the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story

the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting

the way people communicate their thoughts, feelings, and emotions through their movements and gestures without using words

an educated guess, based on evidence in the text or prior knowledge

Identity and characterisation in 'No Country'

English

In 'No Country and Frizzy: graphic novels exploring identity and belonging' pupils have explored themes through the graphic novel form. In 'Cloud Busting: book club', pupils will consider how reading a narrative in verse can convey themes and characterisation.

Pupils will have been exposed to some of the codes and conventions in graphic novels in 'When Stars are Scattered: book club'. In this unit, we will explore the form in greater detail, ensuring pupils gain an understanding of key features and more complex terminology. Pupils will explore how both image and text can create meaning on their own, together or in contrast to one another.

In this unit, pupils read and explore two fictional graphic novel texts, 'No Country' and 'Frizzy'. They discuss the context of both graphic novels. Finally, pupils explore the visual, narrative and contextual elements of specific scenes and discuss the key themes within each text.

'No Country' and 'Frizzy': graphic novels exploring identity and belonging

Depiction of scary, confusing or unsettling events or characters placed in danger, including creation of a scary atmosphere through the use of music and sound.

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

how an author describes and develops characters' traits & personality

the qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting

the way people communicate their thoughts & feelings through movement

Match these keywords to their definitions.

Authors and illustrators can use which of the following methods to develop characterisation?

how a text relates to a reader, another text or the wider world

 selecting and organising literature for a specific purpose or audience

Which of the following definitions best describes a **prediction**?

Beatrice’s neighbourhood is looked after by the government.

Worker bees look for good places to build a new hive.

Which of the following statements about the story are true?

Match each of the following characters to a prominent character trait they show in the prologue of the text.

True or false? Beatrice and Hannah’s father has a regular job.

'No Country' is a graphic novel set during a time when the country is in a __________ war.

Which character are Beatrice and her father missing in the opening pages?

Which of the following are types of callouts?

True or false? School has stopped completely due to the civil war.

The opening pages before a title page is called ...

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Identity and characterisation in 'No Country'

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.