Madeline Miller's 'The Song of Achilles': understanding the extract
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can show understanding of ‘Song of Achilles’ through comprehension and annotation.
Key learning points
- Achilles is a renowned warrior from Greek mythology.
- Patroclus is another character from Greek mythology; he is the closest friend of Achilles.
- Madeline Miller wrote ‘The Song of Achilles’ from the first person perspective of Patroclus.
- To start, Miller focuses on the relationship between Patroclus and his father, and when Patroclus first sees Achilles.
- When annotating a text, you can use a range of symbols and notes to help develop an understanding of the text’s ideas.
Keywords
First person - the narrator of the story is a character in the story, using pronouns like ‘I’ and ‘me’
Perspective - point of view
Renowned - famous
Captivate - to hold the attention of someone
Annotate - to make short notes on, and about, a text
Common misconception
Annotating means highlighting everything you think is important in a text.
Annotating is a skill that requires time and thought. Using symbols and short notes makes your annotations helpful and understandable, even if you come back to them at a much later date.
Teacher tip
Consider if annotating the extract yourself before the lesson, so you have a model to show your pupils in LC1, would support their understanding of what good annotation looks like.
Equipment
You need a copy of the story ‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller published by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc in 2011.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each term to its definition.
the narrator is a character in the story using ‘I’ and ‘me’
the narrator speaks directly to the reader using ‘you’
narrator isn’t a character in story; knows thoughts of every one
narrator isn’t a character in story; shown thoughts of 1 character
Q2.Which of the following is the word for stories that tell us about how the world began, and why the world is how it is?
Q3.When reading a text, we often annotate it making short notes about interesting ideas. Where should you annotate?
Q4.Which of these sentences is written in the first person? (‘Myths, legends and stories that inspire’)
Q5.Which of these sentences uses a simile? (‘Myths, legends and stories that inspire’)
Q6.To means to write short notes on, and about, a text.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match these characters, all from ‘The Song of Achilles’ ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire’), to what we know about them.
a famous, fast and powerful warrior
the closest friend of Achilles
a king
a sea nymph
Q2.In ‘The Song of Achilles’ ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire’), how does Madeline Miller describe Patroclus’s father?
Q3.When writing analytical paragraphs about a text, what is true of your quotations? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire’)
Q4.Starting with the first, put these plot points from the opening of ‘The Song of Achilles’ ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire’) in chronological order.
Q5.Which of these sentences, all inspired by ‘The Song of Achilles’ ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire’), uses the word captivate (or a form of it) accurately?
Q6.Which of these sentences, all inspired by ‘The Song of Achilles’ ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire’), uses the word renowned (or a form of it) accurately?
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Madeline Miller's 'The Song of Achilles': understanding the extract, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Madeline Miller's 'The Song of Achilles': understanding the extract, 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 3 English lessons from the Myths, legends and stories that inspire unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.