Exploring structure in Murakami's ‘After Dark’

English

In 'Fiction: Read Around the World', pupils identify and comment on a range of language devices in extracts from texts. In 'Fiction: Science Fiction Writing', pupils identify and comment on recurring images and symbolism in texts.

In 'A World at War: Short Stories', pupils read short stories, analysing how authors structure full texts. In 'Fiction: Read Around the World', pupils analyse structural choices in smaller extracts of texts.

In this unit, pupils read extracts from four novels from around the world, and use them to develop their narrative writing. In particular, pupils explore writers' use of structure. At the end of the unit, pupils consider their own use of paragraphs for effect and write an engaging narrative.

Fiction: read around the world

Which narrative perspective allows us to emotionally connect the most with a specific character?

Which technique would make an image persist in a reader's mind?

it helps us connect to the main character

it helps us visualise the dynamism of the whole city

it helps us to understand one particular part of the city

What is one possible effect of the third person perspective in the opening of 'After Dark'?

Which structural technique does Murakami use to emphasise the image of the city's dynamism in our heads?

with a sense that the characters will fall in love

with a sense that something bad will happen

How does the opening paragraph of 'After Dark' end?

It creates a sense of suspense as we await sinister happenings in the night.

It creates a sense of nostalgia for the characters' childhood.

It allows us to imagine we are the arteries of the city.

What is the effect of ending the opening paragraph of 'After Dark' in the way that Murakami does?

Which of the below is *not* a structural feature?

Which of these refers to a structure in which the end of a text links to the beginning?

the point of a view that a text is written from

Match the words up to the perspective they offer.

What perspective is the opening of Murakami's 'After Dark' written from?

the way in which a text gets progressively funny

a feeling of nervousness or stress created in the reader

a melancholy tone that persists throughout an extract

Introduction

What will you need for this lesson?

Are you ready to learn?

Equipment

Worksheet