Lesson video

Hello, and welcome.

Thank you for joining me for today's English lesson.

My name's Mrs. Bosworth, and I will be guiding you through the learning.

Now, in this lesson, we'll be reading from the novel, "The Twisted Tree," so you need to make sure you have access to that text.

Now, in this part of the novel, Martha finds a letter from her Mormor, and we start to learn more about their connection.

So we're going to be exploring that and the role of letters in novels in a bit more depth today.

So let's get started.

So in this letter, you will explore the importance of letters and how they relay important information and affect the characters emotionally.

Now, in this lesson, there will be a few key words popping up in our reading and in the lesson itself.

So shall we just read those through together, just to make sure we know what they are and understand their definitions? So those words are putrid, devouring, emanating, superstition, and sacred.

Now, the first word is putrid.

It's a really good word isn't it, putrid? And this means a foul smell from rotting matter.

So at "The Twisted Tree," there's talk of it emanating this putrid smell, and that kinda links it to kind of death and decay, and really just adds to that ominous presence.

We have this word, devouring, as well.

And if you devour something, you eat food or eat prey very hungrily and quickly.

It's linked to ideas of like animalistic characteristics if you are devouring food.

The word emanating as well, I've just used this word a moment ago, and this means emitting or spreading from something.

So in "The Twisted Tree," it's used to talk about the putrid smell that emanates from the tree.

And also, its pulsating heart which emanates from the tree's hollow as well.

We also get the word, superstition.

Now, a superstition is a widely held, but irrational belief in a supernatural influence or practice.

So a superstition might be that people believe it's unlucky if you walk under ladders, and that would be a superstition.

And sacred, if something is sacred, it is connected with a God or regarded with great respect.

So the outline of our lesson looks like this.

We're going to begin by reading pages 63 to 84, so we'll explore those a little bit.

And then, we're going to think about responding to Mormor's letter, which we will discover in the first part of our lesson.

So let's get on with that reading.

So in this lesson, we are going to read the next two chapters of "The Twisted Tree." And in those chapters, these words all appear, so putrid, devouring, which they're two words we've already looked at, severed, which means to cut off, cut or slice off.

So if you severed something, you cut or slice it off.

Guttural is a harsh sound that usually comes from the throat, so a really deep guttural sound.

Intertwined means to twist or connect together.

Mildew is mold.

Sacred is one of our key words, connected with God or regarded with great respect.

Seers is someone who can predict the future.

And then, superstition, again, we have looked at that today already, it's a widely held, but irrational belief in a supernatural influence or practice.

So there's a really interesting words there, isn't there? And what I would like you to do is just read through those words again, and just think about what you can infer about the atmosphere and setting of these chapters and what events you think might happen.

So start thinking about how some of these words link, what atmosphere they might suggest, and what events might happen.

So pause the video, so you've got time to discuss your answers to these questions.

Or you may wish to sit quietly and think by yourself.

Pause the video, and off you go.

Okay, fantastic.

Lots of you picking up on the continuation of supernatural themes within these words.

There's definitely a sense of kind of foreboding and an ominous atmosphere.

I think interestingly as well, putrid and mildew linked to that idea of like decomposition and decay and death.

Lots of gruesome words as well with severed and things like that.

So there's lots of things they're hinting to this kind of dark, macabre atmosphere within "The Twisted Tree" so far.

Okay, so a little question for you.

Which word can be described as a foul smell from rotting matter? Is it a, macabre, b, putrid, or c, mildew? Which one do you think it is? Well done to everyone that said b, putrid, is the foul smell from rotting matter.

So for your first practice task, we're going to do some reading.

So I'd like you to find page 63 in "The Twisted Tree." So you will need to read from page 63 to the end of page 84, so those two chapters there.

As you read, I would like you to summarize the most important information and events into five bullet points.

So you're reading from page 63 to 84, and then summarizing the main events and information into five bullet points, okay? So you'll need to pause the video in order to do this.

Make sure you've got everything you need to complete the task.

And when you're ready, pause the video, and off you go.

Thank you all, another creepy part of "The Twisted Tree." I found the part where the spinning wheel was spinning on its own really quite spooky, and some of the other details as well, like the doll with the missing eye.

Again, very creepy, very spooky, but very, very engaging, I just couldn't put it down.

And I still want to know what all those howls are that are coming from outside.

And what's gonna happen if Martha doesn't water the tree? So many questions, but I'm sure we will find out as we keep reading "The Twisted Tree." So I asked you to summarize those two chapters into five bullet points.

So I'm going to give you a suggestion as to how this task could have been completed.

This may be an opportunity if you wish to add to your own ideas, or you may just wish to compare what you have, that's absolutely fine.

So here are some ideas.

So the cabin is encased by the fog and a strong putrid smell that seems to come from the tree, very foreboding.

Martha and Stig seem to be developing feelings for each other, so there's a definite connection happening there.

And Martha describes having butterflies.

Martha hears terrifying howls and seems to see shadows of people in the dark.

Again, my heart was in my mouth when this was being described, it's so scary.

Mormor's old spinning wheel appears to spin by itself.

And then, finally, a very important part of the story, Martha finds a letter from Mormor and discovers her supernatural powers are part of her ancestry.

So there is definitely some powerful forces in Martha's family tree.

Okay, so let's move on to the second part of the lesson, which is all about responding to Mormor's letter.

Now, letters can be an effective way to present information in a novel.

Many novels use letters as a way to convey information or to convey a character's feelings.

So as Martha reads the letter, we as readers also discover the same information.

So I would like you to discuss, please.

Imagine you're Martha, how might Martha be feeling after reading the letter? So pause the video, you may also wish to just go back and remind yourself of the contents of the letter in the book, but just discuss how might Martha be feeling after reading the letter.

Pause the video, so you can discuss the question.

Off you go.

Okay, some really interesting and thoughtful suggestions there about how Martha might be feeling.

So what I would like you to do is I would like you, thinking about those discussions, can you just make them more specific? So can you come up with three adjectives to describe how Martha might feel? So think about what you've just discussed, can you think of three adjectives that would best describe how Martha might feel? So pause the video, so you've got time to come up with those adjectives.

Off you go.

Okay, so let's see if we have something similar.

So which of these adjectives would not be useful in describing Martha's feelings after reading Mormor's letter? So think back to the discussion you've just had and your own adjectives to help.

So which of these adjectives would not be useful in describing Martha's feelings after reading Mormor's letter? You need to pick a, b, c, or d.

Off you go.

Okay, who's feeling confident? I think lots of you are.

So let's see.

Great, the answer is b, cheerful.

She's most definitely not feeling cheerful after reading Mormor's letter.

She's more likely to feel intrigued by the information that Mormor has given her, maybe overwhelmed with what she has been told, and maybe shocked too to learn that Mormor too also has the same supernatural powers that she has.

There was a lot for Martha to learn and take on after that letter.

So Mormor's letter gives a lot of information, but it also leads to more questions, doesn't it? And so, yes, it gives us lots of information, but it also leads to more questions.

So I want you to think about that.

And after reading the letter, what questions might Martha have for Mormor? So I'd like you to discuss this.

So after reading the letter, what questions might Martha have for Mormor? Pause the video, so you can come up with those questions.

Okay, off you go.

Okay, let's just share some ideas, those things that you may have considered, 'cause there are a lot of questions to ask, aren't there? "So why did my mother keep Mormor's letters from me?" 'Cause that still hasn't been explained, has it? So we know that Mormor and Martha's mum have a difficult relationship, but we want to know why Martha's mum kept her letters, Mormor's letters from her.

"Why must I water the tree? What will happen if I don't?" Again, all of these answers we are waiting to find out, just like Martha.

"Who are the Norns? Why me?" Okay, really good question.

She might be feeling really overwhelmed, really shocked, and thinking, "Why me? Why do I have this responsibility for the tree? Why do I have these superpowers?" All of these questions.

And, "Are you still with me? Can you tell me what's lurking outside?" So there is a sense, isn't there? That perhaps, Mormor's presence is still felt in the cabin.

We've got things like the moving books, we've got things like the spinning wheel.

So there is this sense that perhaps, Mormor is closer than we think.

And also, there's these howls that keep being heard outside.

"What is lurking outside? What are those shadows?" So with all of this in mind, I want you to imagine now that you are Martha, and I would like you to write a response to the letter using first person, so you'll need to use I.

So you are pretending you are Martha and writing as I.

I'd like you to use some of the adjectives that we came up with a moment ago and the questions that you came up with.

These will help you to structure and write your letter.

And I want you to consider what tone of voice would you use if you're writing to Mormor.

Would it be the same throughout the letter? Because if you think about it, you might have lots of different feelings, you might even be a little bit angry, you might be sad, you might be shocked.

So how might you show that through the tone of your voice? You may wish to begin, "Dear Mormor, my hands tremble as I read your letter.

." And then, continue.

Okay, so got lots there to be getting on with, and hopefully, you have everything you need to complete this task.

So when you are ready, pause the video, and get this letter written.

Thank you everyone, some really thoughtful letters being written.

I love how some of you have been using some of those questions that we came up with in the discussions in your letters, because they're kind of our own questions too, aren't they? This novel is really good at creating mystery and intrigue, so we're always asking questions, which keeps us on the edge of our seats.

Okay, so it's time to think about those letters, and I would like you please to self-assess your own work.

So I'd like you to look at your work and just check through the following things.

So have you made sure that you have written in first person? So have you written using the pronoun, I? "I think I feel.

I was wondering.

." Okay? So even though you're writing as Martha, you still need to use that I.

Have you used Martha's perspective? So have you considered how Martha might feel, the questions she might have, and also, any information that Martha might be able to add to the letter.

Have you described how you are feeling? So remember, we were thinking in quite a lot of depth about how Martha will be feeling after reading the letter.

Have you described that? And then, finally, have you asked Mormor questions about what you need to know? Because now is your chance as Martha to do that.

So just take a few moments to self-assess your work and just check that you have done those things, okay? Pause the video and get that reflection task done.

Okay, well done, everyone, we have reached the end of the lesson.

So let's just recap everything that we have looked at.

So Stig and Martha have dinner, but are interrupted by a guttural howl outside.

Martha finds a letter from Mormor that tells her she also can feel emotions through clothes.

So that connection between Martha and Mormor is becoming more clear.

Mormor tells Martha that she must continue to water the tree in the garden, intriguing.

And that letters are an effective method to relay important information in a novel and explore a character's feelings.

So very well done, everyone, and thank you for your hard work.

I really hope you are enjoying "The Twisted Tree" as much as I am.

I think it's a really fantastic novel.

Anyway, hopefully, see you all again soon in another lesson.

I will see you then, okay? Goodbye.