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Year 11
Edexcel

Conceptualising voice in fiction texts

I can understand what is meant by voice in a narrative and consider how voice is crafted.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Conceptualising voice in fiction texts

I can understand what is meant by voice in a narrative and consider how voice is crafted.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Voice is the language a writer uses to convey a perspective or tell a story.
  2. Voice affects how we connect to and interpret the text.
  3. Voice can be crafted through syntax, punctuation, repetition and word choice.
  4. Voice can help shape a character's age, social class, mood, gender and the time period in which they are from in a text.
  5. Writers can craft a distinct voice to reveal people's differing reactions to the same scenario or event.

Common misconception

A narrative written in the first person perspective conveys the writer's voice.

A narrative written in the first person perspective does not necessarily reflect the writer's voice but a construct.

Keywords

  • Voice - the language a writer uses to communicate their perspective or a story

  • Distinct - recognisably different from something else

  • Perspective - the point of view a story is told from

Take time to discuss narrative perspectives and voices in novels you have read as a class or even from your favourite novels. Talk about which voices are most memorable to you and pupils.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), 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.
What is narrative perspective?
Correct answer: the point of view a text is written from
the feelings of a writer
the feelings of a character
Q2.
Match the narrative perspective to the words that correspond to this perspective.
Correct Answer:First person,I, my, we

I, my, we

Correct Answer:Second person,you, yours

you, yours

Correct Answer:Third person,she, he, they

she, he, they

Q3.
What is syntax?
Correct answer: the order of words in sentences
the use of varied punctuation
the length of a paragraph
Q4.
What is narrative voice?
Correct answer: the style the author chooses to tell a story
the writer's own feelings
the attitudes of the writer
Q5.
Which of these is an idiom?
"Good luck."
Correct answer: "Break a leg."
"Good bye for now!"
Q6.
Which of these is an imperative sentence?
"Can you come over here please?"
Correct answer: "Come here, now!"
She went over there.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What might a writer use to convey an anxious voice?
Correct answer: interruptions in syntax
complex sentences
imperative sentences
Q2.
The word 'cool' is an informal word for 'good'. What type of word is 'remarkable' if it is used to mean 'good'?
rude
Correct answer: formal
casual
Q3.
What might the repeated use of question marks suggest about a voice?
it belongs to an assertive person
it belongs to a brave person
Correct answer: it belongs to an indecisive person
Q4.
What might use of imperatives convey about a voice?
a sense of powerlessness
a sense of fear
Correct answer: a sense of assertiveness
Q5.
Which of the below might reflect an erratic voice?
"Feet Samuels is ...broke, and there is no percentage in hanging around brokers.
"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me."
Correct answer: "Why am I going there now? Am I capable of that? Is that serious?"
Q6.
A voice can help best shape the reader's perception of ...
the writer's life.
Correct answer: the character speaking.
the writer's personal opinions.