New
New
Year 6

Writing the second half of the climax and resolution of 'Beowulf and the dragon'

I can write the second half of the climax and resolution of ‘Beowulf and the dragon’, using a range of cohesive devices to connect ideas and using techniques to increase pace and tension.

New
New
Year 6

Writing the second half of the climax and resolution of 'Beowulf and the dragon'

I can write the second half of the climax and resolution of ‘Beowulf and the dragon’, using a range of cohesive devices to connect ideas and using techniques to increase pace and tension.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Writing is most successful when structure, content and vocabulary are planned.
  2. We are aiming to set a tense, pacy atmosphere in our climax and resolution.
  3. Short sentences, rhetorical questions and 'quick' fronted adverbials of time can add pace to a piece of writing.
  4. We can use a colon to introduce a question to show a character's inner thoughts.
  5. We can use a relative complex sentence as a cohesive device to add detail after a noun.

Keywords

  • Colon - a piece of punctuation placed after a main clause that can introduce a list or a question

  • Cohesive devices - language structures that develop text cohesion

  • Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause

  • Oral rehearsal - practising saying ideas for sentences out loud before you write them

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to integrate techniques for increasing pace into their writing.

Model during oral rehearsal and shared writing how we can do this. For instance, ask pupils to consider what characters might be thinking at different points to generate rhetorical questions.

A slide has been left lined for you to complete shared writing with your class. You will find specific lessons on colons and dashes for dramatic effect in our Year 6 Grammar curriculum.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put the climax and resolution paragraphs of our narrative about 'Beowulf and the dragon' in order.
1 - Beowulf tries to stab the dragon, but he fails; the dragon breathes fire on him.
2 - The Geat warriors flee, but Wiglaf comes to help Beowulf.
3 - Beowulf stabs the dragon in the head and his sword breaks; he is bitten.
4 - Wiglaf stabs the dragon in the belly; Beowulf slits its throat.
Q2.
Which narrative elements are featured here? 'Determined, Wiglaf picked up his trusty, wooden shield.'
description
Correct answer: action
Correct answer: emotion
dialogue
Q3.
In which sentence are the dashes for dramatic effect in the correct positions?
Correct answer: In moments, it was a pile of ashes - useless, grey ashes - at his feet.
In moments - it was a pile of ashes useless, grey ashes - at his feet.
In moments, it was a pile of - ashes useless, grey ashes - at his feet.
Q4.
Which technique has been used here to increase pace? 'How could they betray their brave king? How could they leave him to die?'
short sentences
dashes for dramatic effect
Correct answer: rhetorical questions
fronted adverbials of manner
Q5.
Match each type of fronted adverbial to the correct example.
Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of time,At that moment,

At that moment,

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of place,On his right,

On his right,

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of manner,Full of despair,

Full of despair,

Q6.
Which fronted adverbials of manner could fill the gap in the following sentence? '__________ the dragon opened its vast maw.'
Correct answer: With a snarl,
Terrified,
Full of fear,
Correct answer: Slowly,

6 Questions

Q1.
Which paragraph explores the resolution of the narrative of 'Beowulf and the dragon'?
Beowulf attacks again & the dragon bites
Beowulf’s first attack fails & the dragon attacks
Correct answer: Wiglaf & Beowulf defeat the dragon
the Geats flee & Wiglaf comes to help
Q2.
Which of the following are good techniques for increasing pace in our writing?
Correct answer: short sentences
fronted adverbials of place
Correct answer: rhetorical questions
Correct answer: 'quick' fronted adverbials of time
Q3.
Which techniques to increase pace have been used here? 'Instantly, the skin split open. Blood poured out.'
Correct answer: short sentences
rhetorical questions
Correct answer: 'quick' fronted adverbials of time
relative complex sentences
Q4.
In which example is the colon in the right place to introduce a question?
Wiglaf could think of: only one thing would his king survive?
Wiglaf could think of only one thing would his king: survive?
Correct answer: Wiglaf could think of only one thing: would his king survive?
Q5.
Which of these words in the following sentence is a preposition? 'He swung it violently at the dragon’s mighty head.'
he
it
Correct answer: at
the
Q6.
Which relative pronoun should complete the following relative complex sentence? 'The dragon, __________ stomach had been slit open, dropped Beowulf instantly.'
where
who
Correct answer: whose
which's
which