Emulating Atwood’s use of an untrustworthy character in ‘Alias Grace’
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can emulate Atwood’s use of dehumanisation, disconcerting labels and conflicting emotions to craft my own untrustworthy character voice.
Key learning points
- Arguably, Atwood crafts an untrustworthy voice for the narrator of ‘Alias Grace’.
- To emulate Atwood’s use of an untrustworthy voice, we might attach a disconcerting label to the character.
- We might then demonstrate how the character has conflicting feelings towards this label.
- We may then compare the label to something fashionable that may enhance the character’s appearance.
- The character might also be dehumanised in someway to imply that they don’t have the same human emotions.
Keywords
Alias - a false name used to conceal one's identity; an assumed name
Untrustworthy - not able to be relied on as honest or truthful
Dehumanise - to remove from a person the special human qualities of independent thought, feeling for other people, etc.
Disconcerting - making someone feel uncertain and uncomfortable or worried
Conflicting - being in conflict or disagreement; not compatible
Common misconception
That we can always trust the narrator in a story to tell us the truth about events and people.
Writers will sometimes create unreliable or untrustworthy narrators.
Teacher tip
You might like to read Chapter 3 of Atwood's 'Alias Grace' before beginning the lesson to give pupils a better sense of the narrator.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'Not able to be relied on as honest or truthful' is the definition of which of the following?
Q2.Typically, we might feel which of the following emotions towards the word 'murderess'?
Q3.'Wearing clothes, doing things, and going to places that are considered stylish or acceptable' is the definition of which word beginning with 'f'?
Q4.Which of the following is the definition of the word 'extravagant'?
Q5.'A false name used to conceal one's identity; an assumed name' is the definition of which word beginning with 'a'?
Q6.If someone is using an alias, then we might feel which of the following towards them?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Atwood's 'Alias Grace', which of the following items does the narrator compare the label of a "murderess" to?
Q2.In Atwood's 'Alias Grace', the narrator says that the label of a 'murderess' is...
Q3.'Making someone feel uncertain and uncomfortable or worried' is the definition of which word beginning with 'd'?
Q4.In Atwood's 'Alias Grace', the narrator the word "murderess" to herself at night.
Q5.In Atwood's 'Alias Grace', the narrator says the label "murderess" is "oppressive" yet she "whispers" it to herself at night. This creates a __________ impression.
Q6.'To remove from a person the special human qualities of independent thought, feeling for other people, etc.' is the definition of .
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Emulating Atwood’s use of an untrustworthy character in ‘Alias Grace’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Emulating Atwood’s use of an untrustworthy character in ‘Alias Grace’, 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 4 English lessons from the Fiction: inner musings unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.