Structure Techniques

Question 1

What is linear/cyclical structure?

Answer 1

A structure of a story that starts with something from the end of the story and ends with something form the start of the story. E.g. A hero dying at the start and the end
Think of it as a circle

Question 2

Flashbacks/Flash forwards

Answer 2

A technique that takes the story from one time to another, in the future or in the past

Question 3

Tense change

Answer 3

Used if there is a time jump in the story or when a character is remembering/talking about the past or recalling a memory

Question 4

Narrative perspective

Answer 4

The perspective that the story is told from. Who it is told from, first or third person or when/where it is told from

Question 5

Zoom in/Zoom out

Answer 5

Used to really emphasise or focus on something, someone or a person’s actions

Question 6

Sentence length

Answer 6

Different sentence lengths can be used for different situations. Eg. If a lot of adjectives need to be in one sentence, then the writer would use a longer sentence. Or when there is suspense, the writer would use short sentences.

Question 7

Speech

Answer 7

Used when the characters want to communicate or express feelings to the reader(like a diary entry or a monologue)

Question 8

Turning points

Answer 8

Used in a story when something goes wrong, like a climax, death or sacrifice

Question 9

Pathetic Fallacy

Answer 9

The author gives human emotions to things like nature or inanimate objects

Question 10

Foreshadowing

Answer 10

Alerts the reader to danger that might come later in the story