Starter quiz
- In which country is 'The Twisted Tree' set?
- 'Norway' ✓
- What is being described here: 'a collection of stories that explain the beliefs, history, and traditions of a culture, often involving gods, heroes, and magical creatures'?
- 'mythology' ✓
- A big influence on the story of 'The Twisted Tree' is ...
- Norse Mythology. ✓
- Greek Mythology.
- Roman Mythology.
- Chinese Mythology.
- Anglo-Saxon Mythology.
-
- Which of the below are reasonable synonyms of the word 'villain'?
- antagonist ✓
- evildoer ✓
- hero
- sidekick
- protagonist
-
- According to Norse mythology, Odin is a famous...
- god ✓
- warrior
- king
- ghost
-
- In 'The Twisted Tree' which god does Martha demand to see, in order to save Stig?
- 'Hel' ✓
Exit quiz
- What is Odin the god of?
- Wisdom, death, battle, and poetry ✓
- Love, beauty, and fertility
- The sea, earthquakes, and horses
- Harvest, wine, and theatre
-
- Which day of the week is associated with Odin?
- 'Wednesday' ✓
- Which mythical tree connects all nine realms in Norse mythology?
- Yggdrasil ✓
- Bifrost
- Mimir's Tree
- Jotunheim
-
- What is the difference between a draugr and a ghost?
- Draugr are friendly; ghosts are hostile.
- Draugr have a real, reanimated body; ghosts have a spiritual, intangible body. ✓
- Draugr are friendly; ghosts are hostile.
- Draugr are immortal; ghosts are mortal.
-
- Which of the following are common traits of a draugr?
- ethereal appearance and invisibility
- superhuman strength, decay, and long claws ✓
- healing powers and intelligence
- fire-breathing and shape-shifting
-
- How does Burge use Norse mythology to create a terrifying villain in 'The Twisted Tree'?
- by portraying the draugr as a hero
- by disregarding Norse mythology completely
- by blending elements of Norse mythology with her own characterisation ✓
- by making the draugr a real and truthful presentation of what draugrs are like
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Odin is a Norse god who is associated with wisdom, poetry and death.
- Odin sacrificed his eye in order to gain metaphorical sight and understanding.
- A draugr is an undead creature from Scandinavian folklore.
- A draugr is a re-animated corpse that stinks of decay and possesses superhuman strength.
- Burge uses some of the most terrifying elements of Norse mythology to create a frightening villain.
Common misconception
Pupils may think all draugr are depicted in Norse mythology and in 'The Twisted Tree' in the same way.
While draugr in Norse mythology generally share traits their specific appearances can vary between stories. Rachel Burge's portrayal in 'The Twisted Tree' offers her unique interpretation, reflecting the novel's narrative and atmosphere.
Keywords
Mythology - a collection of stories that explain the beliefs, history, and traditions of a culture, often involving gods, heroes, and magical creatures
Norse - belonging or relating to the Scandinavian countries
Draugr - an undead creature from the Norse mythology that haunts the living
Decay - to rot or decompose
+