How to Analyse Structure in an English Language Exam

If you are studying English Language at GCSE, IGCSE, A level or IB, you can achieve very high marks for commenting on the structure of a piece of writing. You may even have a dedicated question on structure, such as in the AQA GCSE English Language exam.

Written by: Nick Redgrove

Last updated

1 July 2024

Read time

8 minutes

Contents

What do we mean by “structure”?

Put simply, the structure of a text is how it has been put together or constructed. Think of a writer being a builder: just like a building is meticulously planned, a writer very deliberately constructs their writing. They consciously decide what comes at the beginning of their text, and how this opening relates to the middle and the end of their text. Structural features can be:

Whole-text level	Paragraph level	Sentence level
For example, beginnings, endings and the relationships between sections of a text	For example, topic changes, shifts in focus or mood or single-sentence paragraphs	For example, sentence length

Unpicking writers’ intentions in their use of structure

When analysing structure, comment on the effects of the structural features a writer uses. You will not be rewarded with top marks for spotting that a writer has used foreshadowing, for example, if you don’t also explain why they have used it.

Often, a writer is trying to create a certain mood with their piece of writing or to elicit a certain emotional response from their readers. When you analyse the structure, you should identify the changes of mood, meaning or atmosphere in a text.

For example, a writer might create a calm, sedate mood at the start of a short story before shifting the atmosphere later on to one of panic or terror. They might do this to give the reader the same abrupt shock that their characters feel in this drastic change in mood. Or perhaps a writer is writing crime fiction. They might intentionally withhold information from the reader about a criminal's identity, and other crucial plot points, to create a sense of mystery and to build tension.

In both these cases, your analysis should focus on the effects of the writers’ structural choices (to allow the reader an insight into a character’s perspective or to build mystery and tension).

What can the structure of a text reveal?

Remember, a writer uses structure to build their piece of writing. Understanding where and when a writer places their building blocks helps us understand the different meanings and messages a writer wants to convey. We can interrogate the structure of a text by asking simple questions:

	What to look for	Questions to ask yourself
What?	What is the writer focusing on?	What is the narrative perspective of the text? Does the perspective change? Does the focus change? Do we shift from an external (setting) to an internal (mental or emotional) focus?
When?	When is the text set?	Does the writer sequence their text chronologically? Are there flashbacks or other shifts in time period?
Where?	Where has the writer set their text?	How is the setting presented and does this change? Does the location change?
Who?	Who are the characters and how are they introduced?	Who is the protagonist? Do we learn more about the characters as the text progresses? Which characters are introduced first, or later on, and why?
How?	What patterns can you spot?	Are the beginning and end of the text related? Does the writer hint at events that are yet to happen? Are there any recurring ideas or symbols throughout the text?

Once you’ve asked these questions, the final question you must ask is “why?” Why has a writer decided to make all of these decisions? The best marks in any English Language exam come from answering this final “why” question with your own opinion or interpretation of a writer’s intention.

Structural devices

As we’ve said, focusing on the effects of a writer’s structural choices is one of the ways you can get top marks. It is not important to know the names of lots of structural devices: as long as the examiner can see you are interrogating the meaning and intention behind a piece of writing, they can reward you with a high grade.

However, there are useful structural devices that can help you in your exam:

Structural technique	Definition
Openings	Thе opеning of a tеxt gives the reader an initial setting and focus, sets a mood and introduces characters It also establishes the narrative voice
Endings	Thе end of a piece of writing brings thе narrativе to a rеsolution or conclusion It providеs a sеnsе of closurе, wraps up loosе еnds and gives insight into how thе charactеrs havе changеd throughout thе narrative
Endings
Foreshadowing	Forеshadowing is used to hint at or anticipate futurе еvеnts or dеvеlopmеnts within a narrativе Forеshadowing can also crеatе a sеnsе of suspеnsе for thе rеadеr
Foreshadowing
Juxtaposition	Juxtaposition rеfеrs to thе dеlibеratе placеmеnt of two contrasting еlеmеnts in closе proximity to onе anothеr to highlight thеir differences By juxtaposing contrasting еlеmеnts, writеrs can achiеvе various еffеcts, from еmphasising thеmеs and charactеr dеvеlopmеnt to еliciting еmotional rеsponsеs from the reader
Juxtaposition
Motifs	Motifs are recurring images, ideas or symbols that are used across a text They can be used to emphasise a particular mood or character trait or to signpost significant themes to the reader
Linear narrative	Linеar narrativе rеfеrs to a narrative structurе whеrе еvеnts in a narrativе arе prеsеntеd in a chronological ordеr Thе plot unfolds in a causе-and-еffеct mannеr and thе rеadеr еxpеriеncеs thе еvеnts in thе samе ordеr as thеy occur within thе story's timеlinе
Linear narrative
Non-linear narrative	Non-linеar narrativе is a storytеlling structurе whеrе еvеnts in a narrativе arе prеsеntеd out of chronological ordеr Thе plot may jump back and forth in timе or fеaturе flashbacks and alternate timelines Non-linear narrativеs often rеquirе thе rеadеr to piеcе togеthеr thе еvеnts in a non-sеquеntial mannеr


Cyclical structure	Cyclical structurе is when the narrativе concludеs with a rеturn to its starting point, crеating a sеnsе of closurе and circularity In a cyclical structurе, thе narrative’s еnding mirrors or еchoеs its bеginning, еmphasising thеmеs or charactеr dеvеlopmеnt
Cyclical structure

How do I analyse structure in a paragraph?

When analysing structure, you can use quotations to support your ideas or you can simply refer to the structural decisions a writer has made. Just make sure you explore in detail what you think the intended effects of the writer’s choices are by providing your own interpretation.

Grade 9 Structure Analysis

Let’s take Kate Chopin’s short story, The Story of an Hour, as an example of an English Language text.

Full-mark analysis
Chopin suggests that although a sense of strength can be possible for women, ultimately any self-determination they achieve is only ever temporary. Chopin uses a circular structure in her short story, beginning and ending with descriptions of Louise’s physical fragility. While Chopin allows for the development of her protagonist during the middle of the story, with Louise’s new-found vitality in stark contrast to the subservient wife she is first presented as, the devastating conclusion to the story marks a return to physical and mental frailty. Chopin could be suggesting through her story’s structure that society places too many restrictions on women for them to be truly free or escape societal limitations.

Full-mark analysis

Chopin suggests that although a sense of strength can be possible for women, ultimately any self-determination they achieve is only ever temporary. Chopin uses a circular structure in her short story, beginning and ending with descriptions of Louise’s physical fragility. While Chopin allows for the development of her protagonist during the middle of the story, with Louise’s new-found vitality in stark contrast to the subservient wife she is first presented as, the devastating conclusion to the story marks a return to physical and mental frailty. Chopin could be suggesting through her story’s structure that society places too many restrictions on women for them to be truly free or escape societal limitations.

How do I structure my analysis of structure?

Many schools teach paragraph structures or “scaffolds” to help students analyse texts, either for language or structure. You may know these as Point, Evidence, Explanation (PEE) or Point, Evidence, Analysis and Link to the question (PEAL) paragraphs. As much as these can be helpful when you are first learning to analyse language or structure, exam boards don’t like students to use them: they think students can offer more original ideas and interpretations if they aren’t limited by these rigid scaffolds.

Instead, look at the full-mark analysis above:

It begins with a topic sentence, which is a main point that relates the exam question that has been set
It includes evidence — “Chopin uses a circular structure in her short story, beginning and ending with descriptions of Louise’s physical fragility” — which, although it is not a quotation, refers specifically to a writer’s method
It then concludes with its biggest section: extended analysis which offers both the student’s own interpretation and refers to the writer's possible intentions

Lastly, don’t worry too much about using “specialist terminology”. If you’re able to offer original or interesting analysis on a text’s meanings, an examiner will reward you for it!

How to Analyse Structure in an English Language Exam

What do we mean by “structure”?

Unpicking writers’ intentions in their use of structure

What can the structure of a text reveal?

Structural devices

How do I analyse structure in a paragraph?

Grade 9 Structure Analysis

How do I structure my analysis of structure?

Further reading

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Author: Nick Redgrove

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