Y05W24VC Theme Words — Stories & storytelling

A narrative is a story or account of events, especially in a structured and meaningful way.

Word Breakdown: -ive (suffix meaning ‘having the quality of’)

Word family: narrator (n.), narrate (v.)

Example: The narrative followed three friends as they searched for a lost artefact in the outback.

Synonyms: story, account, tale

Collocations: a personal narrative, the narrative arc, build a narrative

The plot is the sequence of events that makes up the story, including how characters' problems develop and are resolved.

Example: The plot became more exciting in the second half of the novel as the mystery deepened.

Synonyms: storyline, sequence, structure

Collocations: the plot of, develop the plot, a complex plot

A perspective is a particular way of looking at or thinking about something, often shaped by personal experience.

Word family: perspectival (adj.)

Example: Writing from the perspective of the villain helped her understand why the character made those choices.

Synonyms: point of view, viewpoint, angle

Collocations: from a different perspective, offer a perspective, consider the perspective

A challenge is a difficult task or situation that requires effort and determination to deal with.

Word family: challenging (adj.), challenged (adj.)

Example: Writing from a different character's perspective was an interesting challenge that pushed her thinking.

Synonyms: difficulty, obstacle, test

Collocations: face a challenge, a creative challenge, rise to the challenge

An obstacle is something that makes it difficult to achieve a goal or to move forward.

Example: The biggest obstacle in the story was the character's fear of speaking in public.

Synonyms: barrier, difficulty, hurdle

Collocations: overcome an obstacle, a major obstacle, face an obstacle

A problem is a situation or question that needs to be dealt with, resolved, or answered.

Example: The central problem in the story was how the young inventor would protect her discovery.

Synonyms: issue, difficulty, challenge

Collocations: solve a problem, a key problem, identify the problem

To overcome something is to succeed in dealing with a difficulty or challenge.

Word family: overcoming (n.)

Example: Through persistence and the support of her friends, she managed to overcome her fear of heights.

Synonyms: conquer, defeat, get past

Collocations: overcome a challenge, overcome difficulties, overcome fear

A difficulty is a problem or situation that is hard to deal with or get through.

Word family: difficult (adj.), differently (adv.)

Example: She faced several difficulties in the early chapters but found her strength by the end of the story.

Synonyms: challenge, problem, hardship

Collocations: face a difficulty, overcome difficulty, a major difficulty

‘Despite’ is used to introduce a fact that makes another fact surprising or unexpected.

Example: Despite the obstacles she faced, the character refused to give up on her dream.

Synonyms: in spite of, even though, regardless of

Collocations: despite the challenges, despite this, despite everything