Exploring characterisation in 'Escape from Pompeii'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compare characterisation across a text.
Key learning points
- ‘Escape from Pompeii’ is written from the perspective of Tranio, a young boy.
- Characterisation can change over the course of a text’s narrative.
- Characterisation can be conveyed through a character’s appearance, their dialogue and actions they perform in the text.
Keywords
Perspective - Perspective refers to the point-of-view or position from which the reader reads, influencing the way events or ideas are portrayed and understood.
Character traits - Character traits are the special qualities that make a character in a story unique and interesting.
Characterisation - Characterisation is the way an author and illustrator describes and develops the personalities and traits of the characters in a story.
Convey - To convey means to communicate a message directly or indirectly.
Common misconception
Pupils may find it challenging to think of character traits to describe Tranio in Task B.
A list of common traits could be displayed or printed for pupils to refer to. These could include traits such as: courage, selflessness, honesty, compassion, integrity, determination and leadership.
Teacher tip
You may wish to display some of the reading strategies used when encountering new or unfamiliar vocabulary for pupils to refer to throughout the reading of the text. Illustrations from the corresponding pages may support less confident readers when completing Task A.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2005 Frances Lincoln Children's Books edition of ‘Escape from Pompeii’ written and illustrated by Christina Balit, for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which city is the text set in?
Q2.Which of the following sentences are written in third-person-perspective?
Q3.Which of the following sentences are written in first-person-perspective?
Q4.Which character trait is shown in the following sentence: Marcus returned the extra coins the merchant gave him.
Q5.Which character trait is shown in the following sentence: Despite warnings, Julia refuses to leave her home, determined to protect her belongings.
Q6.In which year did Mount Vesuvius erupt that caused Pompeii to be covered by ash, pumice-stone and lava?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions.
the special qualities that make a character in a story unique
the way authors describe and develop traits of the characters
to communicate a message directly or indirectly
Q2.From whose perspective does the reader experience the text from?
Q3.Which type of bones is the game 'Knucklebones' played with?
Q4.When they witness the tremors, where do Tranio and Livia both go?
Q5.True or False? Tranio and Livia are good friends.
Q6.Who had looked after Tranio and Livia after the eruption had destroyed their home?
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Exploring characterisation in 'Escape from Pompeii', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Exploring characterisation in 'Escape from Pompeii', 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 2 English lessons from the 'Escape from Pompeii': reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.