Lesson video

Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Mr. Young, and it's absolutely lovely to see you again on another lesson in this fiction writing sequence all about malevolent characters.

So today's lesson is a really interesting one indeed, where we are going to have a go at creating contrasting characters, characters that juxtapose themselves in some way.

So let's get started.

So today's lesson has a very clear learning outcome.

So by the end of today's lesson, we should all be able to walk away doing the following which is to effectively use contrast and juxtaposition when crafting characters.

And just as in any lesson, we have some really important words, our keywords.

So I do encourage you just to pause the video, jot these down, or spend some time with the definitions, particularly if they are new to you because we're gonna be using them quite a bit.

Let's take a look at what they are.

Juxtaposition: Two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

And in particular today, we are going to be paying attention to juxtaposing characters.

Characters that contrast each other in some way.

Malevolent: Having or showing a wish to do evil to others.

So we could say a villainous character in a story could be malevolent, for example.

Then we've got the opposite of malevolent, which is benevolent: Having a desire to do good or just being kind of generally kind.

The protagonist: The main character in a story.

And finally the antagonist: A character who actively opposes or is hostile to others, usually the protagonist.

So, really excited for today's lesson.

We've got two really, really interesting learning cycles.

Our first learning cycle is going to be all about exploring juxtaposition, kind of exploring what it is as a concept, but also how it can apply to our character development as well.

How we can make two separate characters juxtapose each other successfully.

And then again, we are going to have a really great opportunity of doing that in our own writing in learning cycle two.

So how we can kind of apply these tips and techniques into creating our own juxtaposing characters.

So let's get started with learning cycle one.

So juxtaposition is when two things are seen or placed close together with contrasting effects.

So for example, in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Romeo describes Juliet as "a snowy dove trooping with crows." So the image of the beautiful and bright dove juxtaposes with the dull crow and stands out even more against it.

So that kind of juxtaposition has been used there to kind of exemplify some characters that Juliet has.

So for example, her purity or her innocence for example.

So juxtaposition is an important tool for a writer and it's definitely something that should form a key part of our writer's toolkit.

It's often used to highlight the difference between the protagonist of a story and the antagonist.

Typically the protagonist is benevolent, which means they're kind and gentle in nature, and the antagonist is malevolent.

So we can sometimes think of this as like the hero and the villain of a story.

So my first discussion question for you is as follows, can you think of any famous examples of protagonist and antagonist pairings in TV, film or literature? So hit that pause button, have a quick discussion or jot down some ideas if you're working independently.

And then do push play when you'd like to proceed.

Okay, my goodness, what a fantastic start to this lesson and it's really rich and detailed to hear all of these kind of fantastic examples from your own viewing, from your own reading.

And that's really, really lovely to see.

And you're absolutely right.

There are lots and lots and lots of protagonists and antagonistic pairings.

In fact, they form the kind of core backbone of many, many stories.

Some really obvious examples that jumped out to me, and these may have formed part of your own discussion were as follows: So we could say Sherlock Holmes and Dr.

James Moriarty; we could speak about the Batman and the Joker, or potentially any other villains of Batman; and we've also got this idea of Peter Pan and Captain Hook.

These are some really, really famous examples from films and literature.

So using juxtaposition to compare characters is more than just listing how they are the opposite of each other.

We want to show how these differences might affect the way we view them as a character and the way the characters view each other.

So let's take a look at this classic example of Sherlock Holmes and James Moriarty.

So this is how Holmes is described in the first short story featuring him in "A Study in Scarlett." Let's read it.

"In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller.

His eyes were sharp and piercing, save during those intervals of torpor to which I have alluded; And his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision.

His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which marked the man of determination.

His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch as I frequently had on occasion to observe when I watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments." It's a really interesting introduction to Sherlock Holmes there.

So my first question for you, what is your first impression of Holmes here? And I've highlighted some things that might be really relevant for your discussions.

So hit that pause button, have a quick discussion, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, some really fantastic discussions taking place there.

Really, really kind of insightful comments linked to the things are highlighted in purple.

So some things that really jump out to me are as follows: We could say that he seems very intelligent and determined, doesn't he? He also seems very scientific.

This kind of allusion to these instruments and chemicals marks him out as somebody who is potentially of quite a scientific background, who works very hard.

And again, he's also capable of being quite gentle, particularly that link to the delicacy of touch.

So there's quite a lot for us to work with there, isn't there? In this initial introduction to Sherlock Holmes.

So quick check for understanding for me then please.

In the first description of Sherlock Holmes, he's presented as being a benevolent character.

Is that true or false? Hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to proceed.

Okay, great job to everybody who identified it as true.

I think we can definitely say he comes across as a benevolent character there, doesn't he? But how could we justify that? Why? Tell me why.

Why is he considered a benevolent character here? Once again, hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to see a little bit of feedback.

Okay, once again, fantastic work on that.

And I think we could really lean into the idea that he's presented as determined, hardworking, and as having the ability to be gentle.

And these are positive traits we generally associate with benevolence.

We could also link the idea to the fact that Sherlock Holmes is the main protagonist of this story and is likely to be more benevolent than the antagonist.

So speaking of the antagonist, let's look at the introduction to the character of Moriarty and how this is contrasted with Sherlock Holmes.

So let's take a look here.

This is from "The Final Problem" and this is our first introduction to the character of Moriarty, known to be an intellectual match for Holmes.

Let's read.

"He's extremely tall and thin, his forehead domes out in a white curve and his two eyes are deeply sunken in his head.

He is clean-shaven, pale and acetic-looking, retaining something of the professor in his features.

His shoulders are rounded from much study and his face protrudes forward and is forever slowly oscillating from side to side in a curiously reptilian fashion.

He peered at me with great curiosity in his puckered eyes." So tell me, how does Moriarty compare to Holmes here? How is he described in a very different way and potentially, how are they juxtaposed against one another? So hit that pause button, have a quick discussion, jot down some ideas if you're working independently, and then do push play when you'd like to proceed.

Okay, fantastic work on those discussions and I totally agree.

Again, there is a lot for us to work with here, isn't there? About what we learn about the character of Moriarty.

So we could have said the following things, couldn't we? We could say he is both tall, thin, and intelligent.

He's also quite harsh-looking, isn't he? This kind of use of the word "puckered" and "ascetic-looking" indicates to us that this might be quite a harsh-looking character.

And finally, this description of him as being reptilian, so like a reptile, makes him seem kind of very cold, very passionless, doesn't it? Which all kind of contribute to this quite negative depiction of Moriarty at this stage in the novel.

Okay, we have moved on to our first practise task of today's lesson.

So we are going to develop that a little bit more.

So the physical descriptions of both Holmes and Moriarty help to highlight a difference in the types of characters that they are.

What I would like you to do is to discuss how the juxtaposition of Holmes and Moriarty help us understand the characters and their potential relationship better.

And there are copies of these extracts of their introductions in the additional materials.

So remember Moriarty is an intellectual match for Holmes and his arch-nemesis in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

So they are very classic protagonist-antagonist pairing.

So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to see a little bit of feedback.

Okay, fantastic work on that.

It's really, really important to be able to kind of draw out these parallels between these two characters and it's fantastic to see you doing that so well.

So you might have discussed the following things.

So firstly, from Holmes's description, it's clear he's a more benevolent character, whereas Moriarty comes across much more sinister and cold.

For example, the use of that adjective, "reptilian" really helps reinforce that.

Again, both characters are intelligent and this may potentially cause conflict between them because of their opposing character types.

Holmes is presented as determined, whereas Moriarty is presented as threatening.

And finally, the juxtaposition of their physical appearance helps us highlight their roles of protagonists and antagonists more clearly.

So great job if you're able to pick up these kind of comparisons in your own work.

Really well done.

Okay then we have now arrived at learning cycle two where we're gonna get a fantastic opportunity to work together to apply this kind of juxtaposition to our own writing to really kind of bring out these contrasts and parallels between a protagonist and an antagonist.

So let's get started.

So we are going to create two characters who juxtapose one another, and one of these characters will be malevolent and the other will be benevolent.

Remember, if you are malevolent, it means you're kind of seeking to do mean and hurtful things.

And if you are benevolent, it means the opposite.

You're kind of good and kind in some way.

So quick discussion question for me then please.

Recap the qualities and traits you'd expect to see of both types of characters.

What kind of things would you expect a malevolent character to do? And what kind of things would you expect a benevolent character to do? So hit that pause button, have a quick discussion, or jot down some ideas if you're working independently.

And then do push play when you'd like to proceed.

Okay, fantastic work on that task.

Really, really well done.

I'm hearing some really interesting things, you know, different things we could expect as character traits or personality traits, but also specific actions that a malevolent or a benevolent character could do.

So we could have said the following things.

We could have said, "Well, a malevolent character might be sinister, cold, threatening, intimidating, or even powerful in some way, whereas a benevolent character could be kind, comforting, welcoming, warm, gentle, or powerful as well." So you'll notice that "powerful" has been included on both of these.

And that's because the way that people exercise power can be different.

You know, you could exercise power in a very malevolent way or you could do it in a very benevolent way.

And remember, not everything has to be about them.

It could be about how they react to other people as well.

So imagine two people in a supermarket queue, character A is our malevolent character and they are frustrated, rude, and impatient.

Character B is our benevolent character; they are patient, kind, and polite.

So my discussion question for you is, what might these characters look like in this situation and how might they behave in the queue? Could you think of also any other adjectives, verbs, or adverbs that you might use to describe them? So we are really gonna kind of draw out this example in real life of how we could use and contrast these malevolent and benevolent characters.

So hit that pause button, have a quick discussion of the task in hand, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, fantastic work on that.

You know, really, really well done for drawing out those specific details of all of those things.

So what might these characters look like? Well, we could say that the malevolent character might be kind of wearing a facial expression that shows their kind of impatience of being in this queue, or potentially how annoyed they are, they're having to wait.

Whereas for character B, a benevolent character, it could be totally different.

They could be smiling at people seeking to make eye contact with people to kind of reassure them or just offer a friendly greeting in some way.

Again, how might they behave in the queue? Well, the benevolent person, you know, they may let somebody go ahead of them if they had fewer items potentially, or a malevolent character, they might cut in because they are impatient.

And again, what other adjectives, verbs, and adverbs might we use to describe them? Well, there are lots of different things that we could use to include that.

And I heard lots of really fantastic examples.

Well done.

So quick check for understanding for me please.

When contrasting characters using juxtaposition, their qualities have to be completely different.

Is that true or is that false? So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then push play when you like to continue.

Okay, superb work if you identified it as false.

That is a false statement.

But how could we justify that? What kind of justification statement could we offer to explain that answer? So once again, hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, once again, fantastic work on that.

And we could justify that in the following way, couldn't we? We could say, "Well, the main qualities of juxtaposing characters will likely contrast, but that doesn't mean they will be entirely different.

Lots of protagonists and their antagonists share similar traits." So for example, we looked at the intelligence that both Dr.

Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty share.

That is a shared characteristic despite the fact that they contrast in lots of other ways.

Okay then.

So we have reached our practise task, our final practise task of today's lesson.

And I'm really excited to see you apply all of these skills from this lesson into this piece of work.

So your task is as follows, can you write a description of two people in a supermarket queue? One person should be presented as a malevolent character and the other as a benevolent character.

And I would like you to focus on the following things: What are their physical appearances and how does this help the reader understand them and their emotions; what are the specific adjectives, verbs, and adverbs you could use to describe them; and finally, how are their traits comparing and contrasting against each other? So super keen to see how you get on with this one.

So hit that pause button, complete the task, and then do push play when you'd like to move on to some feedback.

Okay, excellent effort on that task.

Writing activities of this kind are really, really helpful I think in helping us kind of guide and shepherd our writing to creating these two very, very distinctive, very contrasting characters.

So I would like you to now do the following with your work.

Can you identify where you have: described the character's physical appearance and linked to their emotions; where you have used specific adjectives, verbs, and adverbs to describe their appearance and actions; and where you have compared and contrasted their traits? Give yourself a what-went-well and an EBI for this piece of work.

So identify something you've done incredibly well, and then give yourself something that could be a really nice target for next time.

Okay, then we have reached the end of today's lesson and it's been an absolute pleasure to teach you on this lesson all about using juxtaposition to create contrasting characters.

So let's recap all of those fantastic things that we've learned today.

So firstly, juxtaposition is a useful tool when describing contrasting characters.

Contrasting characters can deepen our understanding of their roles and personalities.

Placing contrasting characters in opposition can create dramatic tension and conflict.

And finally, careful consideration of vocabulary choices aids our crafting of juxtaposition.

It's been an absolute pleasure to teach you in today's lesson, and I really look forward to teaching you on another lesson in this sequence.

So thank you very much and goodbye.