© boardworks ltd 2003 1 of 18 the structure of a text this icon indicates that detailed teacher’s...

© Boardworks Ltd 20031 of 18

The Structure of a Text

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The structure of a text

The order in which a writer chooses to present their story can help readers to understand the writer’s purpose and always adds to the overall effect of the text.

For example:

What difference does it make if the opening is pessimistic and the ending optimistic?

How do you feel when you are told the story’s ending on the first page?

How do flashbacks, newspaper articles or letters affect the reader?


Openings

Hooks can be: funny – appeal to the reader’s sense of humour subtle – appeal to the reader’s curiosity atmospheric – evoke a particular mood through

description speech – capture the immediate action and scene direct address – talk directly to the reader question – encourage the reader to find an answer.

A text’s opening will often determine whether or not the reader continues to read the text. Writers often employ the use of a hook to catch the reader’s attention.


When you start a novel or short story, try to figure out what type of hook the writer is using.

Openings

What hooks are these authors employing?

‘You too will marry a boy I choose’, said Mrs Rupa Mehra firmly to her younger daughter.Vikram Seth, A Suitable Boy (Phoenix House, 1999)

‘Oh, the idiot! The idiot!’Martha was sitting in the kitchen …Jean Ure, Always Sebastian (Random House, 1993)


Remember: Writers often use a combination of hooks

to engage the reader.

Read the opening from Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights below. What hooks have been employed here to engage the reader?

Lyra and her daemon moved through the darkening Hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the kitchen. The three great tables that ran the length of the Hall were laid already, the silver and the glass catching what little light there was, and the long benches were pulled out ready for the guests.

Openings


Philip Pullman chose to write His Dark Materials as a trilogy, that is, one story told in three books.

Here is the ending of Pullman’s first book Northern Lights. The main character Lyra had been searching for her friend Roger who she has found. But that doesn’t seem to be the end of it.

Why do you think Pullman chose to end the book in such an irresolute way?

“And we’ve got the alethiometer,” she said. “Yeah, I reckon we’ve got to do it, Pan. We’ll go up there and we’ll search for Dust, and when we’ve found it we’ll know what to do.”

Roger’s body lay still in her arms. She let him down gently.

“And we’ll do it,” she said.She turned away. Behind them lay pain and death

and fear; ahead of them lay doubt, and danger, and fathomless mysteries. But they weren’t alone.

So Lyra and her daemon turned away from the world they were born in, and looked towards the sun, and walked into the sky.

Endings


Endings

Children’s fairytales often end with the line…

‘and they all lived happily ever after’.

Why do you think children’s books usually have a happy ending?

Happy ending’s are less common in teenage and adult fiction. In fact, writers sometimes try to make an ending realistic and therefore avoid cosy closes.


The purpose of an ending is to conclude the plot and leave the reader satisfied. However, a really good novel ending will keep the reader thinking, even after they have closed the book.

This type of novel ends in a way that shows the characters living beyond the text. As readers we are left to imagine what becomes of their futures.

Endings

Have you ever a read a novel or watched a film which you couldn’t forget? Why was it unforgettable?


Linear narratives

Fiction writers usually employ a linear narrative to tell their story. This means that the story is told in the order in which events happen.

Beginning Middle End

When I was twelve…

By the time I got to twenty…

As a mother of thirty, I am…

A linear narrative is the simplest structure for a text to follow, and one adopted by many writers in order not to confuse the reader. A novel or short story with such a structure is often fast paced and plot driven.


Non-linear narratives

An alternative to using the structure of a linear narrative is for the writer to incorporate flashbacks into the text. Novels with this structure tend to focus more on character. Although this can be more confusing than a linear narrative, flashbacks can help the reader to understand more about character motivation.

Beginning Middle End

When I was twelve…

Before my mother was born…

By the time I got to twenty…

Even in the year I was born…

As a mother of thirty, I am…

FlashbackFlashback


The Times

6th November, 1981

Plot to Kill Princes.

Sometimes newspaper articles or letters are used instead of flashbacks. As with flashbacks, they tell the reader something about someone’s past.

6 November, 1981

Dear Kerrie,

I don’t know how to tell you this but last

Non-linear narratives


Juxtapositions

When there is more than more main character in a novel, writers often use juxtaposed scenes. This means that we are told what one character is doing and then we switch to another character to see what they are doing at the same time. There can be points when the characters meet and often their endings are united.

Lyra’s story starts

Novel ends with Lyra and Will’s’

stories converging

Lyra’s story continues

Will’s story starts

Will’sstory continues

In His Dark Materials, the stories of Will and Lyra are regularly juxtaposed.


What type of narrative structure do you find easiest to read – linear, juxtaposed or those which use flashbacks? Why do you think this is?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What type of narrative do you find most engaging? Why do you think this is?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions


Drama, tension and comic relief

1. Can you think of a film or book which bored you because there was too much drama and too few quiet moments?

2. Can you think of a serious event you’ve been to which was sprinkled with comedy or light-hearted moments?

Writers have to think carefully about when to provide drama, tension, conflict and comedy.

If a text is crammed full with moments of heightened tension and drama the reader would soon become bored and frustrated.


Writers vary the level of drama, tension and comedy in their work.

novel opening novel ending

high level drama

low level drama

When you have too much of anything there is a tendency to get bored. If you were reading a book which was constantly dramatic you would eventually feel tired and want a rest!

This is more of a rollercoaster ride for the audience!

Drama, tension and comic relief


Comic relief

When there is a moment of comedy in a novel it is called comic relief – moments when the tense drama is broken to allow the reader to relax.

high level drama

low level drama

novel opening novel ending

comic relief


Conclusion

How is the book you are reading structured as a whole?

Think about: the opening, including the book’s hook the ending the narrative structure – is it linear of fragmented? climactic moments.

Draw a book map to show your understanding of the text’s structure.

Why do you think the writer has chosen to construct the work in this way?


Conclusion

© boardworks ltd 2003 1 of 18 the structure of a text this icon indicates that detailed teacher’s...

Documents

openings slide

reader question

openings hooks

readers attention

ending of pullmans

combination of hooks

readers curiosity atmospheric

book northern lights