Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Ms. Watson, and I'm delighted that you've decided to join me today, that we are going to be reading about the resolution of all the exciting action of "The Twisted Tree." You will need a copy of this book by Rachel Burge, and you need the 2019 edition published by Hotkey Books.

Having that edition will make it so much easier when I'm referring to page references.

So please find your book, get yourself ready, and off we'll go.

So the outcome of today's lesson is that you will understand the resolution of the novel.

So let's start with the keywords.

There are five keywords that are gonna be really useful for unlocking your learning today.

The first one is "grotesque", and that means repulsively ugly or distorted.

"Mystical".

Spiritual or supernatural experiences that are beyond ordinary understanding.

If you are "ashen", you are very pale with shock or fear.

You'll see it has the word "ash" in it.

If you do something "warily", you do it cautiously and carefully.

And "seers".

That is a word for people who can see visions of the future.

I think you can tell from those five keywords how exciting and interesting the resolution is going to be.

Now, if you would like a little bit of time to familiarise yourself with the keywords, please feel free to pause the video and rejoin the lesson when you are ready.

So this is the outline of today's lesson.

We are going to read the ending, and that is pages 219 to 242.

And then we are going to explore and evaluate the ending.

That means we're going to think about how successful and effective we think the ending is.

So today we are going to finish reading "The Twisted Tree", and I have really mixed feelings about coming to the end of this novel.

I have so enjoyed reading it with you, but I'm also really really keen to share the ending with you.

So I can't decide if I don't want the novel to stop, or if I'm really anxious to get to the ending.

Mixed feelings indeed.

But we are going to finish reading it today.

And before we start reading it, I would like you to have a discussion about what has been your favourite element of "The Twisted Tree" so far.

And when you're thinking about your favourite element, you could consider characters, or you could consider themes, or you could think about the plot.

So pause the video while you have that discussion, and if you are working by yourself, just pause the video and make a few notes.

Off you go.

So welcome back, and what I would like to do is share with you what some of the Oak pupils said.

So we'll start with Lucas.

Lucas said he really liked Martha, the character of Martha.

He said that her journey is inspiring, and he really liked the way she starts out feeling like an outsider, but her confidence grows as she discovers more about herself and embraces her differences.

I really liked the character of Martha, too.

And Laura said she loved the inclusion of Norse mythology, particularly the draugr, that terrible villain character, the Norns, and Hel.

"And it made me want to find out more about ancient mythologies." And I agree with Laura as well, because I love Norse mythology, and I think the Norns are fantastic characters, weaving their lives for people.

And Alex was really interested in the theme of fate.

He thought it was fascinating, and he liked the idea that actually, despite a belief in faith, you can still believe that you have some control over our destinies.

I'd like you just to think about whether or not you agree with their comments, or maybe you disagree entirely with their comments, and you have different favourite elements.

That's fine too.

When you're ready, we'll move on.

So onto the final part of "The Twisted Tree".

And the final part of a story or a novel could be considered the resolution.

You have the opening where we meet all the characters.

You have the buildup of the action.

You have the climax, which is the most dramatic and exciting bit.

And then you have a resolution.

And it's usually described as the part where all the problems and conflicts are resolved.

Have a discussion about this.

What do you think the resolution of "The Twisted Tree" will be? And what problems or conflicts are you hoping will be resolved? We've just read that tremendously dramatic climax where brave Martha kills the draugr.

What do you think is gonna happen after that? Pause the video and have your discussion.

Or if you're working alone, pause the video and make a few notes.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Is it true or false to say that, generally, when a story is structured, the resolution comes after the opening? True or false? It's false.

Why is it false? Is it A, the resolution comes before the climax? Or B, the resolution comes after the climax? Which is it? Have a think, make your choice.

It's B.

Well done if you've got those answers correct! Let's move on.

And now what I would like you to do is to read "The Twisted Tree" from page 219 to the end of page 242.

And then when you've done that, I would like you to have a discussion about what you've read, and you're answering this question.

"How does the plot build towards the end?" And, "Do you think it's a successful resolution?" Does it work? And I'm gonna give you some sentence starters, some sentence stems to help you with the discussion.

Here they are.

That, "After the climax, the story starts to wind down when.

." And, "The resolution of the story occurs when.

." And, "The resolution successfully addresses the main conflict because.

." And, "The ending felt satisfying, unsatisfying to me because.

." That means, does the ending feel right or not right? And an interesting creative sentence stem, which is, "If I could change the ending, I would.

." And how would you change it if you could? So pause the video, have your discussion, or pause the video and make some notes.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this discussion develops.

Off you go! So I'd like to share with you how Izzy answered the question, and not because I think it is perfect or the best answer, just 'cause I think it's really useful for you to have something to compare your answers with.

Now she said that she thought the resolution was successful, because it ties up the main plot points, and it provides a satisfying conclusion to Martha's journey.

"By the end, Martha has grown as a character, gaining confidence and a better understanding of her abilities and her family's legacy." And she went on to say that the ending also leaves some room for future adventures, and that keeps readers excited and wanting to know more.

And I think that's quite an interesting response, because it is both tied up and finished, and here it is, journey over.

Well done, Martha.

But there's some wiggle room.

There could be more adventures, and I dunno about you, but I would love to know what Martha does next.

I think she's been one of the most exciting and interesting, and very endearing heroines that I have read in a book for a long time.

But I'd be interested to see whether you agree or disagree with Izzy's comments.

I mean, she's very much focused on the character.

You might have said something different.

Just pause the video for a few minutes, and have a think about whether you agree or disagree with Izzy's.

And then when you're ready, we'll move on to the second part of the lesson.

So, we have finished reading the end of the novel, and now we are going to look in detail at the novel and evaluate it.

Now I'm interested in how you feel about the ending, and if you have any unanswered questions.

And I'd like you to pause the video and have a discussion about whether or not you have any unanswered questions and how you feel.

And if you're working by yourself, just pause the video and make a few notes.

So welcome back.

I'd like to share with you some questions and comments from the Oak pupils.

So Aisha said, "Will Martha's powers and connection to the Norse gods be called upon again? And where else does the tree lead?" Two really interesting questions there.

And Jun asked, "Are some of the dead still around, and not back in the tree?" Well that would be really scary.

And he wondered if Martha dropped the cord too early.

Very well spotted, Jun.

An interesting oversight, possibly.

And Sofia asked, "Is Stig hiding something? Perhaps something about Nina?" And she wondered if Martha can really trust him.

How do their questions compare to your questions? I'd really love to know.

And after finishing the novel, Jacob made this comment.

He said that the most important theme in "The Twisted Tree" is understanding and accepting yourself, because Martha discovers her unique abilities and gained confidence as she learns more about her family's secrets.

And I'd like you to discuss whether you agree with Jacob, and if you don't, what do you consider the most important theme in "The Twisted Tree"? Please pause the video while you have that discussion, or pause the video and make some notes.

Off you go.

Well done, and thank you for such a fantastic discussion.

I was really appreciative of the way you listened to each other so respectfully.

I'm gonna share another comment from one of the Oak pupils.

This time it's Sam, and Sam made this comment.

Sam said, "I think Stig is a brave and supportive character.

His presence is key because he helps Martha feel safe and he gives her strength to face the dark forces.

He is also an intriguing and mysterious presence." So a very strong response to the character of Stig.

Again, do you agree with Sam? And who do you consider to be the most important character in "The Twisted Tree"? If it's not Sam, who might it be? Pause the video, have your discussion.

Off you go! Let's have a check for understanding.

Is it true or false to say that the ending of "The Twisted Tree" leaves no unanswered questions? What do you think? It's false, absolutely.

But why is it false? Is it A, Martha is still unsure about the truth around Stig and Nina's relationship? Or is it B, Martha is yet to find out about her connection to Odin and Norse mythology? Have a think.

Make your choice.

Did you say A? She is still unsure.

There are some unanswered questions there, but she's much more confident about what she knows about her connection to Odin and Norse mythology.

That's been really well explored in the novel.

Now I have some really good news for you.

Rachel Burge created a sequel to "The Twisted Tree", and it's called "The Crooked Mask".

Now a sequel is a book or a film that continues the story of an earlier work.

It follows the characters and the events from the first part, and it shows what happens next.

Just what I wanted to happen.

And I'd like you to have a discussion about what do you think might happen in "The Crooked Mask"? And how might Burge develop the story further, or tackle any unanswered questions? Pause the video while you have that discussion, or just pause the video and make a few notes about what you think might happen in "The Crooked Mask".

Off you go.

Now I have a lovely writing task for you.

I'm gonna ask you to write a letter to Rachel Burge about "The Twisted Tree", and it's your opportunity to say what you enjoyed best about the novel, and also to ask any questions that you may have.

I'm gonna give you some sentence starters to support your writing.

Here they are.

"Dear Rachel Burge," remember the comma after "Burge".

"Thank you for writing 'Thee Twisted Tree'.

I found it.

." And then you would explain your response to it.

And then you might really zoom in on something that you particularly liked.

"I really enjoyed.

My favourite character was.

." And you could explain why you liked that character so much.

And, "I thought the best part was when.

." Again, this is when you would be focusing on a key moment.

"However, I have some questions.

." And you could put some of the questions that we've already discussed that you could draw on them for that, to finish off that sentence stem.

And then finally, "In the sequel, I hope you.

." So gather together any notes that you have made, use the sentence starters to help you, pause the video when you're ready, and off you go with your letter to Rachel Burge.

Welcome back! And it's a big thumbs up from me for your focus in that task.

I was really impressed.

Now I would like to share with you an example of how you could have completed the task.

I'm not saying it's the only way,, or that it's the perfect way.

I'm just saying it's a good way, and I think it is really, really useful, to have an example against which you compare your own task.

So.

So you might have written something like this.

"Dear Rachel Burge, thank you for writing 'The Twisted Tree'.

I found it thrilling and captivating.

I really enjoyed the suspense and ominous setting.

My favourite character was Martha, because she showed a lot of courage and growth throughout.

I thought the best part was when Martha finally confronted the draugr and killed it.

However, I have some questions.

What really happened between Stig and Nina? Did Martha drop the cord too early, leaving some of the dead outside of the tree? And in the sequel, I hope you explore more of Martha's abilities and dive deeper into her family's history.

It would be exciting to see how she continues to grow, and what new adventures await her." Now, if there's anything you would like to add to your paragraph, please just take a little bit of time to do that now.

Pause the video while you do it, and then rejoin me for the end of the lesson.

So before we say goodbye, I would just like to summarise what you have been learning today.

You have learned that Martha and her mother resolve their disagreement.

You have learned that Stig and Gandalf are revealed to be alive.

I was so glad when that happened.

You have learned that Martha's mother decides to move so that she can tend to the tree.

And you have learned that Martha feels more confident in herself by the end of the novel.

And that Burge offers an effective resolution, but there are still unanswered questions.

I'd just like to say thank you for joining me today.

Thank you for your hard work and focus, and your fantastic discussions.

I wish you a brilliant rest of the day, and I look forward to seeing you soon in another lesson.

Bye for now!.