Year 10 - English
Emulating Ian McEwan's use of a plot twist in 'Atonement'
Fiction: ending stories
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils look at four different story ending types and practise emulating them. They look at resolution in 'Moriaty', cliffhanger in 'The Two Towers', anti-climax in 'Hera' and plot twist in 'Atonement', before then crafting their own effective ending.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use figurative language, juxtaposition and repetition to emulate McEwan's use of an emotional plot twist.
Key Notes
- To emulate McEwan's emotional plot twist, we might use figurative language to influence the readers' expectations.
- We may then use juxtaposition to contrast their expectations with the reality of the situation.
- We could use repetition to emphasise the emotion behind the plot twist.
- We could also use consonant sounds in order to enhance the tone of the plot twist.
Vocabulary To Learn
- plot twist: a radical change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work of fiction
- juxtaposition: two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
- figurative language: uses words and ideas to suggest meaning and create mental images; not literal
- plosive: sounds articulated with an abrupt release of air like "p", "b" or "t"
- euphony: words that form a pleasant sound through soft vowel sounds and consonants such as "m" and "l"
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- That plot twists always turn a happy story to an unhappy story.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
To emulate McEwan's emotional plot twist, we might use figurative language to influence the readers' expectations. We may then use juxtaposition to contrast their expectations with the reality of the situation.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'plot twist'
a radical change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work of fiction.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: That plot twists always turn a happy story to an unhappy story. Correction: While some classic plot twists do turn a happy story to an unhappy story, it's not true of all plot twists.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Considering and emulating Tolkien's use of a cliffhanger in 'The Two Towers' Study Guide
- Crafting an effective ending Study Guide
- Emulating Anthony Horowitz's use of resolution in 'Moriarty' Study Guide
- Emulating Saint's use of an anti-climax in 'Hera' Study Guide
- Identifying and analysing Anthony Horowitz's use of resolution in 'Moriarty' Study Guide
- Identifying and analysing Ian McEwan's use of a plot twist in 'Atonement' Study Guide
- Identifying and analysing Saint's use of an anti-climax in 'Hera' Study Guide
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