Engaging with the opening chapter of 'The BFG' | English

Starter quiz

What is a narrative?
- writing that is made up or imagined
- writing that tells a story ✓
- writing that always gives true information
Which of the following are examples of genre?
- fiction ✓
- adventure ✓
- cookbook
- dictionary
- fantasy ✓
What is a protagonist in a story?
- the narrator of the story
- the main character(s) in a story whom the plot revolves around ✓
- the person who wrote the story
Put the sections of a narrative in a story staircase in chronological order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  opening
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  build-up
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  climax
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  resolution
What does it mean to read with expression?
- reading aloud quietly
- reading aloud with feeling ✓
- reading aloud loudly
What does it mean to end a chapter on a cliffhanger?
- the chapter ends suddenly
- the chapter ends in the middle of a sentence
- leaving the reader in suspense by ending the chapter with an unanswered question ✓

Match each word to its definition.
- dormitory
  
  ⇔
  
  a large room with many beds ✓
- moonbeam
  
  ⇔
  
  ray of light from the moon ✓
- crooked
  
  ⇔
  
  bent and twisted ✓
True or false? When reading aloud, you should speak very quietly.
- True
- False ✓
Why did Roald Dahl choose the name of the opening chapter?
- to make the reader laugh
- to create a scary atmosphere for the reader ✓
- to give the reader general facts
True or false? When you infer, you must only use information from the text.
- True
- False ✓
The atmosphere in the opening chapter of 'The BFG' is which of these?
- joyful
- exciting
- scary ✓
- sad
What can we infer from the following statement? 'Sophie's eyes widened as she looked out of the window.'
- Sophie was feeing sad.
- Sophie was amused by what was outside.
- Sophie was shocked by what she had seen. ✓

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Reading aloud involves using an expressive voice, varying volume, emphasising keywords and using facial expressions.
Roald Dahl uses repetition, ambiguity and a cliffhanger to create a scary atmosphere in the opening chapter.
Inferring is about drawing conclusions or making educated guesses based on information and clues provided in a text.
Evidence from the text is used to support inferences we make about a character or an event in a text.
Precise vocabulary choices, setting descriptions and purposeful sentence structures are used to build suspense.

Pupils may find it difficult to understand elements from the opening due to unfamiliar vocabulary.

Pre-teach unfamiliar vocabulary from the opening, using visual images to support student understanding.

Evidence - the information from a text that can support or justify our reasoning
Inference - a conclusion drawn from information and evidence in a text
Atmosphere - the feeling a writer wants their readers to experience, like suspense or fear or joy