New
New
Year 10
AQA

Identifying and analysing Saint's use of an anti-climax in 'Hera'

I can explain how Saint uses language and imagery to craft an anti-climax that relates to ideas of transience.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Identifying and analysing Saint's use of an anti-climax in 'Hera'

I can explain how Saint uses language and imagery to craft an anti-climax that relates to ideas of transience.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. An anti-climax is when something that is much less exciting or dramatic happens than was expected.
  2. Stereotypically, anti-climaxes might be considered disappointing; however, they can be very subjective.
  3. Arguably, Saint's 'Hera' has an anti-climatic ending since the gods lose their power and fade away.
  4. Potentially, Saint may have chosen an anti-climatic ending to comment on ideas of transience and power.
  5. Arguably, the anti-climatic ending reflects how the gods no longer have the same power as they did.

Keywords

  • Anti-climax - something that is much less exciting or dramatic than it was expected to be

  • Subvert - to criticise or undermine the usual way of doing something or common values

  • Subjective - describes something that's based on a person's opinions, individual experiences, and biased influences

  • Transience - the state or fact of lasting only for a short time

  • Symbolise - where an image, object, idea or symbol is used to represent something other than its literal meaning

Common misconception

Anti-climaxes are always disappointing for the reader.

While unexpected, anti-climaxes are subjective and not necessarily always disappointing.

You may wish to explore more of the Greek mythology around Hera and Zeus or consider reading Natalie Haynes' chapter on Hera 'Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth'.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2024 Wildfire edition of 'Hera' by Jennifer Saint for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
'Where an image, object or idea is used to represent something other than its literal meaning' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Correct Answer: symbolism, symbolise, symbol
Q2.
If something is described as 'toppled' then it is which of the following?
balanced
stable
Correct answer: unbalanced
Correct answer: unstable
Q3.
'A group of words or expressions that are related in meaning' is the definition of a field.
Correct Answer: semantic
Q4.
In literature, water might symbolise ideas of which of the following?
Correct answer: something is unpredictable
Correct answer: something is temporary
something is stable
something is permanent
Q5.
'Describes something that's based on a person's opinions, individual experiences and biased influences' is the definition of which of the following?
objective
Correct answer: subjective
impartial
subversive
Q6.
A word that has the same spelling as another but a different meaning is called a ...
synonym
antonym
homophone
Correct answer: homonym

6 Questions

Q1.
'Something that is much less exciting or dramatic than it was expected to be' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
Correct Answer: anti-climactic, anti-climax, anticlimactic, anticlimax, anti climax
Q2.
Throughout Jennifer Saint's 'Hera', the character Hera desires which of the following?
Zeus' love
Correct answer: power and control
worship
harmony and peace
Q3.
Stereotypically, anti-climaxes are considered ...
satisfying
Correct answer: disappointing
exciting
Q4.
'To criticise or undermine the usual way of doing something or common values' is the definition of which word beginning with 's'?
Correct Answer: subvert, subversive, subverted
Q5.
'The state or fact of lasting only for a short time; temporary' is the definition of which word beginning with 't'?
Correct Answer: transience, transient
Q6.
In 'Hera', which of the following does Saint use to create ideas of transience at the end?
symbolism of fire
Correct answer: symbolism of water
symbolism of earth