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Lesson details

Key learning points

The structure of a narrative means how the plot is organised - its sequence.
Readers need to feel that the structure of a story has been planned.
One way to plan a narrative is to rely on the five part narrative structure.
The five part narrative structure divides a story into exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.

Keywords

Yemoja - in the Yoruba religion, goddess of creation, water, moon, motherhood and protection
Mami Wata - a water spirit or deity (god) sacred to West, Central and Southern Africa
Reactive - responding quickly and unthinkingly to something
Disgruntled - unhappy
Flashback - a transition in a story to an earlier time in the life of one or more characters

Common misconception

The five part narrative structure is the only way to structure a story.

There are lots of ways to create a story that is structured. This is one example. The most important thing to remember is that whatever your structure, it should be considered and carefully planned.

Consider if the stories which break down the five part narrative structure are appropriate for your pupils. You may have other examples that you wish to use instead.

Teacher tip

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on

Open Government Licence version 3.0

except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Match each story type to its example, all taken from 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire'.

Correct Answer:myth,'The Song of Achilles'

'The Song of Achilles'

Correct Answer:legend,'The Lady of Shalott'

'The Lady of Shalott'

Correct Answer:folktale,'The Fisherman and the Jinni'

'The Fisherman and the Jinni'

Correct Answer:factual,'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey'

'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey'

Correct Answer:poem,'The Canterbury Tales'

'The Canterbury Tales'

Q2.

Match each character, all from 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', to what we know about them.

Correct Answer:Shahrazad,a formidable storyteller

a formidable storyteller

Correct Answer:Shahrayar,a tyrannical king

a tyrannical king

Correct Answer:Achilles,a renowned warrior

a renowned warrior

Correct Answer:Simidele,a Mami Wata, a mermaid

a Mami Wata, a mermaid

Correct Answer:Icarus,a hubristic young boy

a hubristic young boy

Correct Answer:the Lady of Shalott ,a cursed woman

a cursed woman

Q3.

Match the sentence stems about Simidele, a mermaid from Natasha Bowen's 'Skin of the Sea' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire'), to their endings.

Correct Answer:Simidele is a Mami Wata because,Yemoja transformed her into one.

Yemoja transformed her into one.

Correct Answer:Simidele is a Mami Wata but ,she was once human.

she was once human.

Correct Answer:Simidele is a Mami Wata so ,she gathers the souls of the enslaved who die at sea.

she gathers the souls of the enslaved who die at sea.

Q4.

Starting with the first, put these plot points from 'The Fall of Icarus' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') in chronological order.

1 - Daedalus and Icarus are imprisoned on the island of Crete.

2 - Daedalus creates wings from wax and feathers so they can escape.

3 - Daedalus warns his son not to fly too close to the sun or the wax will melt.

4 - Daedalus and Icarus take flight, and Icarus ignores his father's advice.

5 - Icarus feels like a god as he flies through the sky, higher and higher.

6 - The wax melts, and Icarus plunges to his death.

7 - Daedalus offers his wings to the god, Apollo, and swears never to fly again.

Q5.

Starting with the first, put these plot points from 'The Fisherman and the Jinni' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') in chronological order.

1 - The fisherman catches a jinni in a jar in his net.

2 - The fisherman releases the jinni from the jar, who threatens to kill him.

3 - The fisherman tricks the jinni into returning to the jar.

4 - The fisherman tells the jinni a story in order to teach him a lesson.

5 - The jinni understands the lesson and no longer wants to kill the fisherman.

6 - The jinni rewards the fisherman with precious jewels.

Q6.

What is the technical term for a transition in a story to an earlier time in the life of one or more characters? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

frame story

foreshadowing

Correct answer: flashback

flashforward

pathetic fallacy

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

The part narrative structure is a way of sequencing a story so that it has a logical and engaging structure. ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

Correct Answer: five , 5

Q2.

Starting with the first, put these sub-headings from the five part narrative structure ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') in chronological order.

1 - exposition

2 - rising action

3 - climax

4 - falling action

5 - resolution

Q3.

Match the sub-headings of the five part narrative structure to their function. ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

Correct Answer:exposition,establishes character/setting; introduces a problem

establishes character/setting; introduces a problem

Correct Answer:rising action,develops character and problem

develops character and problem

Correct Answer:climax ,most intense, and often deciding moment, of a story

most intense, and often deciding moment, of a story

Correct Answer:falling action,aftermath of the climax

aftermath of the climax

Correct Answer:resolution,how the story ends

how the story ends

Q4.

Which sentences use the word disgruntled (or a form of it) correctly? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

Correct answer: The pupils felt there was too much homework and were disgruntled.

"That was so fun!" she said, disgruntledly.

Correct answer: The judge received disgruntled letters about her controversial decision.

It was a great day and everyone looked disgruntled in the pictures.

Q5.

Which sentences use the word reactive (or a form of it) correctly? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire')

Correct answer: He paused before he shouted but normally he was quite a reactive person.

Correct answer: The starting gun went; the athletes were reactive, leaping forward immediately.

She thought slowly and reactively about her decision.

He said, "Don’t make your decision now. Be reactive and wait until tomorrow."

Q6.

A is a transition in a story to an earlier time in the life of one or more characters.

Correct Answer: flashback, flash back