New
New
Year 3

Chapters 4 & 5 and the evolution of the Iron Man

I can discuss how the Iron Man's character evolves over the course of the story.

New
New
Year 3

Chapters 4 & 5 and the evolution of the Iron Man

I can discuss how the Iron Man's character evolves over the course of the story.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In Chapter 4 of ‘The Iron Man’, the world faces threat from a flying creature named the space-bat-angel-dragon.
  2. In Chapter 5 of ‘The Iron Man’, the Iron Man defeats the space-bat-angel-dragon and protects the Earth.
  3. A character arc is a character’s transformation or journey over the course of a story.
  4. We can examine the Iron Man’s character arc by considering how he is viewed by others over the course of the story.
  5. The Iron Man’s character evolves from one that is feared into one that is understood and viewed as a hero.

Keywords

  • Character arc - a character's transformation or journey over the course of a story

  • Evolve - to develop gradually

  • View - a particular opinion or way of thinking about someone or something

Common misconception

Children may assume 'evolution' refers to an internal or physical change in the Iron Man.

Ask the children to consider whether they think the Iron Man always had the positive qualities we witness at the end. This is a great opportunity to explore the concept of 'perception'.

Children need to have read Chapter 4 of 'The Iron Man' prior to this lesson. Cycle one of this lesson recaps Chapter 4 by summarising the key events. Children will read or listen to Chapter 5 in cycle two.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2005 Faber and Faber edition of ‘The Iron Man’ by Ted Hughes for this lesson.

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.
What is the name of the character introduced in Chapter 4 of 'The Iron Man?
the Iron Man
Hogarth
Correct answer: the space-bat-angel-dragon
Q2.
Which country did the space-bat-angel-dragon land on?
Correct answer: Australia
Armenia
Austria
Q3.
What did the space-bat-angel-dragon demand when he landed on Earth?
fun and games
sleep and rest
Correct answer: to be fed
Q4.
True or false? Humanity decided to give the space-bat-angel-dragon what he wanted.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q5.
True or false? Humanity was initially successful in waging a war against the space-bat-angel-dragon.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q6.
What did Hogarth persuade the Iron Man to do at the end of Chapter 4?
to stop eating metal
Correct answer: to defeat the space-bat-angel-dragon
to work for the farmers

6 Questions

Q1.
Put the following events in order, from 1 - 4, to show the correct chronology of events in Chapter 4 of ‘The Iron Man’.
1 - A star moved towards Earth with a black flying creature on it.
2 - The creature landed on Australia and demanded to be fed.
3 - Humanity failed in destroying the creature and were given a deadline.
4 - Hogarth sought the help of the Iron Man, who said he would defeat the dragon.
Q2.
What does it mean to 'evolve'?
to stay the same
to suddenly change
Correct answer: to develop gradually
Q3.
What is a character arc?
Correct answer: a character’s transformation or journey over the course of a story
what a character is like at the beginning of a story
the ultimate fate of a character
Q4.
True or false? The other characters viewed the Iron Man the same way throughout the story.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q5.
True or false? The Iron Man defeats the space-bat-angel-dragon.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q6.
How does the Iron Man punish the space-bat-angel-dragon?
He makes him go to sleep.
He makes him fly to another country.
Correct answer: He makes him produce music for the Earth from space.