New
New
Year 7

'The Twisted Tree': understanding narrative arcs

I can understand the arc of a narrative and how the plot of 'The Twisted Tree' fits within it.

New
New
Year 7

'The Twisted Tree': understanding narrative arcs

I can understand the arc of a narrative and how the plot of 'The Twisted Tree' fits within it.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Lots of stories, particularly fables and fairy tales, fit into a traditional narrative arc.
  2. A narrative arc starts with an exposition.
  3. A story’s rising action leads to its climax.
  4. After the climax, falling action leads to a resolution.
  5. 'The Twisted Tree’ mostly follows this traditional structure, however there are arguably two climaxes.

Common misconception

Students might think that all stories fit perfectly into a traditional narrative arc with only one climax.

While many stories follow a traditional narrative arc, some can have multiple climaxes or may not fit perfectly into the structure. The narrative arc is a helpful guide, but it's important to recognise that stories can vary and still be effective.

Keywords

  • Narrative arc - the structure and sequence of events in a story

  • Exposition - the beginning part of a story where characters, setting, and the main conflict are introduced

  • Action - events in a story that move the plot forward; they can be divided into rising action and falling action

  • Climax - the most intense and exciting part of a story where the main conflict reaches its peak

  • Resolution - the end of a story where the conflicts are resolved, and the story concludes

To make the lesson more engaging, consider showing short video clips that demonstrate narrative arcs in well-known movies or TV shows. You can also ask students to discuss recent books they have read and plot them on the narrative arc structure in Learning Cycle one.
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

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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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Twisted Tree' Martha is the novel's ...
Correct answer: protagonist.
antagonist.
author.
sidekick.
Q2.
The novel 'The Twisted Tree' is written in person.
Correct answer: first
second
third
Q3.
Who is Gandalf in 'The Twisted Tree'?
Correct answer: Mormor's dog
Martha's friend
Stig's father
Mormor's neighbour
Q4.
Who is Stig in 'The Twisted Tree'?
Correct answer: a teenage boy Martha finds living in Mormor's cabin
a neighbour of Mormor's that Martha meets on the ferry
one of Martha's ancestors
Martha's brother who is mentioned but doesn't appear in the story
Q5.
Who is the draugr in 'The Twisted Tree'?
one of Mormor's ancestors
a friend of Hel's
Correct answer: an undead creature that haunts the living
the official name for 'The Twisted Tree'
Q6.
In the title 'The Twisted Tree' - the word 'twisted' is ...
an adverb.
Correct answer: an adjective.
a noun.
a verb.
a preposition.

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the beginning part of a story, where characters, setting and the main conflict are introduced, called?
Correct answer: exposition
rising action
falling action
climax
resolution
Q2.
In 'The Twisted Tree', what happens during the exposition?
Correct answer: Martha runs away from home to visit her grandmother Mormor.
Martha and Stig are haunted by evil spirits.
Martha kills the draugr.
Stig and Gandalf return from the underworld.
Q3.
Why is the exposition important in a narrative arc?
It provides a summary of the entire story.
It reveals the story's resolution and ties up loose ends.
It shows the highest point of tension and conflict in the story.
Correct answer: It introduces the characters, setting and main conflict.
Q4.
Which part of the narrative arc involves the tension growing and leading to a conflict?
exposition
Correct answer: rising action
falling action
climax
resolution
Q5.
Consider 'The Twisted Tree': 'Martha and her mother decide to remain and tend to the twisted tree.' - what part of the narrative arc is this?
Correct answer: resolution
exposition
falling action
rising action
climax
Q6.
Why might some stories have multiple climaxes, like 'The Twisted Tree'?
to confuse the reader with several unresolved conflicts
Correct answer: to build up multiple points of high tension due to a complex plot
to introduce new characters and settings midway through the story