'The Twisted Tree': analysing the dreadful draugr
I can analyse how Burge has characterised the draugr as a fearsome creature.
'The Twisted Tree': analysing the dreadful draugr
I can analyse how Burge has characterised the draugr as a fearsome creature.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A range of metaphors are used to describe the draugr.
- The draugr is associated with death to heighten its terror and make the reader fear for Martha’s life.
- Burge waits until the end of the novel to introduce a full description of the draugr, in order to create mystery.
- The draugr’s curved claws are a symbol of its terrifying violence.
Common misconception
Pupils might think that the draugr is simply a physical monster with no deeper significance or symbolism.
While the draugr is indeed a fearsome physical entity, it also symbolises deeper themes such as death, decay and the persistence of fear. In Norse mythology, draugrs are more than just monsters; they embody the fears and anxieties of the living.
Keywords
Draugr - an undead creature from Norse mythology that haunts the living
Metaphor - a way of describing something by saying it is something else, to show a comparison or similarity between the two things
Imagery - visually descriptive writing
Fearsome - frightening, especially in appearance
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
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).
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