TA prose - techniques Flashcards
6 main techniques to focus on
- narrative voice
- characterisation
- setting
- language
- structure
- themes
Narrative voice
first person
- advantages, allowed to see narrator’s innermost thoughts
- limitations, cannot see external perspective
third person
- see through a certain character in the story, readers can sympathise with this characters viewpoint
Characterisation
- role, hero/villain, purpose in story
- personality, strengths, weaknesses, effect of personality on reader
- relationships, connections/conflicts with others, are they relevant
- behaviour in key incidents, how do actions reveal character/affect others
Setting
- contributes greatly to the tone that the writer is attempting to establish
- impacts mood of the readers
- physical, when do things happen, word choice, imagery and sentence structure contribute, weather, objects
- society, social class, do they fit in, settled or conflicted
Language
tone and mood directly addressed in language of narrative
- word choice, is author exploiting underlying connotations, impact on reader
- imagery, metaphors and similies
- symbolism, significance of items
- sentence structure, conversational/formal
Narrative structure
- organisation, chronological, flashbacks, cyclical, loose ends?
- narrative style, narrator, action-provoking scene
Themes
- social/historical, what is suggested about society
- personal/moral, personality characteristics, generous, tolerant
Narrative style
- descriptive - vivid descriptions to create visual images
- linear - chronological order
- non-linear - not chronological
- viewpoint - story shown through thoughts of narrator (feelings, mood and sensory details of the narrator)
- omniscient
Distinguishing between short story and novel
- either a full short story or an extract of a novel can be given
- with short story, similar to a drama, there is a full cycle of central concern introduced, and resolution
- an extract of a novel, will usually only ‘introduce’ ideas and themes
Nature of narration in a novel
- due to the fact that novels do not have as much time restriction as drama or short story, they can take longer in developing the plot
- plots can span over long periods of time, take various twists and turns before reaching their destination etc.
Pace of narration
- narration can be slowed with long sentences punctuated by semi-colons, digressive paragraphs, extensive descriptions
- this slow narration can build a more detailed image of characters and events
- builds more suspense rather than jumping straight into conflict
- variety, e.g. between fast exchanges and slower descriptions, could entertain and grip the reader, or also represent something deeper
Way of 3rd person narration introducing and describing characters
- could be in a ‘sympathetic’ view
- could be in a more ‘critical’ view
- how does this contribute overall?
Connection to nature
- often descriptions of nature reflect the issues or themes faced by the character in the focus of the conflict
- watch for metaphors, personification
Omniscient narrator
- all-knowing voice in a story
- aware of each character’s thoughts
2nd person narration
- suggests it is emblematic of the universal experiences of a group, hence “you”
- creates excitement, by making readers feel closer to the action
- emotionally distances narrator from what they are describing, more difficult to observe their innermost thoughts etc.
