Starter quiz
- In 'The Twisted Tree', Martha recalls Mormor telling stories about "corpses" who walk and "kill" those that are alive. What are these undead creatures called?
- zombies
- draugrs ✓
- dragons
- death-eaters
-
- In the novel 'The Twisted Tree' the draugr is the novel's main ...
- protgonist.
- antagonist. ✓
- sidekick.
- foil.
-
- The draugr is a real figure from ______ mythology.
- 'Norse' ✓
- In 'The Twisted Tree' the draugr is described as having ______ instead of hands
- claws ✓
- paws
- hooks
- talons
-
- What word beginning with 'M' describes: 'a collection of stories that explain the beliefs, history, and traditions of a culture, often involving gods, heroes, and magical creatures'?
- 'mythology' ✓
- In 'The Twisted Tree', which adjective is used to describe the draugr's hair?
- twisted
- matted ✓
- putrid
- wild
-
Exit quiz
- What is a draugr?
- a type of dragon
- a friendly ghost
- an undead creature from Norse mythology ✓
- a human warrior
-
- What linguistic device is being described here: 'a way of describing something by saying it is something else, to show a comparison or similarity between the two things'?
- 'metaphor' ✓
- What effect does the metaphor "her stomach turned to ice as the draugr approached" have in relation to 'The Twisted Tree'?
- describes Martha's appearance
- conveys Martha's intense fear ✓
- indicates a cold temperature
- describes Martha's illness
-
- What is the primary theme associated with the draugr throughout 'The Twisted Tree'?
- adventure
- death ✓
- revenge
- life
-
- What word beginning with 'I' describes language that creates vivid pictures for the reader?
- 'imagery' ✓
- Throughout 'The Twisted Tree', the draugr is associated with death to ______ the terror and make the reader fearful for Martha's life.
- heighten ✓
- decrease
- introduce
- offset
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A range of metaphors are used to describe the draugr.
- The draugr is associated with death to heighten its terror and make the reader fear for Martha’s life.
- Burge waits until the end of the novel to introduce a full description of the draugr, in order to create mystery.
- The draugr’s curved claws are a symbol of its terrifying violence.
Common misconception
Pupils might think that the draugr is simply a physical monster with no deeper significance or symbolism.
While the draugr is indeed a fearsome physical entity, it also symbolises deeper themes such as death, decay and the persistence of fear. In Norse mythology, draugrs are more than just monsters; they embody the fears and anxieties of the living.
Keywords
Draugr - an undead creature from Norse mythology that haunts the living
Metaphor - a way of describing something by saying it is something else, to show a comparison or similarity between the two things
Imagery - visually descriptive writing
Fearsome - frightening, especially in appearance
+