Narrative writing: What makes a good opening?
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Key learning points
- In this lesson, we will define exactly what the ingredients of a narrative piece are before moving on to examine how to write an effective opening. In order to do this, we'll look at the example of George Orwell's '1984' as well as reviewing the opening from our set text Samphire. You'll then have an opportunity to plan a narrative and write your own opening paragraph to try out your learning from the session.
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This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.
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5 Questions
Q1.
What is the term used to refer to the space and dynamics between characters?
lady on pedestal
positioning
staging
Q2.
What does catharsis literally mean?
to change
to complete
to contrast
Q3.
A narrative always has to give equal time to each of the 5 phases - true or false?
True
Q4.
Which of the following list are not an example of binary opposites?
active / passive
dark / light
good / evil
Q5.
The tradition of the Lady on the Pedestal is often criticised for doing what to the woman?
celebrating her
making her too powerful
5 Questions
Q1.
Which one of the following is not a type of narrative?
circular
fractured
linear
parallel
Q2.
'From this narrative perspective, the narrator knows everything.' Which of the following is the correct label?
first person
third person limited
third person multiple
Q3.
What is it called when you open a narrative in the middle of a moment of action?
climax
mise en scène
petit pois
Q4.
Which narrative genre presents an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice?
horror
science fiction
tragedy
Q5.
Narratives always have to start with a position of equilibrium. True or false?
true