Structural terms flashcards

Question 1

Chronological order

Answer 1

Events being told in the order they happened in

Question 2

Non-chronological order

Answer 2

Events being told in a different order to how they happened

Question 3

Sequence or progression

of events

Answer 3

The order in which things are narrated or described

Question 4

Flashback

Answer 4

A section when we suddenly ‘go back in time’ and experience something that has already happened,
as if it’s in the present (different to a character just remembering something)

Question 5

First person

Answer 5

The writer includes themselves in what they are saying (e.g. I, we, us)

Question 6

Second person

Answer 6

The writer speaks directly to the reader or to 
someone else (e.g. you)

Question 7

Third person

Answer 7

The writer tells the reader about other people, from a distance (e.g. he, she, it, they)

Question 8

Past tense

Answer 8

Narrating things that have already happened (e.g. I

played football yesterday)

Question 9

Present tense

Answer 9

Narrating things that are happening at the moment

e.g. I am playing football at the moment

Question 10

Future tense

Answer 10

Narrating things that will happen at a future point

e.g. I will play football tomorrow

Question 11

Direct speech/ dialogue

Answer 11

Speech written down word for word, in speech

marks

Question 12

Juxtaposition

Answer 12

Two opposite or very different things placed near each other for effect

Question 13

Paragraph

Answer 13

A section of text that focuses on one main idea (they can be different lengths, from whole pages down to
just one line)

Question 14

Sentence forms

Answer 14

Simple, compound, complex and minor (one-word)

Question 15

Time words/ phrases

Answer 15

Words or phrases that relate to what time it is, or

how time is passing

Question 16

Change in mood

Answer 16

When a different mood or atmosphere is introduced

Question 17

Change in focus

Answer 17

When the subject/ topic being written about changes (e.g. it was about the football match, but now it’s
about sausage rolls afterwards)

Question 18

Change in perspective

Answer 18

When the viewpoint from which it is being 
considered changes (e.g. it was from the protagonist’s viewpoint, but now it’s from their best 
friend’s viewpoint)

Question 19

Cyclical structure

Answer 19

When a text begins and ends with the same idea/

language/ event/ situation

Question 20

Repetition

Answer 20

When words, phrases, sentences or ideas are

repeated throughout a text

Question 21

Withholding information

Answer 21

When something is kept a secret from the reader, at

least for a while