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Year 4

Exploring the themes of 'Hansel and Gretel'

I can identify and justify the key themes in 'Hansel and Gretel'.

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New
New
Year 4

Exploring the themes of 'Hansel and Gretel'

I can identify and justify the key themes in 'Hansel and Gretel'.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.
  2. Readers can interpret the importance of themes, ideas and messages differently.
  3. 'Hansel and Gretel' explores a variety of themes linked to morality.
  4. Analysing themes can help us consider human morality and positively impact the people we want to be.

Common misconception

Children might initially confuse the meaning and differences of genre and themes.

Although certain genres of text explore common themes, these themes can vary from text to text.

Keywords

  • Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story

  • Recurring - when something appears repeatedly

  • Convey - to communicate a message to the reader directly or indirectly

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

  • Justify - to show or prove something using evidence

Children could act out different scenes from the story in order to explore the themes in more detail.
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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Order the key events in Anthony Browne's adaptation of 'Hansel and Gretel'.
1 - Starvation leads the stepmother to abandon the children to save herself
2 - Hansel, having overheard the plan, uses "pebbles" to guide him and Gretel home.
3 - Starvation returns and the children are abandoned in the forest again
4 - Hansel is unable to guide them home this time and they find an edible house.
5 - The witch, who lives in the house, tricks the children so she can eat them.
6 - Hansel and Gretel outsmart the witch and Gretel manages to kill her.
7 - The children arrive home, discover their stepmother is dead and live happily.
Q2.
Match the vocabulary to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:fairytale,a children's story about magical/imaginary beings and lands

a children's story about magical/imaginary beings and lands

Correct Answer:folklore,a genre in which oral stories are passed down over time

a genre in which oral stories are passed down over time

Correct Answer:moral,a lesson that can be learnt from a story or experience

a lesson that can be learnt from a story or experience

Correct Answer:characterisation,the way a character is portrayed in a story

the way a character is portrayed in a story

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

to communicate a message directly or indirectly

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

to examine something in detail in order to understand it

Q3.
Select all of the good qualities shown by characters in 'Hansel and Gretel'.
Correct answer: bravery
Correct answer: selflessness
greed
Correct answer: kindness
deceit
Q4.
Select all of the evil characteristics shown by characters in 'Hansel and Gretel'.
Correct answer: manipulative
honest
Correct answer: selfish
Correct answer: greedy
considerate
Q5.
How does the author Anthony Browne use illustrations to enhance the meaning of his adaptation of 'Hansel and Gretel'?
He makes them colourful and vibrant to attract the reader.
Correct answer: He communicates hidden messages to the reader.
He keeps them simple so the reader focuses on the words.
Q6.
What evidence is there to suggest that the stepmother and the witch are the same person?
They are both unkind people who don't like children.
Correct answer: There are similarities in their appearance and possessions.
Correct answer: After Gretel kills the witch, they discover the stepmother is dead too.
They are both greedy and selfish.
Correct answer: They display similar characteristics and use the same language.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to the correct definition.
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

Correct Answer:justify,to show or prove something using evidence

to show or prove something using evidence

Q2.
What is a theme in a story?
an idea, topic or message that appears once
the genre that a story belongs to
Correct answer: a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story
Q3.
Which of the following are themes from the story 'Hansel and Gretel'?
Correct answer: courage
Correct answer: good vs evil
environment
Correct answer: protection
technology
Q4.
Match the theme from 'Hansel and Gretel' to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:protection,keeping someone safe from harm or injury

keeping someone safe from harm or injury

Correct Answer:kindness,the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate

the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate

Correct Answer:sacrifice,putting another person’s needs before your own

putting another person’s needs before your own

Q5.
How does the author convey the theme of courage in the story?
The father shows courage by following the stepmother's evil plan.
Correct answer: Gretel shows courage when she tricks and kills the witch.
The witch shows courage by trapping Hansel in a "cage".
Q6.
Why can it be useful to analyse themes in a story?
It can make the story more confusing.
Correct answer: It can help us consider human morality and the kind of person we want to be.
Correct answer: It can help us to understand the plot and the story better.
It can make life more interesting.