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Year 4

Exploring characterisation in 'Hansel and Gretel'

I can analyse the characters in 'Hansel and Gretel'.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 4

Exploring characterisation in 'Hansel and Gretel'

I can analyse the characters in 'Hansel and Gretel'.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Characterisation is the way an author describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.
  2. Authors use a range of methods for characterisation which the reader can analyse.
  3. In 'Hansel and Gretel', there is a clear conflict between good and evil characters.
  4. Anthony Browne uses illustrations to enhance his depiction of characters and convey hidden messages.

Common misconception

Children may only look at images of the characters themselves when trying to analyse them.

Anthony Browne leaves clues about characters throughout his illustrations, including in the settings.

Keywords

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

  • Convey - to communicate a message directly or indirectly

  • Analyse - to examine something in detail in order to understand it

Print off the pictures and allow plenty of time for children to explore the images throughout the text for hidden messages. This could be turned into a treasure hunt activity.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the statements that are true about the story of 'Hansel and Gretel'.
Correct answer: It depicts the relationship between good and evil.
Everything we need to know can be found in the writing.
Correct answer: Anthony Browne uses the text and illustrations to convey hidden messages.
It is a lighthearted and fun story.
Correct answer: It explores dark themes but shows good triumphing over evil.
Q2.
Match the vocabulary to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:illustrations,visual representations accompanying a text

visual representations accompanying a text

Correct Answer:inference,to draw conclusions from clues within a text

to draw conclusions from clues within a text

Correct Answer:intent,what a person aims to achieve through their actions

what a person aims to achieve through their actions

Correct Answer:impact,the effect or influence achieved by an action

the effect or influence achieved by an action

Q3.
Throughout the story 'Hansel and Gretel', what characteristics does Anthony Browne show Hansel and Gretel to have?
Correct answer: kindness
Correct answer: bravery
selfishness
Correct answer: resilience
greed
Q4.
Throughout the story, what characteristics does Anthony Browne show the stepmother and witch to have?
Correct answer: selfishness
honesty
kindness
Correct answer: greed
Correct answer: cruelty
Q5.
Which statement accurately describes the way that Anthony Browne depicts the father?
Correct answer: He is a complex character because he shows good and bad characteristics.
He is a good character because he loves his children.
He is a bad character because he doesn't stand up to the witch.
Q6.
Order these events from the story 'Hansel and Gretel'.
1 - Hansel and Gretel live with their father and stepmother and they are starving.
2 - The stepmother plans to leave the children in the forest to get rid of them.
3 - Hansel and Gretel manage to find their way back home.
4 - The next time they are left in the forest, they cannot find their way home.
5 - Hansel and Gretel are invited into a house by a witch who lies to them.
6 - The witch locks Hansel in a "cage" and wants to eat him.
7 - Gretel tricks the witch, pushes her into the cooker and they escape.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How can we analyse a character's personality traits?
Correct answer: consider their appearance, words and actions
consider how the story ends
Correct answer: look for clues in the text and the illustrations
focus on what they are wearing
Q2.
Match the vocabulary to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:characterisation,the way an author describes and develops characters

the way an author describes and develops characters

Correct Answer:convey,to communicate a message to the reader

to communicate a message to the reader

Correct Answer:analyse,to examine something in detail in order to understand it

to examine something in detail in order to understand it

Q3.
How does the author draw similarities between the stepmother and the witch?
Correct answer: They are depicted in similar ways in the illustrations.
They look identical to each other.
Correct answer: They act in very similar ways.
Correct answer: They use some of the same language.
Q4.
How were the stepmother and the witch's actions and words towards the children similar?
Correct answer: They both woke up early and forced the children awake.
They both died.
They both wore black.
Correct answer: They both said, "Get up, lazybones."
Q5.
What appears repeatedly in the illustrations of the stepmother and the witch to convey their similarities?
fancy clothes and cosmetics
Correct answer: the dark shape of a witch's hat
a black cat
lots of food
Q6.
How did the author Anthony Browne convey the message that the stepmother and the witch are the same person?
He told us directly at the end of the story.
Correct answer: He drew similarities between the characters' behaviours throughout the story.
Correct answer: He highlighted similarities between the characters in his illustrations.
He focuses on the role the father plays in the story the most.
Correct answer: After the witch was killed, it was revealed the stepmother was dead too.