1. Structure Yr 7 Novel Unit

2. What Is Structure? Structure refers to the arrangement of different elements if the texts. You can probably remember something about plot structure from earlier this year…

3. Freytag’s Pyramid Can you remember the different points on Freytag’s pyramid?

4. Freytag’s Pyramid How well did you remember?

5. When It’s Not That Simple: Sub-Plots There is not always just one plot in a story. We call more minor plots Sub-Plotsand they can have a variety of different points of focus. They can be used to develop: Character Understanding e.g. Back Story. Theme – seeing the same main idea in a slightly different way. Action – they could cover a more minor incident that could be ‘hinged’ to the main plot (i.e. affect the main plot’s outcome)

6. Subplots What examples of subplot can you think of from the novel you are studying? What is their main purpose? (Why are they there?)

7. Conflict Every story evolves around a conflict or several conflicts that follow seven basic patterns: Man vs. Himself : a hero is challenged by his own will, confusion, or fears. This is a struggle of the hero who must to come to a decision. Man vs. Man: a hero faces challenges by antagonists. Man vs. Society: a hero must confront social traditions, moral principles and edicts. Man vs. Nature: a hero is challenged by forces of nature.

8. Conflict Man vs. the Supernatural: a hero is challenged by supernatural forces or the unknown. Man vs. God: a hero is challenged by divine forces or religious or spiritual conviction or belief. Man vs. Technology: a hero is challenged by the machine, technology or science; this is a common theme in science fiction. Man vs. Nature: a hero is challenged by something that occurs in the natural world.

9. Conflict Spot the conflict type in the following extracts: Skellig pgs 6-7 pgs 30-32

10. Tension In any good story there will be a variation in amounts of tension the reader feels throughout the novel. Tension is created through: Conflict Style of Writing (Which you will look at soon)

11. Tension Graphs Take a piece of paper and draw the x and y axes needed for a graph. Label the X axis with crucial moments from the plot in chronological order. Label the Y axis between 0 and 100 (percent) to indicate the degree of tension on your graph.

12. Tension Graphs Once you have completed your graph make a note of the key areas of tension in your novel. What do you think is the most tense moment in your novel? Why? Explain in full sentences in as much detail as possible. At which stage on Freytag’s Pyramid do those tense moments occur most frequently?