Lesson video

Hello everyone.

How are you doing today? I hope you're really, really well.

My name's Sue Satsal.

I'm feeling pretty good today because we are going to be exploring a really exciting text.

It's called "Arthur and the Golden Rope", and today we're going to be exploring the genre of this text.

Let's get started.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explain what a modern myth is.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

My turn, your turn.

Modern myth.

Supernatural.

Folklore.

Features.

Norse mythology.

Fantastic.

Great to hear those words.

And now let's find out what they mean.

A modern myth is a contemporary tale explaining a culture's beliefs and customs, often involving god's and supernatural creatures.

Supernatural beings include gods, giants, magic and other mystical ancient elements.

Folklore is a genre in which oral stories are shared and passed down over time.

The features of a text type refer to distinctive characteristics that belong to it.

Norse mythology is a set of ancient tales of Scandinavian gods, beliefs and the worlds they inhabit.

Let's be on the lookout and also listening out for these keywords.

Our lesson today, exploring the genre of "Arthur and the Golden Rope" has two parts to it.

There is, first of all, introduction to the genre and text, and then first impressions.

Let's begin with our introduction to the genre and text.

"Arthur and the Golden Rope" is a modern myth.

A modern myth is a contemporary tale explaining a culture's beliefs and customs often involving god's and supernatural creatures.

Myths belong to the genre of traditional tales and folklore.

They usually explain the creation of the world, natural events and the origins of rituals or customs. Modern myths incorporate elements of traditional myths but are adapted to contemporary context.

They often include diverse characters, settings, and relatable themes that reflect the world we live in.

The author and illustrator of "Arthur and the Golden Rope" is Joe Todd-Stanton.

Let's meet him.

(bright music) <v ->Hello, my name is Joe Todd-Stanton</v> and I was taught to draw by my mom growing up in Brighton.

I was incredibly lucky in the fact that I had two parents that were both super into art.

So I had my mom that loved drawing, and then I had my dad who's actually a performance artist.

It's quite unlike illustration, but it still meant that he really loved taking me to galleries and see this kind of whole world of galleries from a very early age.

Drawing kind of all just came from that background.

I think I've always loved this idea.

I think that's so prevalent in children's picture books of a kid from the kind of this normal world that then suddenly finds kind of a portal or a way into kind of a magical realm.

Before I became an author, my main thing was that I just loved drawing.

That was kind of the thing that I always thought from when I was a kid or kind of dreamed that that would be my profession.

So I think that was always the kind of the main goal and, and then once I started doing that I realised, okay, this is really fun, but I wonder if I could find a way to get all of these things that I love to draw so much and put them into my own story.

So I'm not necessarily always drawing what someone else's imagination is trying to create, but being able to give myself the opportunity to draw my own imagination.

So yeah, that's how I kind of went from becoming an illustrator to becoming an author.

One of the great things when you have your work published is you get these kind of crazy moments of self-reflection where you can think about really specific things from your childhood.

When I was growing up, I ended up being in the same class as the son of Chris Riddell.

I ended up having a play date with his son and going to Chris Riddell's house.

And I remember just peeking in through a set of double doors to be able to see his studio and see his drawing table and just thinking kind of how it kind of felt like you were looking into like a wizards tower or something, you know, there are all these kind of amazing contraptions that I'd never seen before and I remember that just kind of being so inspiring.

There was a certain point where "Arthur and the Golden Rope" my first picture book was on a bookshelf alongside a book he'd illustrated.

And that was kind of just a magical moment where I could see this kind of whole journey from this one view of his studio when I was a really little kid to suddenly seeing my books next to his was incredible.

<v ->So good to meet Joe.

</v> The text is part of a series of picture books titled "Brownstone's Mythical Collection".

Each text in a series explores a different culture or myth.

The front cover can provide the reader with clues as to what might occur in the text story or narrative.

I would like you to have a discussion now.

What do you notice on the front cover? So take a good look at this amazingly illustrated cover.

What do you notice? Pause the video, and share with someone nearby.

Okay, so what did you notice on the front cover? You may have spotted a large, fierce creature with menacing eyes, sharp claws, and bad teeth ready for a fight.

a broken piece of a tree with interesting marks or glyphs.

A character, possibly Arthur, in the foreground.

Golden rope draping around the setting, which seems to be a forest scene.

It's nighttime.

One-eyed bird nesting up in the branches.

Wonder if you spotted these things.

True or false? The front cover of a text can usually provide us with some clues about the story.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

Yes.

The front cover of text can usually provide us with some clues about the story.

Now I'd like you to justify your answer by picking one of these two statements.

The front cover gives subtle hints at what might happen in a narrative.

The front cover just tells the readers, the author and illustrator of a text.

Pause the video while you decide which of these is a good justification for your answer.

Well done if you selected A.

Indeed, the front cover gives a subtle hints about what might happen in a narrative.

So what are the features of a modern myth? Let's take a look.

It often feature gods and goddesses with extraordinary powers and abilities.

Exciting.

Adapts traditional myths for today or creates new ones.

Reflects contemporary values, issues and cultures.

An important moral or lesson is usually taught and it can sometimes blend reality and fiction leaving room for interpretation.

Some of the features of a modern myth.

Now I'd like you to look at pages two and three.

"Arthur and the Golden Rope" explores Norse mythology.

The opening double page spread introduces us to Arthur's home in Iceland and a Norse world.

Four gods border the pages.

Norse mythology comprises ancient tales and beliefs of the Scandinavian people, featuring gods, such as Odin and myths about creation, end times and the nine realms interconnected by the World Tree, which is called Yggdrasil.

Norse mythology has several important gods and goddesses.

The ones that appear in "Arthur and the Golden Rope" are these.

Odin, the chief god, symbolising wisdom, war, and poetry.

He presides over the realm of Asgard, accompanied by his ravens and wolves.

Thor is the hammer-wielding god of thunder, strength and protection, popular for his bravery in battles and for defending humanity against giants.

Freyja is a powerful goddess associated with love, fertility, and war, often depicted as independent and assertive.

Baldr is a god representing purity, joy and the summer sun, known for being beloved by all.

Which three of the following are features of modern myths? Modern myths are entirely factual.

Modern myths reflect contemporary values, issues and cultures.

Modern myths usually feature gods and goddesses with extraordinary powers and abilities.

Modern myths include important morals or characters learning something.

Pause the video while you decide which three of the following are features of modern myths.

Well done if you selected the last three statements.

Each of these are indeed features of modern myths.

And now it's time for your task.

I would like you to predict what you think might happen in "Arthur and the Golden Rope".

Use the features of a modern myth and the illustrations to help you.

So there's the involvement of gods and goddesses with extraordinary powers and abilities.

Adapts traditional myths for today.

Reflection of contemporary values, issues and cultures.

Important moral or lesson learned.

Blending of reality and fiction.

And you can begin your sentence, I predict.

Say what you think might happen.

Because.

And why you think that's so.

So pause the video here while you share with someone, what is your prediction about what do you think might happen in "Arthur and the Golden Rope".

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

So I wonder what did you come up with and hopefully use your features of a modern myth and the illustrations to help you.

Perhaps you had an idea like this.

I predict that Arthur will face a menacing, mythical creature, as they have bad teeth and sharp claws on the front cover.

Yep, good prediction there.

And another one.

I predict that Arthur will have some help from some Norse gods and goddesses, as this is a feature of modern myths.

Yeah, I love that.

If your prediction can be justified using the features of a modern myth and the illustration, then it's a good prediction.

And now we're onto the next part of our lesson.

First impressions.

The book opens with an introduction to the Brownstone family vault.

It's filled with a range of artefacts that have been collected over the years.

Let's hear Joe read pages six to nine, up until, and many others.

And you can follow along in your text.

<v ->Hello dear reader,</v> and welcome to the Brownstone family vault.

Within this room, like artefacts of great power and rarity collected over thousands of years from every corner of the globe.

My most treasured possession is actually this humble collection of books.

They contain tales of lands and creatures long forgotten as told by the people who collected these amazing objects, my ancestors.

They include such adventures as Eleanor Brownstone's discovery of the Crystal Kingdom and her subsequent death-defying escape.

My great great-grandfather Eric Brownstone's epic battle with the hundred-headed snake King of Tuckernuck Island and many others.

<v Sue>So wonderful to get to hear Joe reading.

</v> And now I'd like you to discuss, what impression do you get of the Brownstone family members? Pause the video share with someone nearby.

I wonder if you came up with something like this.

The Brownstones seem to be very adventurous.

They collected amazing objects and took part in epic battles with mythical creatures.

What is Professor Brownstone's most prized possession? A collection of books.

A set of knight's armour.

An ancient vase.

Pause a video and share with someone nearby.

Which of these is Professor Brownstone's most prized possession? Well done if you selected a collection of books.

The texts are most important as they contain the tales of Brownstone's ancestors.

And now let's hear Joe read pages 10 to 11, up until a bit different.

And again, you can follow along in your text.

<v ->But before all that,</v> there was the first adventure Brownstone ever had.

This is the tale of Arthur, the unlikeliest of heroes.

Born long ago in a small Icelandic town, it was clear from an early age that Arthur was always going to be a bit different.

<v ->And now I'd like you to discuss</v> what impression do you get of Arthur from this introduction? Pause a video while you share with someone nearby your impressions of Arthur.

I wonder if you had something like this that you discussed.

I think that Arthur might not demonstrate the same character traits as his ancestors.

He's going to be different.

Oh, I always like that.

I love hearing about different.

Wonderful.

And now I'd like you to draw lines to group the following information based on what we have read so far.

So we have some characters here and settings.

And the options are Arthur, Iceland, the Norse world, Thor and Professor Brownstone.

So pause the video while you group together, those that are characters and those that are settings.

So characters, we've got Arthur, Thor and Professor Brownstone.

Settings, Iceland and the Norse world.

Well done if you made these connections.

And now it's time for your next task.

First of all, I'd like you to have a discussion and reflect on what you've read so far and answer these questions with your partner.

Is there anything you'd like or dislike about stories so far and why? Are you puzzled or intrigued by anything? Does it make you think of something you've seen, read or heard recently? So pause the video here while you reflect on these questions and share with someone nearby.

Likes, dislikes, puzzles, intrigues.

Okay, it's good to be back with you.

I wonder what you shared with your partner.

I wonder if it was something like this maybe.

I really liked how adventurous the Brownstone ancestors were.

They looked really brave and courageous.

I wonder how Arthur will be different.

Yes.

Interesting.

And, and anything this text makes you think of? The text makes me think about the Greek myths that I've read about in history.

They had lots of supernatural features.

Oh yes, really interesting.

Great connection there.

Well done.

And now onto the next part of your task.

I would like you to create five questions that you would like to ask Professor Brownstone.

Consider features you've noticed in the text, as well as information we've learned within the lesson.

And you can begin your questions, who, what, where, when, why, or how.

So pause the video here and come up with five questions that you would like to ask Professor Brownstone.

Okay, what did you come up with? I wonder.

Let's have a look.

Who are the other members of your family? What's the most powerful and rare artefact that is in your possession? Oh my goodness, I want to know too.

Where does Arthur live in his Icelandic town? So interesting.

When does it, did this adventure take place? Why is Arthur different to your other ancestors? And how have you arranged your collection of antiquities? Oh my goodness, love these questions.

Well done for coming up with them.

I hope this lesson has whetted your appetite for "Arthur and the Golden Rope".

I'm excited to find out what else is ahead.

In our lesson, exploring the genre of "Arthur and the Golden Rope", we have covered the following.

"Arthur and the Golden Rope" is an example of a modern myth.

A modern myth is a contemporary tale explaining a culture's beliefs and customs often involving god's and supernatural creatures.

"Arthur and the Golden Rope" explores Norse mythology.

Norse mythology comprises of ancient tales and beliefs of the Scandinavian people.

Predictions and first impressions of a text can be based upon understanding the features of a modern myth, the text and the illustrations.

Thank you everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was so great to begin to explore this wonderful text, "Arthur and the Golden Rope".

And I'm excited for what's to come ahead and I hope you are too.

Let's keep exploring.

See you at another lesson soon.