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Year 7

'The Twisted Tree': Revising inferences

I can recall key extracts from the novel and make inferences about them.

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New
New
Year 7

'The Twisted Tree': Revising inferences

I can recall key extracts from the novel and make inferences about them.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When making an inference, start by choosing a key word or technique to zoom in on.
  2. Inferences should be developed with additional ideas that could link to context.
  3. Similes and metaphors that link to snakes are often used, for the association with evil.
  4. Fog often symbolises mystery and danger.

Keywords

  • Inference - a conclusion you reach by applying logic to the evidence you are given

  • Sinister - giving the impression that something harmful or evil is about to happen

  • The Gothic - a style of writing that involves dark, mysterious and supernatural themes

  • Simile - A figure of speech where two separate things are deliberately contrasted for effect (using 'like' or 'as')

Common misconception

Pupils might think that inferences are just guesses without any evidence.

Inferences are not guesses; they are conclusions drawn from evidence in the text. For example, Burge describes the fog as "snaking" around Martha. We infer that it is dangerous and sinister because the word "snake" often implies danger and malice.


To help you plan your year 7 english lesson on: 'The Twisted Tree': Revising inferences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage pupils to back up their inferences with specific quotes from the text. Have them practice annotating these quotes to show the evidence and reasoning behind their inferences. This will help solidify their understanding that inferences are grounded in textual evidence.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You will need access to the text 'The Twisted Tree' by Rachel Burge, published by Hot Key Books, 2019

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.
What is being described here 'a conclusion you reach by applying logic to the evidence you are given'?
Correct Answer: inference, an inference
Q2.
Which of the below are reasonable synonyms of the word 'sinister'?
Correct answer: menacing
Correct answer: ominous
violent
painful
awkward
Q3.
Which weather phenomenon often accompanies the arrival of the draugr in 'The Twisted Tree'?
rain
Correct answer: fog
sunshine
lightning
wind
Q4.
A figure of speech where two separate things are deliberately contrasted for effect (using 'like' or 'as') is known as a ...
Correct answer: simile.
metaphor.
euphemism.
pun.
motif.
Q5.
In what century did the Gothic genre first appear?
17th century
Correct answer: 18th century
19th century
20th century
21st century
Q6.
Identify one convention of a Gothic text.
happy endings
realistic characters
common, everyday settings
Correct answer: mystery and suspense

6 Questions

Q1.
What does the word 'sinister' mean?
joyful or happy
Correct answer: harmful or evil
vengeful or bitter
aggressive or violent
Q2.
What is a simile?
Correct answer: a figure of speech using 'like' or 'as'
a statement of fact
an exaggerated statement
any comparison of some kind
Q3.
What skill involves looking for suggested ideas rather than stated ones?
analysis
summary
Correct answer: inference
description
Q4.
In 'The Twisted Tree' Burge uses a simile to compare the fog to a ...
wall.
Correct answer: mountain.
barrier.
blockade.
Q5.
The fog in 'The Twisted Tree' often symbolises ...
Correct answer: mystery and danger.
anticipation and deception.
joy and relief.
winter and nighttime.
Q6.
At one point in 'The Twisted Tree', Burge describes the fog as bending around the twisted tree itself. To which animal does she compare the fog to in this description?
Correct answer: a snake
a dragon
a lion
a raven
a shark