Crafting malevolent characters

English

Crafting physical description for malevolent characters

Using vocabulary effectively in fiction writing

Using figurative language effectively for character description

Contrasting characters: using juxtaposition

Crafting character through dialogue

Describing setting and developing tone

Using paragraphs effectively

Planning fiction writing about a malevolent character

Writing fiction about a malevolent character

In 'Malevolent Characters', pupils focus on a range of writing skills including how to describe the setting through action, create shifts in tone, paragraph effectively and use punctuation purposefully. In 'Science Fiction Writing', pupils further develop these writing skills, with a particular focus on the science fiction genre and how to write in this style. 

In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils explore the importance of narrative structure, looking at ways in which they can manipulate the traditional five-act structure. In 'Malevolent Characters', pupils delve deeper into the differences between narrative and descriptive writing, honing in on the skills needed to describe characters inspired by famous villains. 

In this unit, pupils create and write malevolent characters. They first look at the conventions of malevolent characters, before learning about the techniques they can use to present their malevolent characters. They finally plan and write their fiction with a malevolent character in it.

Malevolent characters: fiction writing

by being charming while hiding malicious intent

How does dialogue typically reveal a malevolent character's true nature?

Which word is **not** associated with malice or malevolence?

How does Dracula's dialogue in the extract from 'Dracula' contrast with his actions to reveal his true nature?

being deceptive and dishonest implies someone is malevolent and can't be trusted

dishonesty and deception are positive qualities that imply a character is smart

sometimes deception and dishonesty can be used for good without realising

Are deception and dishonesty characteristics of a malevolent character? Select the **most appropriate** response.

it can create vivid mental images that helps the reader understand the character

physical description always shows malevolence

Why is physical description useful when describing a malevolent character?

Dialogue can sometimes be used to build on the actions of a character.

Writers should always use descriptions to show malice, not dialogue.

Dialogue is only useful if more than one character is speaking.

A pupil said, 'dialogue is useful in illustrating a character's underlying malice.' Select the answers below which would be an appropriate response to the pupil.

a figure of speech that compares two things using 'like' or 'as'

a figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated things

giving an object human like characteristics

when you exaggerate or overstate something

when you compare two things using the verb 'to be'

What are the connotations of something which is described as 'sharp'?

What do we call the main character in a story? 

Crafting malevolent characters

Lesson outcome