GCSE English Language Question 3: structure revision

Define this word: Foreground

• something that is focused on multiple times in the text

• the thing that is focused on at that part of the text

• when a text begins and ends in the same way

• the character who tells the story/ the point of view that the story is told from

Which of these two sentences uses foreground correctly?

• The dialogue foregrounds the narrative.

• At the start of the narrative the writer foregrounds the image of a bird.

• A 3rd person narrative foregrounds the story.

• The image of the bird is at the foreground of the narrative.

Shift in focus is....

• the thing that is focused on at that part of the text

• how the narrative changes.

• when the narrator changes in the narrative.

• when the writing moves on to focus on something different

Circular narrative is when...

• when a text begins and ends in the same way

• something new is focused on.

• when the writing moves on to focus on something different

• when events occur in time order

What three things could you analyse in Question 3 (the structure question)?

• The effect and connotations of key language.

• The effect of any shifts that take place during the narrative.

• How the text changes from the start, middle and end of the narrative.

• The effect of any changes upon the reader.

Answer explanation

Remember you are focusing on structure. You will not get any points for talking about language features on this question.

A recurrent focus is...

• when events occur in time order

• the thing that is focused on at that part of the text

• the order of a text/ the way that a text has been put together

• something that is focused on multiple times in the text

Answer explanation

This could be used to emphasise a key idea to the audience.

Chronological order is...

• when events occur in time order

• when a text begins and ends in the same way

• when the writing goes back to a moment in the past

• the order of a text/ the way that a text has been put together

Answer explanation

EG I got up. I went to school. I studied hard. I had lunch.

Imagine you are reading a story.

The first sentence of the story is. 'Everyday is the same.' The last sentence of the story is: 'Everyday is the same.'

What structural device is the writer using?

• non-chronological order

• circular narrative

• shift in focus

• chronological order

Answer explanation

The writer may be using this to emphasise to the reader how monotonous (dull) their life is: every day start and ends the same way.

When a story jumps backwards and starts describing the past it is using....

• flashforward

• chronological order

• non-chronological order

• flashback

The perspective a story is told from is called the...

• narrative voice

• current focus

• recurrent focus

• circular structure