Writing about Narrative Structure

This is the traditional narrative structure of the novel. This Exposition: The insertion of important background information within a story (setting, characters' backstories, Event? Narrative device? Effect?
movement from calm, to climax, to calm may also be prior plot events, historical context etc)
witnessed within the extract you are analysing.

Rising Action: A series of related incidents following the exposition that builds toward the point of greatest
interest – the climax. 1

Climax: The point during a narrative when the action or conflict reaches its peak.

Falling action: The parts of a story after the climax and before the very end.
2

Denouement: The final part of a narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are
explained or resolved.

Feature Effect Feature Effect Feature Effect

3
Dialogue If used at the start, can create 1st person 1st person presents information from a character’s Short Short paragraphs can be
enigmas about the identity of perspective perspective, which invites the reader to sympathise with paragraph used to create surprise or
the speaker or the action of (focalised them. It is also an unreliable perspective meaning that the excitement. They can also
the narrative. Obviously it object) reader might not have access to all information. The introduce or finish
allows us to hear a speaker’s person or object from whose perspective we see the passages of important
thoughts which might be a narrative from is the focaliser or focalised object. narrative. They speed up
reaction to, or contrast with, the action of the narrative. 4
the current events.

Description Presents the reader with Long Long paragraphs can

specific, telling information paragraph often be used to create a
about setting, people, 2nd person 2nd person directly addresses the reader as “you.” slow build-up of tension,
animals, actions or objects of perspective Depending on the tone of the text, this could create a or to mimic slow actions.
interest. It can also be used to sense of friendship or threat. Either way, the reader may They often provide a large
give surprising or subtle links feel more directly involved, as if they are in a amount of narrative
to the action of the narrative. conversation with the author. information. 5

Action Develops the narrative Short Short sentences also

through a sequence of events sentence create surprise and
3rd person 3rd person refers to characters as “he” or “she” and views excitement. They can
Zoom in Focuses the reader’s attention perspective them as if from a distance as the narrative develops. mimic the quick speed of Some other structural terminology
on the micro – often picking (can also be 3rd This creates an objective distance between the reader. the narrative actions.
out specific, close up detail. person The omniscient narrator knows everything and can They can also create a
This can create discomfort or omniscient) comment on all characters’ thoughts, feelings and sense of finality (of things Enigma: A question, or puzzle, that the reader must solve by reading
intensity. events (although they may judge the characters ending) if used at the end further.
themselves too.) of an event.

Retardation: Holding back key information to compel the reader to read

Zoom Out Focuses the reader’s attention Past tense This creates the sense that the events of the narrative Long Long sentences can further.
on the macro – revealing the have already happened and are being recounted. It gives sentence create a sense of calm, or
setting or linking the events to a sense of objective distance. the slow build-up of
a wider frame of reference. tension. They can also Equilibrium: Where there is no tension within the world of the narrative
This can create a sense of Present tense This creates a sense of immediacy, placing the reader in mimic the slow speed of and everything is in balance.
calm or the end of suspense. the same situation as the characters which can create the narrative actions.
suspense, excitement or fear. Dis-equilibrium: When the world of the narrative (or even the extract)
Focus shift An author might shift the focus Contrasts Authors will deliberately is disturbed by a “problem.” Most narratives take place in this state.
of the narrative to a different between change the lengths of
time period, location, object or sentence paragraphs or sentences
person. This creates links Flashback This is where the author reorders the events of the or to create a changing Resolution: When the “problem” that caused the dis-equilibrium has
between the focus objects, as (analepsis) narrative. In this case, the narrative moves to an earlier paragraph sense of speed or been resolved (often by the hero.)
well as perhaps inviting time to provide the reader with key information which then length emotional changes in the
contrasts between the focus alters their perspective on current events. characters. Try to link
objects from the reader. what is happening in the
extract to the lengths in
each section.
Flash forward This is where the author reorders the events of the
(prolepsis) narrative. In this case, the narrative moves to a future
time to provide the reader with key information which then
alters their perspective on current events.