Structural Features - Techniques

Question 1

Dialogue

Answer 1

Conversation between two or more characters

Question 2

Flashback

Answer 2

A section in a text that is set before the events of the main story

Question 3

Future tense

Answer 3

A verb that describes something that will happen in the future e.g. “they will laugh”

Question 4

Narrator

Answer 4

The person who tells the story

Question 5

Past tense

Answer 5

A verb that describes something that happened in the past. e.g. ‘they laughed’

Question 6

Point of view

Answer 6

The way a character regards events or people

Question 7

Present tense

Answer 7

A verb that describes something that is happening now. e.g. ‘they laugh’ or ‘they are laughing’

Question 8

Sequence

Answer 8

The order in which things happen

Question 9

Setting

Answer 9

Where the events take place

Question 10

Structure

Answer 10

The organisation of a text

Question 11

Narrative

Answer 11

A written story or account

Question 12

Narrative voice

Answer 12

The person telling the story from their point of view

Question 13

Perspective

Answer 13

A particular view of something

Question 14

Empathise

Answer 14

To understand and share someone else’s feelings

Question 15

Plot

Answer 15

The events in a story

Question 16

Narrow focus

Answer 16

The writer focuses in on specific (often small details) section of the text.

Question 17

Wider focus

Answer 17

Often deals with bigger details - setting etc.

Question 18

Switch of focus

Answer 18

When the writer changes their focus from:

one character to another, one setting to another, what a character is thinking to what he is doing.

Question 19

Cyclical cycle (circular)

Answer 19

Where a story ends in a similar way to how it begins. This could be through the setting, the action, the characters, language choice.

Question 20

Climax

Answer 20

The most exciting part of the story.

Question 21

Anti-climax

Answer 21

Disappointing part of the story is not as exciting as you hoped

Question 22

Rising action

Answer 22

Where the tension/excitement of the story is building towards a climax

Question 23

Falling action

Answer 23

Where the atmosphere/action of the story starts to fall away. (This often happens after a climax)

Question 24

Contrast

Answer 24

Clear difference between things

Question 25

First person perspective

Answer 25

The point of view of a character involved in the action of a story using ‘I’

Question 26

Pace

Answer 26

The speed at which something happens

Question 27

Symbolism

Answer 27

The use of symbols to represent something else

Question 28

Third person perspective

Answer 28

The point of view of someone not involved in the action of a story using ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘they’

Question 29

Connotations

Answer 29

The underlying ideas and feelings suggested by a word

Question 30

Opening Dialogue

Answer 30

Characters are speaking as the narrative begins

Question 31

Description opening

Answer 31

Sets the scene or describes a character

Question 32

Character opening

Answer 32

Introduces a character’s thoughts

Question 33

Mystery opening

Answer 33

An intriguing event or question is set up.

Question 34

Thematic statement opening

Answer 34

Indicates what ideas or themes will be significant

Question 35

Action opening

Answer 35

A physical description of something happening