'The Twisted Tree': Norse mythology
I can understand how Burge uses Norse mythology to create a terrifying villain.
'The Twisted Tree': Norse mythology
I can understand how Burge uses Norse mythology to create a terrifying villain.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Odin is a Norse god who is associated with wisdom, poetry and death.
- Odin sacrificed his eye in order to gain metaphorical sight and understanding.
- A draugr is an undead creature from Scandinavian folklore.
- A draugr is a re-animated corpse that stinks of decay and possesses superhuman strength.
- Burge uses some of the most terrifying elements of Norse mythology to create a frightening villain.
Keywords
Mythology - a collection of stories that explain the beliefs, history, and traditions of a culture, often involving gods, heroes, and magical creatures
Norse - belonging or relating to the Scandinavian countries
Draugr - an undead creature from the Norse mythology that haunts the living
Decay - to rot or decompose
Common misconception
Pupils may think all draugr are depicted in Norse mythology and in 'The Twisted Tree' in the same way.
While draugr in Norse mythology generally share traits their specific appearances can vary between stories. Rachel Burge's portrayal in 'The Twisted Tree' offers her unique interpretation, reflecting the novel's narrative and atmosphere.
To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: 'The Twisted Tree': Norse mythology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: 'The Twisted Tree': Norse mythology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 english lessons from the 'The Twisted Tree': fiction reading unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended