Question and exclamation marks
Why do writers use question and exclamation marks?
What are question and exclamation marks? How and why would you use them? Bitesize explains with examples from ‘Old Tongue’ by Jackie Kay.
What is the effect of a question mark?
Use of question marks is always worth consideration. Questions may be A question that doesn't need an answer and is asked for dramatic effect or to make a point., but not always.
Examples of use of question marks
In Jackie Kay's poem Old Tongue the speaker moves from Scotland to England and stops using the Scots language. They say:
Oh where did all my words go - my old words, my lost words?
The use of a question highlights how uncertain and lost the speaker feels as she questions how her identity is connected to her language.
Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet is about two lovers who cannot be together because of a family feud. In one scene, Juliet stands on her balcony looking out to the garden and says:
Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
This question emphasises Juliet's longing for Romeo and how uncertain she feels about their future together.
Question
Bunk beds? Instant coffee? Small room? Is it really worth the money to travel on the Orient Express?
What is the purpose of the question marks in this example?
The question marks suggest the writer is directly addressing the reader and shows the element of intense doubt the speaker is experiencing.
What is the effect of an exclamation mark?
An exclamation mark shows excitement, shock or anger. It lets a reader know that they should add emphasis to a sentence: This tea is too hot!
Example of use of exclamation marks
In Jackie Kay's poem Old Tongue, she uses exclamation marks to emphasise a threat, which might not be understandable for people who don't speak Scots:
Shut yer geggie or I'll gee you the malkie!
Question
Now they tell me!
What does the exclamation point suggest about the speaker's feelings?
The use of an exclamation mark expresses the excessive shock, surprise, and frustration the speaker is going through.
Question
In Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre, a young orphaned girl called Jane falls in love with her employer Mr Rochester. Later in the novel, Jane confronts Mr Rochester about their feelings for one another. Charlotte Brontë uses both question marks and exclamation marks in this quote to emphasise Jane's passion:
Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart!
Can you explain the effect of question and exclamation marks in this example?
Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless?
The question is rhetorical (it doesn't require an answer) and it tells us what Jane believes Mr Rochester thinks of her.You think wrong! — I have as much soul as you — and full as much heart!
The exclamation marks show how angry and shocked Jane is over the idea that she might not feel as strongly as Mr Rochester because she is younger or has less money.
