Starter quiz
- What is being described here 'a conclusion you reach by applying logic to the evidence you are given'?
- 'inference' ✓
- Which of the below are reasonable synonyms of the word 'sinister'?
- menacing ✓
- ominous ✓
- violent
- painful
- awkward
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- Which weather phenomenon often accompanies the arrival of the draugr in 'The Twisted Tree'?
- rain
- fog ✓
- sunshine
- lightning
- wind
-
- A figure of speech where two separate things are deliberately contrasted for effect (using 'like' or 'as') is known as a ...
- simile. ✓
- metaphor.
- euphemism.
- pun.
- motif.
-
- In what century did the Gothic genre first appear?
- 17th century
- 18th century ✓
- 19th century
- 20th century
- 21st century
-
- Identify one convention of a Gothic text.
- happy endings
- realistic characters
- common, everyday settings
- mystery and suspense ✓
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Exit quiz
- What does the word 'sinister' mean?
- joyful or happy
- harmful or evil ✓
- vengeful or bitter
- aggressive or violent
-
- What is a simile?
- a figure of speech using 'like' or 'as' ✓
- a statement of fact
- an exaggerated statement
- any comparison of some kind
-
- What skill involves looking for suggested ideas rather than stated ones?
- analysis
- summary
- inference ✓
- description
-
- In 'The Twisted Tree' Burge uses a simile to compare the fog to a ...
- wall.
- mountain. ✓
- barrier.
- blockade.
-
- The fog in 'The Twisted Tree' often symbolises ...
- mystery and danger. ✓
- anticipation and deception.
- joy and relief.
- winter and nighttime.
-
- At one point in 'The Twisted Tree', Burge describes the fog as bending around the twisted tree itself. To which animal does she compare the fog to in this description?
- a snake ✓
- a dragon
- a lion
- a raven
- a shark
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- When making an inference, start by choosing a key word or technique to zoom in on.
- Inferences should be developed with additional ideas that could link to context.
- Similes and metaphors that link to snakes are often used, for the association with evil.
- Fog often symbolises mystery and danger.
Common misconception
Pupils might think that inferences are just guesses without any evidence.
Inferences are not guesses; they are conclusions drawn from evidence in the text. For example, Burge describes the fog as "snaking" around Martha. We infer that it is dangerous and sinister because the word "snake" often implies danger and malice.
Keywords
Inference - a conclusion you reach by applying logic to the evidence you are given
Sinister - giving the impression that something harmful or evil is about to happen
The gothic - a style of writing that involves dark, mysterious and supernatural themes
Simile - A figure of speech where two separate things are deliberately contrasted for effect (using 'like' or 'as')
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