Using description and figurative language to enhance narrative writing | English

Starter quiz

A basic plot consists of a beginning, middle and ______.

'end' ✓
What distinguishes a narrative from a description?

thoughts

events ✓

speech

characters
Select the narrative statements.

The door was a deep mahogany colour, with a large knocker.

She spun around, her eyes darting everywhere. ✓

His lips were like two fat slugs that had crawled onto his face unannounced.

She was greeted by an immense dog, with patches of grey and white fur. ✓

The atmosphere suddenly turned sour and the crowd began to look uncomfortable. ✓
Which of these might be used as synonyms for beautiful?

abhorrent

mesmerising ✓

stunning ✓

cute

gorgeous ✓
Which is the most appropriate description of the clouds?

The clouds gathered above. ✓

The clouds sat above.

The clouds grouped above.

The clouds stood above.

The clouds gossiped above.
Which of the following is the best description of this landscape?

The hills were immense, with walls separating the fields.

There were groups of trees within the hills.

The various hills were all knitted together in a patchwork of green landscape. ✓

The rolling hills stretched out for miles.

Looking out, I was met by a sea of green.

To keep your plot manageable, it can be useful to use an ______ plot.

'emotion-led' ✓
How can you make sure the plot is manageable?

keep the action to under ten minutes of real time ✓

make the action something really exciting like riding in a spaceship

base the characters on your friends

keep the action realistic - make it something that could happen to you ✓
Which of the following would make good emotion-led narratives?

forgetting your calculator for your maths exam ✓

your house getting swept away by a hurricane

meeting someone famous ✓

getting kidnapped by time lords from the past

getting a detention for something your best friend did ✓
When choosing your three emotions for your plot, it is important that they are all ______ emotions.

'different' ✓
Match the words up to their definitions.

falter

⇔

lose strength or purpose ✓

accustomed

⇔

becoming used to something ✓

demeanour

⇔

someone's appearance or behaviour ✓

furrow

⇔

long line in the surface of something ✓
Which of these physical responses might you use to show panic?

His fist, which hung by his side, clenched into a tight ball.

Beads of sweat formed at his temples, swelling as they collided with others. ✓

His eyes softened, their corners dropping and creasing slightly at the side.

A huge lump formed at the back of his throat. ✓

His heartbeat pounded vehemently. ✓

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Narratives that try to tell too much story are often unsuccessful
Instead,you can use an emotion-led narrative, which will help keep your plot manageable so you don't try to say too much
Use skills from descriptive writing to elevate your narratives, especially when describing emotions
Use figurative language to make your narrative descriptions more vivid
It is better to describe your character's physical symptoms of emotion rather than just stating what the emotion is

Students think using figurative language to describe emotions means using similes and metaphors.

Students should use figurative language more subtly, in verbs and adjectives to create extended metaphors.

Falter - To falter means to lose strength or purpose, and almost stop.
Accustomed - If you become accustomed to something, you become used to it.
Demeanour - A person’s demeanour is the way they look or behave.
Furrow - A furrow is a long, narrow cut or line in an object's surface. We use the word furrow to describe the lines formed when someone frowns.