Analysing Saramago's use of structural devices in 'Blindness'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can confidently write a piece of structural analysis about an unseen fiction text.
Key learning points
- Considering the ordering of ideas is important when analysing the structure of a text.
- Saramago purposely withholds information in 'Blindness' to build suspense and intrigue.
- We must always ask ourselves why a writer chose to structure their writing in the way they did.
- Time conjunctions can help us to write effective structural analysis.
Keywords
Time conjunction - words that connect clauses by indicating time relationships between them
Suspense - a state of anxious uncertainty about what may happen
Withhold - refrain from giving
Common misconception
Students may assume that they need to identify and name specific structural devices in their structural analysis.
An answer simply referencing 'the beginning, middle and end' can make for a successful structural analysis.
Teacher tip
In Learning Cycle 1, you may want to read the text and annotate it as a class.
Equipment
You will need access to the opening two paragraphs to José Saramago's 'Blindness' for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the key terms with their definition.
the words and phrases a writer uses for effect
the style of a text
how a text is organised
Q2.Which of these is not a structural feature?
Q3.Match these structural terms with their definition
the most exciting part of a text
the speed at which a narrative progresses
when two things are shown to be different from one another
Q4.What is a conjunction?
Q5.Which of the below would slowly build suspense in a text?
Q6.Match each word to the part of the text they would help to describe.
beginning
middle
end
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does the first sentence of the opening of 'Blindness' by José Saramago focus on?
Q2.What is the climactic moment in the opening of 'Blindness' by José Saramago?
Q3.In 'Blindness' what technique does José Saramago use to create suspense?
Q4.We can track how a writer builds suspense across a text by writing about …
Q5.Which type of conjunction will help us write about the ordering of an extract?
Q6.Which conjunction is missing from this sentence about 'Blindness': " , Saramago offers a climax: the man behind the wheel of the stationary car is blind"?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Analysing Saramago's use of structural devices in 'Blindness', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Analysing Saramago's use of structural devices in 'Blindness', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Fiction: read around the world unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.