New
New
Year 7

Reading 'The Twisted Tree': introducing the setting

I can identify and use pathetic fallacy to describe a setting and create a specific atmosphere.

New
New
Year 7

Reading 'The Twisted Tree': introducing the setting

I can identify and use pathetic fallacy to describe a setting and create a specific atmosphere.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mormor's cabin is very isolated and the surrounding forest is dark.
  2. A strange boy is living in the cabin and tells Martha that Mormor is dead.
  3. The setting makes the reader feel uneasy and scared for Martha.
  4. 'The Twisted Tree' can be described as a Nordic thriller.
  5. Pathetic fallacy can be used to create a specific atmosphere and reflect the feelings of the main character.

Common misconception

Settings are only there to provide a backdrop for the story.

Setting plays a crucial role in shaping the mood and atmosphere of a novel. It can also help us gain a deeper understanding of the characters and themes.

Keywords

  • Setting - the time and place in which the events of a piece of writing take place

  • Atmosphere - the tone or mood created by a writer

  • Jostle - to force through a crowd by pushing

  • Cadence - the way a voice gets higher and lower when a person speaks

  • Nordic - belonging to or relating to Scandinavia, Finland or Iceland

You may wish to use specific examples from 'The Twisted Tree' to explore how pathetic fallacy can be used effectively in the build up to Task B in Learning Cycle 2.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to the text: 'The Twisted Tree' by Rachel Burge, published by Hot Key Books, 2019.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

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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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the name of the main character in 'The Twisted Tree'?
Meryl
Correct answer: Martha
Maya
Mormor
Q2.
In what country is the book 'The Twisted Tree' set?
Correct answer: Norway
Denmark
Sweden
Finland
Iceland
Q3.
In 'The Twisted Tree', the writer dedicates the book to which Norse god?
Thor
Borr
Correct answer: Odin
Loki
Q4.
Horror, sci-fi, romance and thriller can be considered types of ...
Correct Answer: genre
Q5.
Which of the following answers is false. We know Martha is the protagonist of 'The Twisted Tree' because ...
the story is told from her perspective.
she is involved in all major events of the plot.
Correct answer: she is the author of the book.
she narrates the entire story in the first person.
Q6.
Using information such as the front cover and blurb can help you make guesses about a novel’s themes and characters before you begin reading. This reading skill is called ...
summarising.
Correct answer: prediction.
analysing.
paraphrasing.

6 Questions

Q1.
In a Nordic thriller, what kind of weather would you not typically expect to encounter?
extreme darkness
snowstorms
Correct answer: sunshine
fog
Q2.
Which of the following best describes pathetic fallacy?
Correct answer: The weather reflects the mood of the main character.
The weather reflects the appearance of the main character.
The weather changes unpredictably.
The weather signals the end of the chapter.
Q3.
In 'The Twisted Tree' what does Martha discover at the end of Chapter 3?
her mormor has moved house
Correct answer: her mormor has died
her mormor has sold the house
her mormor no longer remembers her
Q4.
In 'The Twisted Tree', what effect does the cliffhanger at the end of Chapter 3 have on the reader?
It resolves all the conflicts in the story.
It introduces a new character.
It provides closure to the chapter.
Correct answer: It leaves the reader in suspense and anticipation.
Q5.
Which word beginning with 'a' can be described as the tone or mood created by a writer?
Correct Answer: atmosphere
Q6.
Which two words does the writer use to describe the tree, in Chapter 3 of 'The Twisted Tree'?
colourful
tall
old
Correct answer: ancient
Correct answer: gnarled