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.

You may wish to display some of the reading strategies used when encountering new or unfamiliar vocabulary for pupils to refer to throughout the reading of the text. Illustrations from the corresponding pages may support less confident readers when completing Task A.
Teacher tip

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