Starter quiz
- Which of the below is *not* a structural feature?
- metaphor ✓
- repetition
- shift in focus
-
- Which of these refers to a structure in which the end of a text links to the beginning?
- fragmented
- in medias res
- circular ✓
-
- What is narrative perspective?
- the point of a view that a text is written from ✓
- the overall mood of a text
- the number of characters in a text
-
- Match the words up to the perspective they offer.
- I, me, my⇔First ✓
- She, him, they⇔Third ✓
- You, your⇔Second ✓
- What perspective is the opening of Murakami's 'After Dark' written from?
- first
- second
- third ✓
-
- What is tension?
- the way in which a text gets progressively funny
- a feeling of nervousness or stress created in the reader ✓
- a melancholy tone that persists throughout an extract
-
Exit quiz
- Which narrative perspective allows us to emotionally connect the most with a specific character?
- first person ✓
- second person
- third person
-
- Which technique would make an image persist in a reader's mind?
- use of dialogue
- repetition ✓
- foreshadowing
-
- What is one possible effect of the third person perspective in the opening of 'After Dark'?
- it helps us connect to the main character
- it helps us visualise the dynamism of the whole city ✓
- it helps us to understand one particular part of the city
-
- Which structural technique does Murakami use to emphasise the image of the city's dynamism in our heads?
- flashback
- repetition ✓
- juxtaposition
-
- How does the opening paragraph of 'After Dark' end?
- with a sense that the characters will fall in love
- with a sense that something bad will happen ✓
- with a sense of safety
-
- What is the effect of ending the opening paragraph of 'After Dark' in the way that Murakami does?
- It creates a sense of suspense as we await sinister happenings in the night. ✓
- It creates a sense of nostalgia for the characters' childhood.
- It allows us to imagine we are the arteries of the city.
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Structure refers to the way a text has been organised.
- Different structural features can have different effects on the reader.
- Interesting structural features in 'After Dark' are the perspective choice, repetition and the creation of suspense.
- After identifying a structural feature in a text, it is important to discuss its effect.
Common misconception
Students may confuse language and structural features.
Getting into a habit of asking a range of questions interrogating perspective, repetition, beginnings and endings can help students ease into the analysis of structure.
Keywords
Structure - the way a text has been organised
Omniscient - all-knowing
Conceptualise - form a concept or idea of (something)
+