Reading 'The Twisted Tree': the draugr as a villain
I can understand the plot and how the villain is introduced.
Reading 'The Twisted Tree': the draugr as a villain
I can understand the plot and how the villain is introduced.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Martha thinks the dead have escaped from the tree in the form of a draugr.
- Martha can see faces appearing in the shadows around the cabin.
- A howl sounds close to the cabin.
- A villain can be considered an antagonist and has an evil and scary presence.
- The draugr is an effective villain with its malevolent presence and unpredictability.
Common misconception
Villains are easily identifiable and will be always be introduced from the outset of a text.
Consider the draugr's subtle and encroaching presence. Burge uses this slow reveal to create tension.
Keywords
Transfixed - motionless with horror or astonishment
Mortified - feel very embarrassed or ashamed
Inheritance - belongings, for example money and property, received from someone after they have died
Horde - a large group
Draugr - from Norse mythology, a ghost, spirit or reanimated corpse
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 serious crime
- 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).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
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