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Year 10
Edexcel

Creating a structurally interesting narrative opening

I can use interesting structural features to create an engaging narrative opening.

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Creating a structurally interesting narrative opening

I can use interesting structural features to create an engaging narrative opening.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. You can utilise elements from a traditional story arc to help you create an interesting narrative opening.
  2. A mundane setting offers an opportunity for an interesting shift in tone.
  3. Shifting from a wider setting to a close focus on a specific thing or person demonstrates control of focus.
  4. Saramago crafts a shift in tone with the conjunction 'but', a list and the manipulation of sentence length.
  5. You can build suspense in a narrative by making the reader wait longer for a climax.

Common misconception

The traditional story arc can only be applied to full narratives.

You can find elements of the traditional story arc in writing of any length.

Keywords

  • Mundane - ordinary and therefore not interesting

  • Climax - the most important or exciting part of a story

  • Tension - a feeling of nervousness

  • Innovate - to introduce changes and new ideas

In Learning Cycle 2, take time to brainstorm multiple ideas for innovating on Saramago's structure (in addition to Aisha's) so your students feel confident tackling the practice task.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to the first two paragraphs from Chapter 1 of Jose Saramago's 'Blindness' for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting 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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the different parts of the story with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:Exposition,an introduction to a scene or characters

an introduction to a scene or characters

Correct Answer:Rising action,part of a story where tension builds

part of a story where tension builds

Correct Answer:Climax,the narrative reaches the peak of tension

the narrative reaches the peak of tension

Q2.
Which of the below could be described as mundane?
going on holiday
Correct answer: brushing your teeth
redecorating your house
Q3.
What is a clause?
a long sentence
Correct answer: a section of text containing a subject and verb
a short phrase
Q4.
Which of the below might build tension?
Correct answer: describing a strange noise but not telling the reader where it is coming from
describing the weather at a beach
keeping a consistent tone throughout an extract
Q5.
Which of the below uses sensory language?
The room had a lot of flowers.
Roses stood on the windowsill.
Correct answer: The fresh scent of peonies filled the air.
Q6.
What type of sentence would slow down the pace of a narrative the most?
simple
compound
Correct answer: complex

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What can be used to set the scene successfully at the beginning of a narrative?
Correct answer: sensory language
contrasting conjunctions
direct address
Q2.
Why might Saramago have chosen to begin his narrative by describing a mundane traffic setting in 'Blindness'?
to make the reader feel in awe of the setting
Correct answer: to create a strong contrast between the mundane and the chaotic
Correct answer: to allow intrigue to build as the scene develops
Q3.
How could you craft a sentence to build tension?
use a semantic field
describe the sensory experiences within a mundane setting
Correct answer: craft a long sentence where each additional clause adds panic
Q4.
"Each pair of legs was a cog in a machine: quick, determined, relentless, but one pair halted the rhythm: faltering limp, immobile." Which word here presents a shift?
quick
Correct answer: but
one
Q5.
Starting with the first, put the parts of Saramago's opening to 'Blindness' in chronological order.
1 - We are placed in a mundane situation: cars at a traffic light.
2 - Green signal for cars, most drive off but one is left stationary.
3 - The man inside the vehicle grows frantic, people try to help.
4 - The man is revealed to be blind.
Q6.
What is unique about the sentence that Saramago uses to reveal the man is blind in the opening of 'Blindness'?
it is incredibly short
it is a sentence fragment
Correct answer: it is incredibly long