Analysing structure

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Notes de leçon

What Structure Means

Structure is the way a writer organises the different elements of a text into a recognisable order.
It includes the ordering of events — the plot — as well as openings, endings, shifts in focus, time and perspective.
Structure is not the same as content: two texts can tell the same story but organise it very differently.
A story is a sequence of events, which can be true or fictitious, told in prose, verse or script to amuse or inform.
Structure has been shown to influence how the brain organises information, so it shapes how readers understand and remember a text.
Structures vary between cultures and change over time, so no single pattern is universal.

Openings and Endings

An opening often introduces the main characters, their basic situations and the setting — this is called the exposition.
Openings can begin×in medias res×(in the middle of the action), with description, dialogue or a question, each creating a different effect.
An ending may resolve the conflict, leave it unresolved, or return the reader to where the text began.
The final paragraph often answers — or deliberately refuses to answer — the dramatic question raised earlier.
Comparing a text's first and last lines is a quick way to spot a cyclical structure.

Shifts in Focus, Time and Perspective

A shift in focus moves the reader's attention from one character, place or idea to another.
A shift in time can jump forwards or backwards; a shift in perspective changes whose viewpoint we follow.
Flashback interrupts the present to show an earlier event, giving background or motivation.
Foreshadowing plants hints about what will happen later, building anticipation.
Writers often signal shifts with a new paragraph, a change of tense, or a change of narrator.

Paragraphs and Sentences: Pace and Tension

Short paragraphs and short sentences speed up the pace and can create tension or shock.
Long paragraphs and long sentences slow the pace, allowing description, reflection or a sense of calm.
A one-sentence paragraph is a deliberate choice that makes that idea stand out.
Writers vary sentence length to control the reader's breathing and attention.
A sudden change from long to short sentences often marks a turning point in the action.

Repetition and Patterns

Repetition of words, images or events draws attention and creates emphasis.
Patterns — such as repeated settings, phrases or character actions — help unify a text.
A repeated phrase can act like a refrain, reminding the reader of a key idea.
Breaking a pattern is as significant as creating one: it signals change or disruption.
Spotting patterns helps readers predict, then notice when a prediction is deliberately overturned.

Cyclical Structure

A cyclical structure begins and ends in the same place, situation or image.
It can suggest that nothing has changed, that a lesson has been learned, or that events repeat.
Cyclical endings often echo the opening's words or imagery to make the circle clear.
The reader's sense of closure depends on whether the cycle is broken or completed.

Common Structural Models

The three-act structure has a setup, a confrontation and a resolution.
In the first act, the inciting incident (or catalyst) disturbs the protagonist's ordinary world and leads to the first plot point, raising a dramatic question.
The second act develops the conflict and character arc, ending at the second plot point.
The third act brings the climax, which answers the dramatic question and ends the conflict.
Kishōtenketsu is a four-part structure from classical Chinese, Korean and Japanese narratives: introduction, development, twist, and conclusion.
The three-act structure was first described by Aelius Donatus in the fourth century and later popularised by Syd Field.

How Structure Shapes the Reader's Response

Structure controls what the reader knows, when they know it, and how they feel about it.
Withholding information creates mystery; revealing it early creates dramatic irony.
A twist or reversal forces the reader to reinterpret earlier events.
A well-placed cliffhanger at the end of a section makes the reader want to continue.
Analysing structure means explaining×why×the writer chose that order, not just×what×happens.

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1.Which term means the sequence of events that make up a story?
Easy
- Aplot
- Bsetting
- Ctheme
- Dgenre
2.Which term means the time and place in which a story happens?
Easy
- Aplot
- Bsetting
- Ccharacter
- Dconflict
3.Which term means a struggle between opposing forces in a story?
Easy
- Aresolution
- Bclimax
- Cconflict
- Dexposition
4.Which term means the most intense or turning point of a story?
Easy
- Aclimax
- Bexposition
- Cresolution
- Dforeshadowing
5.Which term means a scene that interrupts the present to show an earlier event?
Medium
- Aflashback
- Bforeshadowing
- Ccliffhanger
- Dsubplot
6.Which term means a hint or clue about events that will happen later?
Medium
- Aflashback
- Bforeshadowing
- Cred herring
- Dbackstory
7.In the three-act structure, what is the middle act often called?
Medium
- Asetup
- Bconfrontation
- Cresolution
- Dexposition
8.Which term means the point in a story where the main conflict is introduced and the dramatic question is raised?
Medium
- Ainciting incident
- Bclimax
- Cresolution
- Dexposition

Plus de questions

9.Which term means the part of a story where the conflict is resolved?
Medium
- Aexposition
- Brising action
- Cclimax
- Dresolution
10.What is a cyclical structure in a story?
Medium
- AThe story begins and ends in the same place or situation.
- BThe story is told in reverse order.
- CThe story has multiple narrators.
- DThe story has no clear ending.
11.Which of the following are structural features a writer might use? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- Aflashback
- Bforeshadowing
- Cmetaphor
- Dshort sentences for pace
- Esimile
12.A flashback interrupts the chronological order of events to show something that happened earlier.
Easy
True or false?
13.Foreshadowing gives hints or clues about events that will happen later in the story.
Easy
True or false?
14.In a cyclical structure, the story ends in a different place from where it began.
Medium
True or false?
15.Match each term with its definition.
Medium
- flashback
- foreshadowing
- climax
- resolution
- the most intense or turning point
- a scene that shows an earlier event
- the part where the conflict is settled
- a hint about future events
16.Place the parts of the three-act structure in the correct order.
Medium
- resolution
- setup
- confrontation
17.Match each structural term with its correct definition.
Medium
- Inciting incident
- Plot point
- Climax
- Resolution
- The dynamic event that disrupts the protagonist's ordinary world
- A moment that ends an act and raises or answers the dramatic question
- The point where the conflict boils over and the dramatic question is answered
- The part where the problem is settled and the story's elements come together
18.Place the four sections of kishōtenketsu in the correct order.
Easy
- Introduction
- Development
- Twist
- Conclusion
19.Which term describes a structure that ends in the same place or situation where it began?
Medium
- ACyclical structure
- BLinear structure
- CFragmented structure
- DEpisodic structure
20.In the three-act structure, which act contains the confrontation where the conflict is most developed?
Medium
- AThe second act
- BThe first act
- CThe third act
- DThe prologue
21.A short sentence can be used to speed up the pace and create tension.
Easy
True or false?
22.Read this short extract: 'The door slammed. She froze. Then, slowly, she turned the handle.' Which structural feature is most clearly used to create tension?
Medium
- AShort sentences that quicken the pace
- BA flashback to an earlier event
- CA cyclical return to the opening
- DA long descriptive paragraph
23.Which of the following statements about openings and endings are true? (Select all that apply.)
Hard
- AAn opening can establish setting, character and tone.
- BAn ending can resolve the conflict or leave it open.
- CA cyclical ending returns to the opening's situation or image.
- DAn opening must always introduce the inciting incident immediately.
- EAn ending cannot introduce new conflict.
24.Place the following events from a three-act structure in the correct chronological order.
Medium
- Setup and exposition
- Inciting incident
- Rising action and confrontation
- Climax
- Resolution
25.Which sentence uses a flashback structure correctly?
Medium
- AShe opened the letter, and suddenly remembered the day she had first met him.
- BShe opened the letter, and suddenly remembers the day she first met him.
- CShe opened the letter, and suddenly will remember the day she first met him.
- DShe opened the letter, and suddenly is remembering the day she first met him.
26.Which sentence uses foreshadowing most effectively?
Medium
- AThe dark clouds gathered, and she shivered, though she did not know why.
- BThe dark clouds gathered, and she shivered because she was cold.
- CThe dark clouds gathered, and she shivered as she put on her coat.
- DThe dark clouds gathered, and she shivered, so she went indoors.
27.Which sentence uses a cyclical structure most clearly?
Medium
- AThe story begins with a girl looking out of a window and ends with the same girl looking out of the same window.
- BThe story begins with a girl looking out of a window and ends with her walking away from the house.
- CThe story begins with a girl looking out of a window and ends with a flashback to her childhood.
- DThe story begins with a girl looking out of a window and ends with a description of the weather.
28.Which sentence uses a short sentence to create tension?
Medium
- AThe door slammed.
- BThe door slammed loudly and echoed through the empty hall.
- CThe door slammed, and the sound echoed through the empty hall, which made her jump.
- DThe door slammed, echoing through the empty hall and making her jump.
29.Which sentence uses repetition effectively to create a pattern?
Medium
- AShe walked, she walked, she walked until her legs ached.
- BShe walked quickly until her legs ached.
- CShe walked and walked and walked until her legs ached.
- DShe walked until her legs ached.
30.Which of the following sentences use foreshadowing? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- AThe old man warned them not to go into the forest after dark.
- BShe found a knife hidden under the floorboards.
- CHe ate his breakfast and then brushed his teeth.
- DThe sky was clear and blue all day.
- EA black cat crossed her path and she felt a chill.
31.In a cyclical structure, the story ends in the same place or situation where it began.
Easy
True or false?
32.A flashback always moves the story forward in time.
Easy
True or false?
33.Read this short extract from a story: 'The train pulled out. She watched the platform shrink to a dot. Then she opened the letter.' Which structural feature is most clearly used to create a sense of moving away?
Medium
- AA short sentence followed by a longer one to slow the pace
- BA flashback to an earlier event
- CA cyclical return to the beginning
- DA foreshadowing of a future event
34.Read this extract: 'He had promised to write. Every day she checked the post. Nothing. The empty doormat mocked her.' What is the effect of the repetition of 'Nothing' and the image of the empty doormat?
Medium
- AIt creates a humorous tone
- BIt emphasises her growing disappointment and isolation
- CIt suggests she has forgotten about him
- DIt speeds up the pace of the narrative
35.Read this extract: 'The old house stood at the end of the lane. Its windows were eyes, watching. Inside, a clock ticked backwards.' Which structural feature is most evident in the final sentence?
Medium
- AA flashback
- BForeshadowing
- CA cyclical structure
- DA shift in perspective
36.Read this extract: 'The race began. He sprinted. He stumbled. He fell. He got up. He ran.' What is the main effect of the series of short sentences?
Medium
- AIt slows the pace to create a calm mood
- BIt creates a fast, tense pace that mirrors the action
- CIt provides detailed description of the setting
- DIt introduces a flashback to an earlier race
37.Read this extract: 'She opened the door. The room was exactly as she had left it: the same faded wallpaper, the same cracked vase, the same dust. She was home.' Which structural feature is most clearly used?
Medium
- AA cyclical structure, returning to the starting point
- BA flashback to a childhood memory
- CForeshadowing of a future event
- DA shift to a different character's perspective
38.Read this extract: 'The letter lay unopened on the table. Outside, the wind howled. She knew what it said without reading it.' What does the final sentence most strongly suggest about the character?
Hard
- AShe is excited to read the letter
- BShe has already guessed the news and is avoiding it
- CShe cannot read the letter because it is in a foreign language
- DShe has forgotten what the letter is about
39.Read this extract: 'He had been a soldier once. Now he tended his garden. The roses bloomed where once there had been wire and mud.' What is the effect of the contrast between past and present?
Medium
- AIt suggests he has forgotten his past
- BIt emphasises how far he has come from violence to peace
- CIt shows that he prefers gardening to fighting
- DIt creates a humorous contrast between war and flowers
40.Read this extract: 'The door was locked. She tried the handle again. It would not budge. She stepped back, and the door swung open.' What structural feature is used to create surprise?
Medium
- AA flashback to an earlier attempt
- BA cyclical return to the start
- CA sudden reversal or twist
- DA shift to a different setting
41.What is the term for the sequence of events in a story?
Easy
42.What is the term for a scene that interrupts the present to show an earlier event?
Medium
43.Complete the sentence with the correct term.
Easy
The ____ is the most intense or turning point of a story.
44.Complete the sentence with the correct structural term.
Medium
A ____ interrupts the chronological order of events to show something that happened earlier.
45.What is the term for a hint or clue about events that will happen later in a story?
Medium
46.What is the term for a structure that ends in the same place or situation where it began?
Medium
47.What is the term for the part of a story where the conflict is resolved?
Medium
48.Explain how a writer might use a flashback to develop a character.
Hard
49.Explain how a writer might use a flashback to develop a character. Refer to a specific structural effect in your answer.
Hard

Notes de révision

## Analysing Structure **Structure** is how a writer organises a text: the order of events and the way parts are unified into a recognisable sequence. It shapes how you respond as a reader. ### What to look for - **Openings and endings** — how a text begins and closes, and what that sets up or resolves. - **Shifts in focus** — changes in what (or who) the text concentrates on. - **Time and perspective** — jumps forwards or backwards, and whose viewpoint is used. - **Flashback and foreshadowing** — looking back to earlier events, or hinting at what is to come. - **Paragraph and sentence length** — short units speed pace and build tension; long units slow it down. - **Repetition and patterns** — repeated words, images or ideas that create emphasis. - **Cyclical structure** — a text that ends where it began, returning to its opening. ### Common story structures - **Three-act structure**: - **Act 1 — setup/exposition**: main characters, basic situations and setting introduced; the **inciting incident (catalyst)** pushes the protagonist to act; the act ends at the **first plot point**, raising a **dramatic question** (e.g. "Will X disable the bomb?"). - **Act 2 — confrontation**: the bulk of the story; conflict develops, especially between protagonist and antagonist, alongside **character development (character arc)**; ends at the **second plot point**. - **Act 3 — resolution**: the problem boils over; elements come together in the **climax**, which answers the dramatic question and ends the conflict. - **Kishōtenketsu** (from classical Chinese, Korean and Japanese narratives): four sections — **introduction**, **development**, **turning point/twist**, **conclusion**. ### Key idea Structure is not just what happens, but the order and shape in which it happens — and that shape is what influences the reader's response. ### Exam reminders - Name the structural feature, give the moment it happens, then explain the **effect on the reader**. - Link structure to **pace, tension and meaning**. - Use precise terms: inciting incident, plot point, climax, foreshadowing, cyclical structure.

Story structure: The recognisable or comprehensible way in which a narrative's different elements are unified, including in a particularly chosen order; sometimes specifically the ordering of the plot.
Story: A sequence of events, which can be true or fictitious, that appear in prose, verse or script, designed to amuse and/or inform an audience.
Three-act structure: A common structure in classical film and other Western narrative forms, made up of setup, confrontation and resolution.
Exposition: The setup at the start of the first act, introducing main characters, their basic situations and the setting.
Inciting incident (catalyst): A dynamic event experienced by the protagonist later in the first act, which their initial actions try to deal with.
First plot point: The point where the first act ends and a dramatic question is raised.
Dramatic question: The question raised at the first plot point, e.g. "Will X disable the bomb?" or "Will Y end up with their love interest?"
Second act (confrontation): The bulk of the story, where conflict is most developed and characters may undergo change (character development or character arc).
Second plot point: The point where the second act ends and the protagonist returns to their ordinary world.
Third act (resolution): The problem boils over, forcing characters to confront it and bringing all elements together, leading to the climax.
Climax: The answer to the dramatic question, coming hand in hand with the end of the conflict.
Kishōtenketsu: A four-section structure derived from classical Chinese, Korean and Japanese narratives: introduction, development, turning point/twist, and conclusion.
Flashback: A shift back in time to earlier events.
Foreshadowing: A hint or suggestion of what is to come later in the text.
Cyclical structure: A structure in which a text ends where it began, returning to its opening.

Cartes mémo

What is story structure?

Story structure is the recognizable or comprehensible way in which a narrative's different elements are unified, including in a particularly chosen order.

What is the three-act structure?

A common narrative structure in classical film and Western narrative forms, consisting of three acts: setup, confrontation, and resolution.

What happens in the first act of the three-act structure?

The first act begins with setup, introducing main characters, their basic situations, and the setting. It contains the primary level of characterization and is often called the exposition.

What is the inciting incident?

A dynamic event experienced by the protagonist later in the first act, which their initial actions attempt to deal with in order to reestablish order.

What is a dramatic question?

A question raised at the first plot point, such as 'Will X disable the bomb?' or 'Will Y end up with their love interest?'

What is the second act of the three-act structure?

The second act, or confrontation, is considered the bulk of the story. Here the characters' conflict is most developed, and character development or arc may occur.

What is the third act of the three-act structure?

The third act, or resolution, is when the problem boils over, forcing characters to confront it, leading to the climax, which answers the dramatic question and ends the conflict.

What is Kishōtenketsu?

A four-section narrative structure mainly derived from classical Chinese, Korean, and Japanese narratives.

What are the four sections of Kishōtenketsu?

Introduction, development, twist, and conclusion. The third section is based around a turning point, change in direction, reversal, or twist.

Who first described the three-act structure?

Aelius Donatus in the fourth century A.D. in his commentary on the works of Terence.

Who popularized the three-act structure?

Syd Field in Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting.

What did Aristotle advocate for in Poetics?

A continuous two-act plot: δέσις (desis) and λύσις (lysis), roughly translating to binding and unbinding, not centered on 'one individual', where characters learn a lesson through negative reinforcement.

Who outlined the basics for what later became the foundation for three- and five-act story structures?

Gustav Freytag in Die Technik des Dramas (1863). He outlined Introduction, Rise, Climax, Return or Fall, and Catastrophe.

What did Georges Polti propose in The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations?

He proposed multiple plot forms in lieu of Freytag's single structure, and discussed material from cultures that Freytag disparaged.

What is the first act's setup often called?

The exposition.

What is the second plot point?

The point where the second act ends and the protagonist returns to their ordinary world.

What is the climax?

The answer to the dramatic question, occurring hand in hand with the end of the conflict.

What is character development or a character arc?

Changes in values and personality that one or more characters may undergo, particularly developed in the second act.

What is the first plot point?

The point where the first act ends and a dramatic question is raised.

What does the second section of Kishōtenketsu refer to?

It may refer to the development, or to a beginning of an action related to self-realization.

What does the fourth section of Kishōtenketsu concern?

It concerns itself with a result or conclusion, a consequence thereof, or a 'coming to fruition'.

What is the first known treatise on story structure?

Aristotle's Poetics.

Who argued for a five-act chorus in Ars Poetica?

Horace.

What did Selden Lincoln Whitcomb write?

A Study of a Novel, which examines the basis for Silas Marner's plot structure, arguing for the Line of Emotion on Page 39.

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