Structure refers to the way a text has been organised.
Different structural features can have different effects on the reader.
Interesting structural features in 'After Dark' are the perspective choice, repetition and the creation of suspense.
After identifying a structural feature in a text, it is important to discuss its effect.

Keywords

Structure - the way a text has been organised
Omniscient - all-knowing
Conceptualise - form a concept or idea of (something)

Common misconception

Students may confuse language and structural features.

Getting into a habit of asking a range of questions interrogating perspective, repetition, beginnings and endings can help students ease into the analysis of structure.

Model how you would go about reading 'After Dark' and answering the questions on the text in Learning Cycle 1.

Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the opening paragraph of Chapter 1 of 'After Dark' by Haruki Murakami 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).

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Worksheet

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Which of the below is not a structural feature?

Correct answer: metaphor

repetition

shift in focus

Q2.

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

fragmented

in medias res

Correct answer: circular

Q3.

What is narrative perspective?

Correct answer: the point of a view that a text is written from

the overall mood of a text

the number of characters in a text

Q4.

Match the words up to the perspective they offer.

Correct Answer:I, me, my,First

First

Correct Answer:She, him, they,Third

Third

Correct Answer:You, your,Second

Second

Q5.

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

first

second

Correct answer: third

Q6.

What is tension?

the way in which a text gets progressively funny

Correct answer: a feeling of nervousness or stress created in the reader

a melancholy tone that persists throughout an extract

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

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

Correct answer: first person

second person

third person

Q2.

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

use of dialogue

Correct answer: repetition

foreshadowing

Q3.

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

it helps us connect to the main character

Correct answer: it helps us visualise the dynamism of the whole city

it helps us to understand one particular part of the city

Q4.

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

flashback

Correct answer: repetition

juxtaposition

Q5.

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

with a sense that the characters will fall in love

Correct answer: with a sense that something bad will happen

with a sense of safety

Q6.

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

Correct answer: 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.