Hello, everyone, it's lovely to see you today.

My name's Dr.

Clayton.

I'm going to guide you through learning journey today.

Today's lesson's called "Identifying and Analysing Saint's use of anti-climax in "'Hera'." Now, this book's been part of my favourite genres, which is revisiting Greek mythology and giving voice to female characters.

So we're gonna spend a little bit of time the beginning thinking about how the genre might relate to an anti-climax before you approach the text itself.

So you'll need a copy of the 2024 Wildfire edition of Jennifer Saint's "Hera" for this lesson, so make sure you have that to hand.

So if you're ready, grab your pen, laptop, whatever you're using for this lesson and let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to explain how Saint uses language and imagery to craft an anti-climax that relates to ideas of transience.

So we have five words today we're gonna be focusing on as our key words.

They're identified in bold throughout the learning material and I'll try to pronounce them, so you can see them being used in context.

So our first keyword is anti-climax, which means something that's much less exciting, more dramatic than was expected to be.

This is the core focus for our lesson today.

We're gonna be thinking broadly about why a writer might use an anti-climax and how they might make their reader feel before looking at Saint's use an anti-climax.

Our second keyword is subvert, which means to criticise or undermine the usual way of doing something or common values.

We're going to be thinking about how anti-climax is might be linked to this undermining of the usual way of doing something.

Our third key keyword is subjective, which describes something that's based on a person's opinions, individual experiences, and biassed influences.

We're going to be thinking about how an anti-climax is objective because it's links to this state of expectation.

We all have our own individual expectations.

Our fourth keyword is transience, which means the state or fact of lasting only for a brief time.

Essentially the concept that nothing lasts forever.

We're going to think about how this might relate to Saint's use of an anti-climax.

Our final keyword is symbolism, which means where an image, object, idea, or symbol is used to represent something of its literal meaning.

We're going to be thinking about how symbolism feeds into how Saint creates anti-climax.

So I'll just give you a moment to write down those keywords and the definitions.

So pause the video, write them down now.

Fantastic.

Let's get started with the lesson.

So, two learning cycles in our lesson day.

For first learning cycle, we're gonna spend some time thinking more generally about anti-climaxes and why a writer might use them and how we might stereotypically think of an anti-climax.

Before we read the end of Saint's "Hera" and think about why Saint might have chosen that ending.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to analyse how Saint is used symbolism and semantic feels to create an anti-climax that links to ideas of transient.

So as I said, we're going to start thinking more broadly about anti-climactic ending.

And anti-climax runs something as much less exciting or dramatic than is expected to be.

Whether something's anti-climactic or not can be very subjective.

Now, subjective means something is based on someone's personal opinions.

So how do we expect a story to end is subjective? Because we all have our own individual ideas about an exciting ending might look like.

Now, stereotypically, an anti-climax scene is disappointing.

You might have heard people saying something like, "Ugh, that was anti-climactic." It's just something was a bit of a letdown.

I really wanted to move away from this idea today.

And instead think about why a writer might choose to end on an anti-climax.

How is it purposeful rather than disappointing? So what I'd like you to think about first is why you think a writer might choose to end on an anti-climax.

What might they be trying to tell us about resolutions or endings? Now if there's someone else, you might talk about ideas with them.

If is by yourself, you might just think about ideas.

So pause video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some amazing ideas there.

Let's talk what you might have said.

Now, because an anti-climax all about playing their expectations, you might think that using one is about subverting expectations.

So undermining what we expect from narratives or unhappy endings or winning, a writer might use to comment societal issues.

So for example, they might suggest, actually, our idea of a happy ending might look different for different people.

Or it might be a move away from a fairytale style narrative.

So now for a quick check for understanding, what I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false, that everyone is always in agreement over which endings are anti-climactic? Pause the video, make your selection now.

Now the correct answer is false.

Now I'd like to tell me why it's false.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

They might have said, the anti-climax is can be very subjective.

Whether an endings what we expect or not is something that can vary from person to person.

So very well done if you've got those right.

So now let's spend a bit of time contextualising Saint's here before we read the text itself.

Now Saint's "Hera" is part of a contemporary, feminist genre of stories which retail Greek mythology and centres the female characters.

This are my favourite genres and if it's something that sounds interesting to you, I'd really recommend writers such as Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes' work.

Miller's "Circe" and Hayes' "Divine Might" are two of my favourite books.

So what I'd like you to think about, is why do you think retelling stories with a renewed focus on female characters is important? Pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Fantastic ideas there.

It was great to see people reminiscing about books such as home as "The Odyssey" and how few female characters are featured in the story.

As Laura says, retelling Greek mythology in this way foregrounds women's voices.

It helps to understand their lives and experiences.

Part of why we read stories to understand the world and it's why I love historical fiction so much.

It gives a window into the past.

It helps to understand the past but also how society has changed and progressed.

As Izzy says, I also think it helps subvert the idea that women's lives are inconsequential.

It's easy to think of women's history as being very meek, very passive, simply going along with whatever their fathers and husbands told them to.

But when you actually start looking into women's stories, you'll see that isn't the case.

So now let's think about how we might connect those ideas to an anti-climax.

Now, historically, women have been dismissed as being too emotional, too hysterical, and there's something that's still prevalent inside today.

There are still pockets of society that believe women can't handle position of power 'cause they're too emotional, whereas men seem to be more rational and logical.

What I'd like to think about is why might Saint want to tell a story with an anti-climax in a female voice? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone, some great ideas there.

Now, as Laura says, by using an ending that's less dramatic than expected, maybe its subverts the stereotype of women being too dramatic and emotional? So it challenges the idea that women are too dramatic.

As Izzy says, "Perhaps it also challenges the toxic patriarchal narrative that all problems can be solved with physicality and action?" By ending in a way that's less exciting than expected.

It's just we don't always need that intense action in order to solve our problems. So now let's think about the story of "Hera." Saint's "Hera" focus on the goddess Hera and the battle of power between her and her husband, Zeus.

Now in the novel, having overthrown the Titans, "Hera" expects the Olympians to rule together.

But Zeus declares himself the ruler.

Hera is assaulted by Zeus and forced to marry him.

Hera spends the time plotting against Zeus, having children in order to turn them against him and cultivating an army of monsters.

Zeus continually disrespects her and cheats on her constantly.

So what I'd like you to think about, is what do you think should happen at the end of the novel? What would be a satisfying ending? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

Now, I think there are two strands to this.

If we see someone spending time growing an army and actively plotting against someone, there's an expectation we'll see some sort of showdown between the two of them, especially when we think of someone who's been wronged and disrespected by someone.

We expect them to have a moment of justice.

So before we read the end of the story, let's consider the final encounter between Hera and Zeus because the battle for power between them is the dominant idea within the narrative.

Now you need a copy of the 2024 wildfire edition of "Hera" by Jennifer Saint.

I'd like you to read from "He" on page 360 to the word "behind" on page 362.

So pause the video and read those pages now.

Welcome back, everyone.

I really hope you enjoyed that section of the story.

So what I'd like you to do is summarise what's happened between Hera and Zeus.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

You might have said that, Hera goes to visit Zeus at Mount Olympus.

Zeus beginning to turn to stone.

His thunderbolt falls the floor and Hera picks it up.

In that moment, she has the power to destroy him, but she chooses to walk away.

So what I'd like to think about now is what do you think of their final encounter? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

Now, when I first read this, I found this encounter quite surprising and this in part due to the fact that throughout Greek mythology, Hera is depicted someone cruel and cold.

Someone who punishes the women that Zeus has affairs with, even though many of them have no choice.

Here, though, we see her choose to be not as cruel as she could have been.

Now if you interested in how Hera's characters been depicted, I'd really recommend Hayes' chapter on Hera in "Divine Might" because it really unpicks how Hera has been traditionally presented.

So now let's read the ending of the story.

You'll need a copy of the 2024 Wildfire edition of "Hera" by Jennifer Saint.

I could read from the word, in, on page 384 to the word, destiny, on page 385.

So pause the video, read the ending now.

Welcome back, everyone.

I really hope you enjoyed reading the ending.

What I'd like you to do now is think about how you'd summarise the ending.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back everyone.

Now at the end we see that Zeus has lost his power and completely turned to stone and the rest of the gods are fading from existence.

Rather than being a ruler, Hera decides to wander the Earth instead.

So what I'd like to do now is consider how you feel about the ending.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now I think this ending is definitely unexpected 'cause the entire novel focus on the power of the gods and now Hera are constantly desires control and power.

So (indistinct) turned its head at the end, it's unexpected 'cause we don't typically think of people walking away from power.

It's there waiting for them.

This is really what I meant earlier about moving away from the anti-climax or disappointing.

Actually this ending is really powerful because it really does challenge our ideas about what winning looks like and what power looks like.

So now for quick check for understanding, what I'd like you to do is tell me what happens to Hera at the end of the novel.

Is it A, she takes her place as Queen of Olympus, B, she wander the earth, or C, she turns to stone? Pause the video, make a selection now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Hera walks away from power at the end of the novel and instead choose to wander the Earth to make a different narrative for herself.

So very well done if you got that right.

Fantastic work everyone.

That was the first task of the lesson.

Here, I really wants to think about that why question.

We talked earlier more generally about why a writer might choose to end on anti-climax, but to now think specifically about the ending of "Hera" and answer the following questions.

So why do think Saint chose to avoid a final showdown between Hera and Zeus? Why think Saint chose to depict the gods as fading away from society? And do you see Hera as having a positive ending? Why or why not? Pause the video.

Take a few minutes to consider Welcome back.

I some amazing work there.

Now I'd like to think about Izzy's ideas and think about how well they align with your ideas.

So question one, why do you think Saint chose to avoid a final showdown between Hera and Zeus? And Izzy said, "I think maybe Saint is trying to subvert our expectations about what winning looks like.

Though Hera doesn't overthrow Zeus as she initially wanted, she choose a different life for herself while he is stuck, literally, in the past." We typically think of winning as being the best or having power.

And here, Hera decides that actually winning for her means something different.

It means walking away from what she previously wanted and I think that's really powerful.

Question two, why do you think Saint chose to pick the gods as fading away from society? And Izzy said, "I think it's likely a comment on contemporary society and religion, gods don't hold as much sway over our lives anymore." In Greek mythology, we really see the gods having complete control over people's lives, begin to destroy them on a whim or some perceived light.

And that's something that doesn't really affect us in the same way anymore.

Now question three, do you see "Hera" as having a positive ending? Why or why not? Now that's a very subjective question 'cause a matter of personal opinion.

Izzy said she thinks, "The idea of being in control of her own destiny seems positive.

However, it's actually humans who write stories about the gods and therefore they are the ones who are actually in control of how Hera is perceived and how a story is told." So I'd like to pause the video, and how well Izzy's ideas align with your ideas? Welcome back, everyone.

It was great to see people having some different opinions, particularly in the question of, whether it's a positive ending or not.

'cause it's such a personal opinion.

This is why it's so great to discuss books because it's great to see how people interpret something in a way that's different to us because it helps to see the world in a different way.

Fantastic work everyone.

We're onto the second learning cycle, we're going to analyse how Saint's constructed the anti-climax.

So we're now gonna think about how Saint's create an effective anti-climactic ending.

I think about the purpose behind it might be.

Now arguably Saint's anti-climatic ending relates to ideas of transience.

Now trans is state of fact of lasting only for a short time.

So they did nothing last forever.

What I'd like to start off by thinking about is how might they do of transience relate to an anti-climax? Now this is a really tricky concept.

So think about the idea of our expectations and how that might link the idea that nothing stays the same.

Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

That was a really tricky question.

That's some great ideas there.

Now as Izzy says, "Arguably, since transcience suggest that nothing stays the same, it relates to anti-climax 'cause even if the story has the resolution we expect it to, it won't remain that way." It's about the idea that even if we get what we want, then life will keep moving on, our priorities and things around us will keep changing and shift us away from what we thought we wanted.

So now you have an idea about how the idea of an anti-climax and transience might be connected, let's consider how is Saint crafts ideas of transience.

Now at the start of page 384, Saint opens with the image of the world being washed.

So what I'd like you to think about is how might the image of water symbolise ideas of transience? So how might water represent the idea of nothing staying the same? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Let's talk through what you might have said.

You might have thought about the idea, you can never step in the same bit of water twice 'cause water is constantly moving, it's constantly in flux.

It also symbolise the idea of rebirth.

That's why we use water as part of baptisms 'cause the idea of water washing away our past selves.

You also might have thought about the physicality of water, how it has the power to destroy buildings and civilizations.

If any of you ever seen a flood for example, you know how much damage water can do.

That links the idea that nothing stays the same.

'cause water can affect things such a physical way.

Now, as well as the image of water, Saint also repeats the word leaves on page 384.

So what I'd like us to think about here is how the repetition of leaves might relate to ideas of transience.

So think about the connotation of leaving and departing, but also what other ideas leaves might remind you of.

Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some amazing ideas there.

Let's talk through what you might have said.

Now the repeated idea of going away, of leaving, of departing, might relate to ideas of nothing staying the same because you're not staying in one place, you're moving all of the time.

You also might have thought about the fact, the word is homonym for tree leaves, that might reminds the idea of changing seasons and of time passing.

Now for a quick check for understanding, what I'd like you to tell me is whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false, the image of water can symbolise the idea of transience? Pause the video, make a selection now.

Now the correct answer is true.

Now I'd like to tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said, the water is constantly moving.

It's in flux.

It can change the shape of the landscape and even destroy buildings.

Therefore it embodies the idea that nothing stays the same forever.

So very well done if you've got those right.

Now as well as the general ideas of the world moving on, Saint specifically implies the power of the gods is transient.

I think that's particularly important 'cause it really gives me the anti-climax.

There's no point in Hera desiring the throne anymore 'cause the power of the gods is fading.

So let's think about how Saint has shown that, on page 384, Zeus described as being "The god" rather than by his own name.

What I'd like you to think about is how might Zeus becoming nameless relate to a loss of power? Pause video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now I think names are so important.

Names have meanings.

They can connect to our family and our heritage.

I think that in modern society we also understand how important names are to individual identity.

By taking away Zeus' name and calling just "The god" we're taking away his individual identity and therefore part of his meaning.

Often in literature, being nameless often relates to being considered nobody.

You'll see the characters who aren't named are being silenced or pushed to the sidelines.

Now as well as diminishing Zeus' power, Saint also describes Olympus, the home of the gods, using the following words, toppled, broken, fragments.

What I'd like you to think about is what the connotations of those words, how might they relate to the transience of power? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back.

That was fantastic ideas there.

Let's talk about what you might have said.

Now all of those words form a semantic field of something being unbalanced or being disintegrated.

That this really relates not only our limbs has lost its power, but also the concept of anti-climax.

'cause an anti-climax sets off balance 'cause not what we expected.

If we zoom in specifically on the word toppled, does specifically rates the idea of power not lasting forever, 'cause the topple can also mean to overthrow so toppled a regime for example.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

Which interpretation of Zeus' loss of his name is the most relevant to ideas of power and transience? Is it A, potentially, Zeus's loss of his name applies in the process of reinventing himself and finding a new identity, or B, potentially Zeus' loss of a name implies that he's lost identity and therefore being depicted as a nobody? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now potentially we might see someone shedding their name or shedding their old identity.

But in this case, Zeus has turned to stone.

Therefore, the idea that Zeus's lost of his name implies he's lost identity and therefore being depicted as a nobody is the most relevant.

So very well done, if you got that right.

Amazing work everyone.

We're at the final task of the lesson.

What I'd like us to do is bring everything together from this lesson and go back there idea that stereotypically anti-climatic endings are considered disappointing and ineffective.

What I'd like you to do is think about everything we've said about Saint's ending for "Hera" and ideas of transience.

Consider whether you think Saint's anti-climatic ending to "Hera" is effective.

I'd like you to write a short answer to explain your reasoning.

You might consider the main thread that runs through "Hera" is about a desire for power and control.

The ending of "Hera" implies that power, specifically divine power is transient.

Pause the video.

Take a few minutes to consider.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some amazing work there.

What I'd like you to do for the final part of the lesson is consider Sofia's answer.

Do you agree? Why or why not? So Sofia said, "I think that Saint's anti-climactic ending to 'Hera' is effective because I think it feels more meaningful and offers a wider comment on ideas of transience and power.

Ultimately, the ideas of transience suggest that Hera's quest for power and control were futile since, had she achieved it, it wouldn't have lasted forever.

By ending with the power of the gods being diminished, Saint shows that no one can maintain control forever and that the world inevitably moves on." So pause the video, see how well Sophia's ideas align with your ideas.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now whether an ending is effective or not is such a subjective question 'cause it really depends on how we respond to it.

That's all down to our personal experiences, memories, interpretations.

As I said earlier, if you found talking about Saint's "Hera" interesting, I'd really recommend you read some more of the genre, Saint's "Ariadne" is another one of my favourite books.

Tells the story of Ariadne and how she helped Theseus to defeat the Minotaur and what happens next.

You all did amazing work everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

An anti-climax something that's much less exciting or dramatic than was expected.

Stereotypically, anti-climax is might be considered disappointing.

However, they can be very subjective.

Arguably, Saint's "Hera" has anti-climactic ending, since the gods lose their power and they fade away.

Potentially, Saint might have chosen an anti-climactic ending to comment an ideas of transience and power.

Arguably, the anti-climactic ending reflects how the gods no longer have the same power as they did.

I really hope you enjoy the lesson everyone.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.