Language & structure · Both
Literary Language in Fiction
Fiction extracts in language exams test the same skills as non-fiction: techniques, structure and effect – focused on character and atmosphere.
Character through language
Writers reveal character by:
• What they say and how they say it (dialogue, dialect, silence)
• Actions and small details
• Other characters’ reactions
• Narrative description and imagery linked to them
Atmosphere and tension
• Sensory detail (sound, light, weather)
• Sentence length – short sentences speed tension
• Withholding information
• Contrast between calm setting and uneasy action
Worked example
Effect of silence in a scene?
Solution: Silence can suggest fear, awkwardness or power. Comment on what is *not* said as well as what is described.
Dialogue tips
Dialogue is rarely “just talk”. Ask: who controls the conversation? What is avoided? What do interruptions show?
Practice questions
1. Name two ways writers reveal character.
2. How can short sentences create tension?