Exploring the use of time in Galloway's ‘The Cellist of Sarajevo’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse how Galloway uses time and use that as inspiration for the structure of my own narrative.
Key learning points
- You can experiment with time to create an interesting structure to your narrative.
- The use of flashback is powerful in 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' to help the reader connect to the character.
- The use of flashforward adds a sense of inevitability and a poignant tone to writing.
- Flashbacks are powerful when they contrast to the present moment in some way.
- Using certain phrases before your time shifts can help to create seamless transitions.
Keywords
Flashback - a transition in a story to an earlier time in the life of one or more characters
Flashforward - a transition in a story to a future time in the life of one or more characters
Poignant - evoking a sense of sadness or regret
Common misconception
We can only manipulate time in one way in a narrative.
When we know the effect that we want our flashbacks and flashforwards to have, we can use both.
Teacher tip
You may want to show pupils other examples of time manipulation in extracts that you have enjoyed or studied together.
Equipment
You will need access to Chapter 1 of 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' by Steven Galloway for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these is not a structural feature?
Q2.Which of these is a structural feature involving the writer's use of time?
Q3.What is a flashback?
Q4.What is a flashforward?
Q5.What does it mean if something is inevitable?
Q6.Which of these sentences has a poignant tone?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these does Galloway not use in the opening of 'The Cellist of Sarajevo'?
Q2.Which moment does Galloway not flashback to in the opening of 'The Cellist of Sarajevo'?
Q3.What can you do to make your flashback more powerful in a piece of creative writing?
Q4.How does Galloway use a flashforward in the opening of 'The Cellist of Sarajevo'?
Q5.Which phrase might be useful to help you transition into a flashback?
Q6.Why is it important to plan the phrases you will use when you shift time in your narrative writing?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the use of time in Galloway's ‘The Cellist of Sarajevo’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Exploring the use of time in Galloway's ‘The Cellist of Sarajevo’, 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.