Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 7

Reading 'The Twisted Tree': the theme of fate

I can understand the plot and Martha's consideration of the idea of fate.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 7

Reading 'The Twisted Tree': the theme of fate

I can understand the plot and Martha's consideration of the idea of fate.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Martha falls into a dream and sees Karina, her great-grandmother.
  2. Karina warns her that Mormor is trapped because nobody has watered the tree.
  3. The light attracts the draugr.
  4. Fate is the idea that our lives are laid out for us before we are even born.
  5. Martha believes you can alter the course of your life through your actions.

Common misconception

Including the theme of fate means that characters have no choice or control over their actions and are simply puppets of destiny.

While fate in 'The Twisted Tree' suggests that certain events and abilities are predestined, characters still have the power to make choices that shape their journey.

Keywords

  • Wrenched - pulled or twisted suddenly or violently

  • Exasperated - intensely irritated or frustrated

  • Apparition - ghosts

  • Vortex - a whirling mass or fluid or air

  • Fate - the development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power

In Learning Cycle2 you may wish to compare the theme of fate in other texts that are studied in your own curriculum.
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 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

Skip video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Twisted Tree', what is a draugr?
a woman that controls destiny
a raven messenger
Correct answer: a walking corpse who comes back to kill the living
a Norse god
Q2.
In 'The Twisted Tree', which of these features does the draugr not have?
Correct answer: a forked tail
long claws
a skull for a head
matted hair
Q3.
In 'The Twisted Tree' there are many references to Norse mythology. What is the name for the group of women who weave destiny and decide humans' fate?
Hel
Odin
Correct answer: The Norns
Yggdrasil
Q4.
Which word beginning with 'a', can be described as 'a person's family history or lineage'?
Correct Answer: ancestry
Q5.
There are a number of key themes in 'The Twisted Tree'. What is a theme?
an important character in a text which is explored in different ways
Correct answer: an important idea in a text which is explored in a number of different ways
an important plot point in a text which is explored in different ways
important language devices used by the writer in a text
an important quotation in a text which could be explored
Q6.
From 'The Twisted Tree', which character could be described as a local boy in Norway who becomes an important friend to Martha? He seems to have a lot of dark secrets.
Olav
Gandalf
Correct answer: Stig
Odin

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Twisted Tree', what are the draugr attracted to?
darkness
Correct answer: light
fog and mist
water
Q2.
In 'The Twisted Tree', Martha is spoken to by Karina. How is she related to Martha?
mother
grandmother
Correct answer: great-grandmother
aunt
sister
Q3.
In Chapter 17 of 'The Twisted Tree', Mormor attempts to communicate with Martha. How does she do this?
by sending ravens
Correct answer: through a doll
through the shape of runes
by leaving a message on the window
Q4.
In Chapter 17 of 'The Twisted Tree', Karina tells Martha that Mormor is trapped where?
inside the cabin
inside the doll
Correct answer: inside the twisted tree
inside the ravens
Q5.
Which word beginning with 'f', can be described as 'the development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power'?
Correct Answer: fate
Q6.
In Chapter 17 of 'The Twisted Tree', who appears to Martha as apparitions in the story?
strangers from another town
ancient Norse gods
Correct answer: her deceased ancestors
living relatives