2.2.6

Structure

Test yourself

Tips for Dealing with Structure

Looking at structure is about looking at how the text is put together and considering why the writer chose to say/do something at that particular point in the text. Some aspects of the structure you could explore are:

Illustrative background for Changing depthIllustrative background for Changing depth ?? "content

Changing depth

  • Zooming in on small details.
    • E.g. Moving from describing New York City, to the items in the protagonist's New York apartment.
  • Zooming out to look at the whole picture.
    • E.g. Moving from looking at different characters' perspectives on an event to the omniscient narrator's overview of the scene.
  • Changing from a small focus to a big focus.
    • E.g. Changing from how one character feels to the actions of a whole group of characters or the description of a place.
Illustrative background for Narrative shiftsIllustrative background for Narrative shifts ?? "content

Narrative shifts

  • Shifts of perspective.
    • E.g. Shifting from the point of view of one character to another.
  • Shifts in time.
    • E.g. A flashback or flashforward.
  • Shifts in place.
    • E.g. Switching between characters in different locations.
  • Shifts in topic.
    • E.g. The narrator moves from discussing a couple's relationship to describing the action.
  • Shifts from internal to external.
    • E.g. Moving from a character’s internal thoughts to external actions.
Illustrative background for Repetition and cyclesIllustrative background for Repetition and cycles ?? "content

Repetition and cycles

  • Repetition.
    • E.g. Jane Eyre repeatedly fleeing from men (Rochester and St John).
  • Cyclical structures (events happening in cycles).
    • E.g. The opening setting of Of Mice and Men also featuring as the closing setting.
  • Foreshadowing.
    • E.g. A writer using lots of gun imagery to warn about an upcoming murder.
Illustrative background for DevelopmentsIllustrative background for Developments ?? "content

Developments

  • How characters/events develop throughout the text.
    • E.g. How Harry Potter develops from being the boy under the stairs to a hero at Hogwarts.

Jump to other topics

1Key Terms

2Language Techniques

3Paper 1: Reading

4Paper 1: Writing

5Paper 2: Reading

6Paper 2: Writing

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson