Linguistic analysis of Chris's speech

All My Sons by Arthur Miller

The following tasks use an extract from Act 1 of the play. The extract contains an important speech from the character Chris. The extract starts with
‘You remember, overseas, I was in command of a company?’ and ends with ‘I’m going to make a fortune for you.’
Read the extract and complete the following table with words from the speech:

Concrete nouns Abstract nouns Verbs Adjectives Adverbs

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 Linguistic analysis of Chris's speech
All My Sons by Arthur Miller

Concrete nouns

• Why does Chris repeat the word ‘thing’ so often?

• Identify three concrete nouns which convey his thoughts powerfully and explain their
effects.

• Look at the different words used to describe people and comment on their different
connotations.

• Why are so many everyday items included in the list?

Abstract nouns

• Comment on the difference in frequency of concrete and abstract nouns – what is the
effect of this choice?

• Choose three abstract nouns that you think are significant in the play as a whole and
explain their importance.

Verbs

• Group the verbs which have related meanings. Comment on the significance of each group.

• Which verbs do not fit into a group? What is the impact of these words?

Adjectives and adverbs

• Identify the three adjectives which you think are most important to Chris’s message in his
speech and explain their significance.

• Very few adverbs are used in this section of the play. Explain the impact of those that have
been used.

Distribution of words

• Look at the alphabetical list of words used in the dialogue below. What do you notice
about the frequency of certain words? What does this add to the meaning of the extract?

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 Linguistic analysis of Chris's speech
All My Sons by Arthur Miller
a Annie destroyed have it me open take thing was
a Annie didn't have it me other that thing was
a any didn't have it mean otherwise that thing watching
a any die here it mean out that things way
a ashamed difference here it meaning out that this way
a at down him it men out that those well
a bank‐book drive him it'd money overseas that time went
a be drive his just money paid that time weren't
a be dry home just monument pair that to what
a be each how kid more planes that to what
a be earth hundreds killed more pocket that to whatever
a because everyone I kind mustn't proud that to when
a because everything I kind my put that to whole
a because everything I kind new put that to with
a because exactly I kind new raining that to work
a because father I know new rat‐race that's to would
a been feel I know no really that's to would
about been feel I last nobody refrigerator the to wrong
accident behind feel I like nothing remember the to wrong
again being felt I little of responsibility the to yeah
again better felt I little of right the to you
air blood For I little of said the to you
alive bring for I little of see the to you
all bus for I loot of see the to you
all but for I lost of seemed the to you
an but for idea lot of seemed the to you
and but for I'm love of selfish them to you
and came fortune in made of several them today you
and came gave in make of should them too you
and came gee in make of should them toss you
and can go in make of show themselves understand you
and can going in man of socks then understand you
and car got included man off some there want you
and car got incredible man oh somehow there want you
and changed got instance man oh standing there's war your
and Chris guess is many on still there's was your
and command guys it man one suckers they was you've
and company guys it me one sure they was you've
and Dad had it me only take they was
Annie days have it me onto take they'd've was

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 Linguistic analysis of Chris's speech
All My Sons by Arthur Miller
Answers
Concrete nouns Abstract nouns Verbs Adjectives Adverbs
company command remember little overseas
days responsibility lost several exactly
kid difference toss last today
pair meaning gave dry really
socks rat‐race put little
men love didn't selfish
thing war had incredible
pocket right killed whole
guys mean ashamed
thing got changed
man go alive
earth watching better
monument destroyed proud
home seemed
accident bring
suckers made
bank‐book understand
car feel
refrigerator standing
loot seemed
blood changed
money open
planes drive
see
take
have
came
got to
have
guess
included
paid

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