New
New
Year 4

Exploring characterisation in 'Escape from Pompeii'

I can compare characterisation across a text.

New
New
Year 4

Exploring characterisation in 'Escape from Pompeii'

I can compare characterisation across a text.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘Escape from Pompeii’ is written from the perspective of Tranio, a young boy.
  2. Characterisation can change over the course of a text’s narrative.
  3. Characterisation can be conveyed through a character’s appearance, their dialogue and actions they perform in the text.

Common misconception

Pupils may find it challenging to think of character traits to describe Tranio in Task B.

A list of common traits could be displayed or printed for pupils to refer to. These could include traits such as: courage, selflessness, honesty, compassion, integrity, determination and leadership.

Keywords

  • Perspective - Perspective refers to the point-of-view or position from which the reader reads, influencing the way events or ideas are portrayed and understood.

  • Character traits - Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.

  • Characterisation - Characterisation is the way an author and illustrator describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.

  • Convey - To convey means to communicate a message directly or indirectly.

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2005 Frances Lincoln Children's Books edition of ‘Escape from Pompeii’ written and illustrated by Christina Balit, for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which city is the text set in?
Bologna
Naples
Rome
Correct answer: Pompeii
Q2.
Which of the following sentences are written in third-person-perspective?
My friends and I gather in the courtyard, playing games under the sun.
The aroma of herbs fills my kitchen as I prepare a savoury dinner.
Correct answer: Lucas strolls along the cobblestone streets. He greets neighbours.
Correct answer: Izzy tends to her garden. She is nurturing the vibrant flowers.
Q3.
Which of the following sentences are written in first-person-perspective?
Correct answer: My hands craft pottery, shaping clay into beautiful vases.
The merchant's cart rattles, laden with goods.
Correct answer: I wake up early, prepare breakfast, and head to the forum for work.
The bakery emits a warm, comforting scent of bread.
Q4.
Which character trait is shown in the following sentence: Marcus returned the extra coins the merchant gave him.
Correct answer: honesty
jealousy
determination
Q5.
Which character trait is shown in the following sentence: Despite warnings, Julia refuses to leave her home, determined to protect her belongings.
kindness
meanness
Correct answer: stubbornness
Q6.
In which year did Mount Vesuvius erupt that caused Pompeii to be covered by ash, pumice-stone and lava?
472 BCE
Correct answer: AD 79
1631

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:character trait,the special qualities that make a character in a story unique

the special qualities that make a character in a story unique

Correct Answer:characterisation,the way authors describe and develop traits of the characters

the way authors describe and develop traits of the characters

Correct Answer:convey,to communicate a message directly or indirectly

to communicate a message directly or indirectly

Q2.
From whose perspective does the reader experience the text from?
Livia
Dion
Correct answer: Tranio
Q3.
Which type of bones is the game 'Knucklebones' played with?
Correct answer: sheep
horse
Correct answer: goats
cows
Q4.
When they witness the tremors, where do Tranio and Livia both go?
to the Forum
back to their homes
Correct answer: to the harbour
Q5.
True or False? Tranio and Livia are good friends.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q6.
Who had looked after Tranio and Livia after the eruption had destroyed their home?
a Roman farmer
Correct answer: a captain of a Greek ship
a politician