Skip to Main Content

Lesson 2

We will examine the Narratives Reference Guide to understand plot structure and map the narrative sequence of 1984.

Lesson Goals

  • Can I summarize the elements of a narrative sequence?

  • Can I explain the story structure of 1984?

Texts

Core

  • Tradebook
    • 1984, George Orwell, Signet Classics, 1949

Materials

Tools

Reference Guides

Question Sets

Editable Google Docs

Activity 1: Read – Discuss – Write

We will examine the elements of narrative sequences and plot structure in the narratives reference guide.

Read and annotate the following sections in the Narratives Reference Guide:

  • Developing Narrative Plot through Elements of Organization and Structure

  • Using Literary Techniques that Impact Narrative Structure and Plot

Use the following questions to guide your reading:

  1. What are the organizational elements of a story’s narrative sequence?

  2. What techniques do authors use that result in more or less complex narratives?

  3. What narrative structure does 1984 reflect?

Discuss your responses as a class.

Write down the definitions for the following literary terms in your Vocabulary Journal:

  • plot or narrative sequence

  • exposition

  • conflict

  • rising action

  • climax

  • falling action

  • denouement

Activity 2: Read – Discuss – Write

We will map the narrative sequence of 1984.

In groups, map the narrative sequence of 1984. Capture the plot development on chart paper.

Activity 3: Read – Discuss – Write

We will participate in an interactive gallery walk to deepen our understanding of 1984’s plot structure.

You and your group will examine the maps from the other groups.

Provide feedback for each group. Your feedback must address at least one of the following questions:

  1. What narrative sequence elements did your group have in common?

  2. What narrative sequence elements did your group not have in common?

Provide specific details on where you differed. For example:

  • You might have remembered something they did not.

  • They might have remembered something you did not.

  • They might have placed a different emphasis on a detail.

You will use your peers’ feedback to revise your group’s story map in the next lesson.