Hello there.

It's good to see you.

My name's Ms. Afzal, and I'm feeling pretty good today because we are carrying on engaging with this fantastic text, this piece of historical fiction, "Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story".

What an incredible woman.

I am really excited for us to get further into this text.

Pause the video while you go and fetch your copy of the text.

I'll wait here for you.

Okay, you're back.

There is a lot for us to explore.

Let's get into it.

The outcome for today's lesson is "I can compare and contrast two different perspectives of a setting." And we have some keywords in today's lesson.

Let's go through them.

My turn, your turn.

Perspective.

Compare.

Contrast.

Great stuff.

I loved hearing those words.

So let's find out more about them.

What do these words mean? Perspective refers to the point of view or position from which the reader reads, influencing the way events or ideas are portrayed and understood.

Comparing involves identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas, themes, or texts.

And contrasting involves identifying differences between two or more things, ideas, themes, or texts.

So let's make sure we look out for these words.

Let's listen out for them.

Let's think carefully about them, and they're gonna come up in our lesson today.

So what else is happening in our lesson? Well, in exploring perspective in "Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story", we will be exploring perspectives and reading chapter 11.

Let's begin with exploring perspectives.

Here is our text.

"Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story" is a novel written by Sufiya Ahmed, with cover illustrations by Euan Cook.

Take a look at that cover! Oh my goodness, there's a lot going on.

She looks like a pretty amazing person, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh.

Let's find out what's happened so far.

What do we know already? Sophia's father asked for forgiveness from Queen Victoria for his actions.

He's reunited with Sophia and Eddie in Folkestone.

In chapter five, Sophia's brother Eddie suffers from pneumonia and a stomach illness.

The family are still at odds over their father's actions.

Their father is unwell and leaves before his son, Eddie, passes away.

Really, really terribly sad moment in the text.

At the beginning of chapter six, we learn that Sophia's father has also died.

Such a lot of loss in a short time.

Before we start reading, let's have a look at some words that we will encounter in the first few pages.

Hindustani.

It's a language spoken in India, blending Hindu and Urdu words.

Punjabi, a language spoken in the Punjab region.

A mango, a delicious fruit, with sweet, juicy flesh.

Oh my goodness, my mouth is watering just thinking about this delicious fruit.

Stone pit.

Stone fruit, such as mangoes, lychees, and peaches, have a stone pit, which is surrounded by the fruit.

Have you ever tasted a mango? Oh my goodness, I hope so.

And if you haven't, find one.

Find yourself a delicious, sweet, juicy, fleshy mango, and your life will be changed.

When reading from a character's point of view, we experience life as if through their eyes.

This is called their perspective.

As well as focusing on characterization, the character's appearance, words they use, actions they perform, and how they interact with others, readers can also look for clues that provide insight into their motivations.

A character's reason for doing something.

In chapter six, Sophia meets Abdul Karim, a member of Queen Victoria's household.

He's teaching the Queen Hindustani.

Abdul Karim describes India to Sophia.

His perspective is very different to her own.

Check for understanding.

Whose perspective does the reader experience the text from? Queen Victoria.

Bamba.

Sophia.

Victor.

Pause the video while you decide whose perspective the reader experiences the text from.

Well done if you selected Sophia.

Reading from a single perspective can be biassed, unfair, because it is one person's experiences and thoughts.

However, authors can try to balance this by including characters with different points of view.

We rejoin Sophia in 1893.

She's visiting Queen Victoria in Buckingham Palace, Queen's residence in London.

Read pages 43 to 46, from the introduction of Abdul Karim up to the end of the chapter.

And then answer this question.

Referring to page 43, why might Sophia feel embarrassed for not knowing any Indian languages? So pause the video while you read pages 43 to 46, and then specifically refer to page 43.

Why might Sophia feel embarrassed for not knowing any Indian languages? Share your answer with someone nearby.

Pause the video here.

Here is Jacob.

"Sophia feels a small resentment at Queen Victoria's comment about her not knowing any Indian languages, because she's not permitted to travel there.

It is part of her cultural heritage." Sure, and resentment, it's a noun, it's when someone feels angry or bitter about something they think is unfair or wrong.

So this is part of her cultural heritage.

It's part of her ancestry, part of her family.

And so it feels important for her to know these languages.

So we can understand her resentment.

Sophia discovers that Abdul Karim is from India.

He tells her about a heavenly fruit called a mango.

Refer to page 44.

What does Abdul Karim say that might make the mango tempting for Sophia? Why is it not possible for the Queen or Sophia to try it? So pause the video while you refer to page 44, and then share your answers to these questions with someone nearby.

Here is Sam.

"Abdul Karim says that the flavours are sweet and so delicious that it makes you salivate." Make your mouth water.

"Mangoes were not possible to try even for the queen, as they were rotten by the time they arrived by ship." At the end of chapter six, Queen Victoria explains why it is not possible for her or Sophia to visit India.

Refer to pages 45 and 46.

Why is it not safe for either Queen Victoria or Sophia to travel? Pause the video while you refer to these pages and show your answer to this question.

Why it's not safe for Queen Victoria or Sophia to travel to India? Share your answer with someone nearby.

Here is Izzy.

"Queen Victoria says that some people do not believe in her right to rule.

Her life would be in danger." Absolutely.

And Andeep says, "Sophia is not permitted to visit as Queen Victoria believes, if she were to travel, it might cause an uprising or a rebellion." Yeah.

People rising up against what they believe is not right, that their land has been taken.

Yeah, really understandable.

Check for understanding.

True or false? "It was possible for Queen Victoria and Sophia to taste a mango." Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

Now I would like you to justify your answer.

A, it was not advisable for Queen Victoria and Sophia to travel to India.

Mangoes did not stay fresh when sent by ship.

Or B, the only parts left of the fruit was a stone pit, as the flesh had been eaten by ants.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements justifies your answer.

Well done if you selected the first answer, yeah.

The Queen and Sophia were not advised to travel to India, and the mangoes were rotten by the time they would've arrived in England by ship.

And now, it's time for your first task.

In this task, we're going to explore a character's perspective on a setting.

Refer to page 44, where Abdul Karim shares with Sophia that he's from India.

What does Abdul Karim say about India? How is the country described? And reflect on how his description might make Sophia feel.

Would it make her want to visit? And you can start your sentences in this way.

"India is described as.

." "This might make Sophia feel.

." So pause the video here while you refer to page 44 and then answer these questions.

What does Abdul Karim say about India? How does he describe the country? And how might this make Sophia feel? And would she want to visit? Okay.

It's good to be back with you.

So what did you come up with? What does Abdul Karim say about India? How did he describe this country? And would it make Sophia want to visit? Here's what Lucas has to say.

"Abdul Karim describes India as the most beautiful country.

He describes the humid weather." And let's see what Aisha says.

"India is described as being full of colourful fabrics and the most amazing smells of spices.

The sensory description makes Sophia very tempted to visit." Oh my goodness.

I feel like visiting.

I've been before, I'm very lucky.

But I feel like visiting again.

Those descriptions are very, very sensory.

Wonder if you'd like to visit India after hearing these things, or maybe you already have.

And now it's time for us to read chapter 11.

In order to explore another perspective, we will now read a section from chapter 11.

Here's a brief summary of chapter seven to 10.

In chapter seven, 1895, Sophia and her sisters come out in society, a rite of passage for young girls in aristocracy.

Aristocracy is a noun.

It's a group of people belonging to the highest social class in a society, often because of their wealth, power, or family background.

In chapter eight, 1898, Sophia's eldest brother, Victor, gets married.

The new family are commanded by Queen Victoria to not have children, so there is no Duleep Singh heir.

And his wife is so terribly sad about this.

The queen passes away in 1901.

In chapter nine, 1902, the sisters come up with a plan to visit India.

Bamba shares with her sisters the inequality and injustice she has experienced by being a woman.

So inequality and injustice are when things are not equal and not fair.

In chapter 10, 1902 to 1903, the sisters travelled to Delhi, separately, to avoid too much attention.

They're on the way to Lahore, which was part of the Punjab state at the time.

Chapter 11 begins with Sophia in Lahore.

She describes the regal surroundings, very royal.

She stays with Indian aristocrats, members of the aristocracy.

And on this map, we can see Lahore, which is now in Pakistan, which is shown in white on the map.

But at this time, it was part of India.

Check for understanding.

Having read the text, put the following events into chronological order.

So that means in time order, in the time in which they occurred.

So let's look at our events.

Sophia arrives in Delhi.

Bamba experiences inequality due to her gender.

Sophia and her sisters come out in society.

Queen Victoria passes away.

Pause the video while you put these events into chronological order.

Well done if you got, first of all, the fact that Sophia and her sisters come out in society.

Next, Queen Victoria passes away.

After that, you hear about Bamba experiencing inequality due to her gender.

And finally, Sophia arrives in Delhi.

Well done if you put the events in this order.

Now I'd like you to read pages 74, from the word "over", to the end of the chapter on page 78.

Why do you think that Sophia wants to experience the real India? What has been her experience so far? And refer to the top of page 75 for support.

Pause the video while you read these pages, and reflect on the question, why does Sophia want to experience the real India, and what has she experienced so far? Share your answers with someone nearby.

Here's Alex.

"Sophia's experience of India so far has been one of luxury.

The places she has stayed in have welcomed her as royalty.

Sophia wants to find out what it's like for other Indian people, and asks to visit Pawan's home." Yeah, great answer, Alex.

I wonder if you also had an answer similar to this one.

And now I'd like you to refer to the bottom of page 75 and locate the word "mollycoddled".

What do you think the term means? Read around the word to help you work out its meaning.

Pause the video while you read this section at the bottom of page 75, and see if you can work out, what does the word "mollycoddled" mean? Okay here's, Laura.

"I think the word 'mollycoddled' means spoiled.

Bamba tells Sophia that inequality is experienced all over the world.

She's just not had the chance to see it." Yeah, a really great answer there, Laura.

And "mollycoddled", verb, is to be overly protected or pampered, not allowed to face challenges or hardships on their own.

That's right.

So this is how Sophia has lived her life so far.

And now she's finally seeing that there are other ways of living, that not everybody has this very protected and pampered life that she has experienced, and that there is indeed inequality all over the world.

Check for understanding.

True or false? Sophia's father did not think of anyone else but himself.

Refer to page 76 for support.

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

Well done if you selected false.

And now I'd like you to justify your answer.

Sophia's father set up "The Strangers Home", a place to support lascars, sailors from India, who experienced difficulties in London.

Sophia's father spent lots of money on his lifestyle while living in England.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements justifies your answer.

Well done if you selected the first one.

While both statements are true, it's the first one that more directly relates to your earlier answer, of Sophia's father actually thinking of others, not just of himself.

And now it's time for your final task.

Throughout the lesson, we have explored a range of perspectives, even though the text is written from Sophia's point of view.

Here's a summary of Sophia's experience of India so far.

Sophia spends time with aristocrats while she stays in Lahore.

To experience the real India, she visits Pawan's home.

Pawan's home is made out of mud, and is a considerable distance from where Sophia is staying.

Pawan's family all live together in one room.

How does Sophia's description of India compare and contrast to Abdul Karim's? Use evidence from the text to support your answers.

Are the descriptions similar or different? And why do you think that might be? And you might like to refer back to pages 45 and 75 for some additional information, and you could begin your sentences like this.

"I think Abdul's description of India is.

." Or, "I think Sophia's description of India is.

." So pause the video here while you compare and contrast their descriptions of India.

And why do you think they are similar or different? Alright, it's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on with comparing their descriptions of India? Let's see.

First of all, "I think Abdul Karim's description of India is very positive.

He describes the hot weather, rich fabrics, the taste of mangoes, and the smell of spices." Okay, very true.

And how about Sophia? "I think Sophia's description of India is more balanced.

She experiences the wealth, but also asks Pawan to visit his home.

She comments on similarities and differences between the rich and poor with her sister, Bamba." Yup, really good comparison there, between those two descriptions.

Abdul Karim and Sophia's descriptions are very different.

Perhaps Abdul Karim did not want to share any negative experiences of his home country, and preferred to describe it in a positive light to Queen Victoria.

Yeah.

Whereas Sophia is really taking a look at both sides, she sees all the positives, but also she sees the inequalities.

In our lesson today, "Exploring perspective in 'Princess Sophia Duleep Singh: My Story'", we've covered the following.

When reading from a character's point of view, we experience life as if through their eyes.

This is called their perspective.

Reading from a particular perspective may mean that events or thoughts might not be balanced.

Sufiya Ahmed includes a range of characters to show different perspectives.

Readers can compare and contrast a character's perspective if they discuss shared or similar experiences.

It was great to be with you together in this lesson and to explore perspective in this fantastic novel.

Sophia's perspective, Abdul Karim's perspective, and so on.

I hope you enjoyed this lesson.

I really enjoyed spending time with you, and I'm looking forward to seeing you in the next lesson.

Bye for now!.