorca
2.El otro árbol de Guernica de Luis de Castresana
3.Como agua para chocolate de Laura Esquivel
4.El coronel no tiene quien le escriba, de García Marquez
5.Primera Memoria de Ana M. Matute
6. El laberinto del fauno de Guillermo del Toro
7.Ocho apellidos vascos de Martinez-Lázaro
8. Diarios de Motocicleta, de Walter Salles
9. Las 13 Rosas, de Martinez-Lázaro
I hope you find it useful and you enjoy it! ¡Buena suerte con los exámenes!
Escrito por Jose I Ermina Irazábal, enero de 2024