Introducing the context of 'The Final Year'

Key learning points

1. ‘The Final Year’ is an illustrated verse novel that follows Nate as he approaches his final year of primary school.
2. The poems within ‘The Final Year’ are written in a dialect, reflecting the region of Manchester where it is set.
3. We can gain an initial understanding of the character of Nate by how he is described and how he is illustrated.
4. It’s important to not make quick judgements of characters based on a single poem.
5. Part 1 gives readers an initial impression of Nate, who he is and what his family and surroundings are like.

Keywords

• Verse novel - a narrative told through poetry, blending prose and poetic elements

• Dialect - the use of specific language styles or speech patterns to represent a character's regional or social background

• Impression - initial feelings about a person, place or thing, gained from reading a text

• Imagery - the use of vivid and sensory language that appeals to the reader's senses, creating vivid mental pictures and enhancing the emotional impact of the poem

Common misconception