Creating voice in our narratives

English

'Alias Grace': forming opinions on characters

Emulating Atwood’s use of an untrustworthy character in ‘Alias Grace’

Conceptualising voice in fiction texts

Exploring unique narrative voices

‘The Yellow Wallpaper’: analysing character

'The Yellow Wallpaper': crafting voice

Exploring voice in ‘Klara and the Sun’

Emulating Ishiguro's use of an artificial voice in 'Klara and the Sun'

Comparing dystopian voices

Planning outstanding narratives

Writing a narrative with a compelling voice

In 'Fiction: Inner Musings', pupils develop narrative writing skills. In 'Writing Masters', pupils experiment using language and structure to write interesting and creative texts.

In 'Fiction: Books that Changed My World', pupils explore how authors use language for effect in their writing. In 'Fiction: Inner Musings', pupils develop focus on using author's language choices to make nuanced evaluations about a text.

In this unit, pupils explore and practise emulating a range of different narrative voices. They explore narrative voice in 'Alias Grace', 'The Yellow Wallpaper' and 'Klara and the sun' before crafting their own narrative voices. At the end of the unit, they write a narrative with a compelling voice.

Fiction: inner musings

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Narrative voice is the voice of an author whereas authorial is of a character.

Authorial voice is always flat whereas narrative voice is vibrant.

Narrative voice is a constructed voice whereas authorial voice is a writer's own

What is the difference between authorial and narrative voice?

create a character voice, distinct from your own

tell it from your own point of view with embellishments

If you have an idea for a narrative but cannot relate to it, what might best bring the story to life?

which character is emotionally invested in the story line

which character will witness the storyline unfold

What is most important to consider when choosing a voice to tell your story?

writing about a character's biographical details

Which of these may *not* help to shape a compelling voice?

How might the tone of voice in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' be described?

One day I was asked to do a school project; I had to create a family tree.

It was that stupid project set by Mr. Fisher that led me to be parentless. 

 I was back early from work and so was my husband.

Which of these sentences crafts the most compelling voice?

the language and style of the narrator used to tell a story

whether a text is narrated by a reliable narrator or not

"It's okay, hurt people do hurtful things."

"How dare you? It's shameful that you think you can get away with this!"

"I'm not angry at him, I'm angry at myself."

Which of the below has an indignant tone?

"They pressed the button on my nose and my limbs began to convulse."

"I live at home with my husband and dog (my dog the more favourable companion)."

Which of the below examples might signal a non-human voice?

make up a character with the exact same life experiences as you

come up with a character who has a different voice to you

What might help you to make your narrative voice distinct from your authorial voice?

How would you describe the narrative voice in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman?

Starter Quiz

What is narrative voice?