'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.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
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.
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
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.
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 (2025), licensed on
Lesson video
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