STRUCTURE TECHNIQUES Flashcards
Technique: Foreshadowing
Definition: Hinting at something that will happen later in the story.
Example Sentence: She felt an uneasy chill as she stepped into the darkened hallway.
Why Use It? To create suspense, build tension, and prepare the reader for future events.
Technique: Flashback
Definition: A scene that takes the reader back to an earlier event.
Example Sentence: He closed his eyes, and suddenly, he was a child again, running through the fields.
Why Use It? To provide background information, deepen character development, or create contrast.
Technique: Chronological Structure
Definition: Events are presented in the order they happened.
Example Sentence: First, she woke up. Then, she got ready for school. Finally, she left the house.
Why Use It? To make the story easy to follow and build a natural flow of events.
Technique: Non-Chronological Structure
Definition: Events are presented out of order, often using flashbacks.
Example Sentence: She sat in silence, remembering the day it all began.
Why Use It? To create intrigue, build suspense, or gradually reveal key details.
Technique: Cyclical Structure
Definition: The story begins and ends in the same place or situation.
Example Sentence: The sun set over the quiet town, just as it had the night before.
Why Use It? To create a sense of fate, inevitability, or reflection.
Technique: Cliffhanger
Definition: Ending a section or story suddenly, leaving the reader in suspense.
Example Sentence: The door creaked open… and then everything went black.
Why Use It? To engage the reader, create tension, and encourage them to keep reading.
Technique: Zooming In (Focus Shift)
Definition: Moving from a broad view to a close-up detail (or vice versa).
Example Sentence: The city stretched far into the horizon. In one tiny alley, a single candle flickered.
Why Use It? To guide the reader’s attention, create atmosphere, or emphasize key details.
Technique: Repetition of Ideas or Motifs
Definition: Returning to the same image, phrase, or theme throughout a text.
Example Sentence: Every time he looked in the mirror, he saw the same haunted eyes staring back.
Why Use It? To reinforce a theme, build meaning, or create a sense of inevitability.
Technique: Shift in Tone or Mood
Definition: A sudden change in atmosphere or emotion.
Example Sentence: The laughter faded. The room grew cold.
Why Use It? To create contrast, emphasize a turning point, or manipulate the reader’s emotions.
Technique: Withholding Information (Deliberate Mystery)
Definition: Keeping important details hidden until a key moment.
Example Sentence: He knew what had to be done. But first, he had to find her.
Why Use It? To build tension, intrigue the reader, and make revelations more impactful.
