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Year 8

Third person omniscient writing: ‘The Execution of Lady Jane Grey’ as stimulus

I can plan a well-structured piece of descriptive writing inspired by a painting ('The Execution of Lady Jane Grey') which employs a third person omniscient narrator.

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Year 8

Third person omniscient writing: ‘The Execution of Lady Jane Grey’ as stimulus

I can plan a well-structured piece of descriptive writing inspired by a painting ('The Execution of Lady Jane Grey') which employs a third person omniscient narrator.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A third person omniscient narrator can move between the thoughts, feelings and experiences of all characters.
  2. Paragraphs can allow us to signal shifts in focus to a different character.
  3. To structure your piece, your first and final paragraph could focus on the same character.
  4. To further structure your piece, you could link the concluding sentence of paragraphs to the next topic sentence.

Keywords

  • Third person limited - the narrator isn’t a character in the story and presents the feelings and experiences of one character using pronouns like 'she', 'he', 'they', 'it'

  • Third person omniscient - the narrator isn’t a character in the story and presents the feelings and experiences of multiple characters using pronouns like 'she', 'he', 'they', 'it'

  • Sumptuous - expensive looking, luxurious, rich

Common misconception

A third person omniscient narrator must develop each character in the same amount of detail.

Whilst a third person omniscient narrator can develop many characters, they don't need the same amount of space, detail and time in a written piece. You can still have a central character, and minor characters who are more or less important.

Consider if there are examples of texts you have read with your pupils which employ a third person omniscient narrator which could be used to develop the explanation. Alternatively, you could refer back to a text with a first person narrator as a contrast to support understanding.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

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

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).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each narrative to perspective to its definition ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire’).
Correct Answer:first person ,the narrator is a character in the story, using pronouns like 'I'

the narrator is a character in the story, using pronouns like 'I'

Correct Answer:second person ,the narrator is speaking directly to the reader, using 'you'

the narrator is speaking directly to the reader, using 'you'

Correct Answer:third person ,the narrator isn't a character in the story; 'her', 'he', 'it', 'they'

the narrator isn't a character in the story; 'her', 'he', 'it', 'they'

Q2.
In 'Myths, Legends and stories that inspire', we look at an historical figure called Lady Jane Grey. What is true of Lady Jane Grey?
Correct answer: Edward VI nominated her to be the monarch.
Correct answer: Mary I deposed her and took the throne.
Lady Jane Grey died in prison.
Lady Jane Grey was killed for refusing to accept her role as monarch.
Correct answer: Lady Jane Grey is the shortest reigning monarch in English history.
Q3.
Match each of these words to their definitions ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire').
Correct Answer:stagnant,describing something still (often water or air) that smells bad

describing something still (often water or air) that smells bad

Correct Answer:tender ,kind, gentle, caring

kind, gentle, caring

Correct Answer:suppress,to bottle up or hide an emotion

to bottle up or hide an emotion

Q4.
What is a pronoun? ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire').
a word for a specific place, or the name of someone
a word which describes a noun
a word which describes a verb
Correct answer: a word which can be used in place of a noun
Q5.
Which sentences, all inspired by 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey' ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire'), are written using the first person?
Lucy rested her head against the wall.
She had been suppressing her sobs all day.
Correct answer: I could smell the stagnant air, feel its oppressive heat.
Correct answer: He fidgeted with the axe and I heard it scrape the floor.
Correct answer: His hand tenderly guided mine towards the block.
Q6.
Which sentences, all inspired by 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey' ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire'), are written using the third person?
Correct answer: He just wanted to go home.
I had never seen someone so young approach the block.
Correct answer: "The block is in front of you," he whispered sadly.
I lay my head against the wall and closed my eyes.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each section of the single paragraph outline to its function ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire').
Correct Answer:topic sentence ,introduces the main focus of your paragraph

introduces the main focus of your paragraph

Correct Answer:supporting details ,notes on vocabulary, techniques and ideas you will include

notes on vocabulary, techniques and ideas you will include

Correct Answer:concluding sentence ,completes your ideas and leads onto the next paragraph

completes your ideas and leads onto the next paragraph

Q2.
What is true of a third person omniscient narrator? ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire').
Correct answer: They can present the feelings and experiences of multiple characters.
Correct answer: They can still focus on a central character who is the main focus.
They must devote a paragraph to each character.
This means there can be no central character; all the characters are equal.
Correct answer: They don't need to describe each character in equal detail.
Q3.
Which of these sentences, all inspired by 'The Execution of Lady Jane Grey' ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire'), use the word 'sumptuous' (or a form of it) correctly?
The dress lay like a sumptuous in her lap.
Correct answer: The sumptuousness of the dress contrasted with the bleak prison cell.
Correct answer: What was she to do with it? Could she really throw something so sumptuous away?
The prison cell was sumptuous, with cold, bare walls and dirty windows.
Q4.
What is true of concluding sentences of descriptive paragraphs? ('Myths, Legends and stories that inspire').
They should each repeat your topic sentence to provide clarity.
Correct answer: They could link to the next topic sentence to provide structure.
They should include your most impressive technique.
They start with 'In conclusion,' to show you are finishing the paragraph.
They should always be written in the third person.
Q5.
A third person narrator is when the narrator isn't a character in the story and presents the feelings and experiences of one character using pronouns like 'she', 'he', 'they', 'it'.
Correct Answer: limited
Q6.
A third person narrator is when the narrator isn't a character in the story and presents the feelings and experiences of multiple characters using pronouns like 'she', 'he', 'they', 'it'.
experienced
Correct answer: omniscient
focused