Death of a Salesman - Techniques

Death of a Salesman - Miller's Techniques

• Contrasts (Willy's mood swings)
• Character contrasts
  
• Stage directions (reveal mood of characters)
• Lies
• Rejection
• Mythological Figures and Language
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• Ambiguous statements
• Things not mentionned (e.g. only talking about the positive side of things)
  
• Symbolism - Diamonds (financial security, wealth, prestige), Seeds (proving worth and providing an inheritance - last ditch attempt to be sucessful), Tape Recorder (only records truth - show Willy's failure to repress his past), Stockings (betrayal and guilt), Rubber Hose (suicide), Africa and Alaska (Willy's missed opportunities), The American West (which is Biff's wanting to work on a ranch symbolises his freedom and potential)
  

Empire of the Sun Techniques

Language Features of Empire

• Violent imagery and language
• Jim's naivety and innocence (can be contrasted with when he really does know what is going on)
  
• Food imagery and metaphors
• Maturation
• Repeated Ideas and Language
• Scientific Language around Doctor Ransome
• Positive language around Lunghua
• Biblical, religious language
  
• Moments of Clarity (where Ballard summarizes the reality of the situation)
• Jim as the observer
• Symbolism - flies, swimming pools, aircraft, bicycles, mango
• Hierarchy of the people in Shanghai (Chinese at the bottom)
• Who is in power?