Exploring structure in Murakami's ‘After Dark’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify and comment on the effect of interesting structural features in ‘After Dark’.
Key learning points
- Structure refers to the way a text has been organised.
- Different structural features can have different effects on the reader.
- Interesting structural features in 'After Dark' are the perspective choice, repetition and the creation of suspense.
- After identifying a structural feature in a text, it is important to discuss its effect.
Keywords
Structure - the way a text has been organised
Omniscient - all-knowing
Conceptualise - form a concept or idea of (something)
Common misconception
Students may confuse language and structural features.
Getting into a habit of asking a range of questions interrogating perspective, repetition, beginnings and endings can help students ease into the analysis of structure.
Teacher tip
Model how you would go about reading 'After Dark' and answering the questions on the text in Learning Cycle 1.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the opening paragraph of Chapter 1 of 'After Dark' by Haruki Murakami for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the below is not a structural feature?
Q2.Which of these refers to a structure in which the end of a text links to the beginning?
Q3.What is narrative perspective?
Q4.Match the words up to the perspective they offer.
First
Third
Second
Q5.What perspective is the opening of Murakami's 'After Dark' written from?
Q6.What is tension?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which narrative perspective allows us to emotionally connect the most with a specific character?
Q2.Which technique would make an image persist in a reader's mind?
Q3.What is one possible effect of the third person perspective in the opening of 'After Dark'?
Q4.Which structural technique does Murakami use to emphasise the image of the city's dynamism in our heads?
Q5.How does the opening paragraph of 'After Dark' end?
Q6.What is the effect of ending the opening paragraph of 'After Dark' in the way that Murakami does?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring structure in Murakami's ‘After Dark’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring structure in Murakami's ‘After Dark’, 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.