Year-7-English-Fantasy.Pdf

Home , Chosen (Dekker novel), Cliffhanger, Fantasy, Foreshadowing, High fantasy, Low fantasy

Year 7 Fantasy Project Week 1 Day One An Introduction to Genre Text Types

In your previous work pack, you were looking at poetry. Now, we’re moving onto a different type of text.

How many different types of text can you list? Eg. magazines, etc. Text Types

Some you could How many have named… did you Magazines manage to Letters get? Articles Blogs Diaries Poems Novels/Books Short Stories Key Terms

Genre: Can you Today, we are going to be looking at A _____ of literature or other art work out different genres and the conventions form. Each genre can be grouped what might associated with them. together because they have go in these things in ______. gaps? First, we need to understand what these terms mean… Convention: A typical _____. Think back to the ‘Gothic’ work that we did at the beginning of this year. We looked at a genre and its conventions. Therefore, each genre has conventions that you expect to appear. Key Terms

Genre: Can you Today, we are going to be looking at A type of literature or other art work out different genres and the conventions form. Each genre can be grouped what might associated with them. together because they have go in these things in common. gaps? First, we need to understand what these terms mean… Convention: A typical feature. Think back to the ‘Gothic’ work that we did at the beginning of this year. We looked at a genre and its conventions. Therefore, each genre has conventions that you expect to appear. Research these genres online if you Genres need some help!

COMEDY MYSTERY ADVENTURE

What does this genre include? What does this genre include? What does this genre include? How does it want you to feel? How does it want you to feel? How does it want you to feel? You could research the genres online Genres if you need some help!

HORROR ROMANCE SCIENCE-FICTION

What does this genre include? What does this genre include? What does this genre include? How does it want you to feel? How does it want you to feel? How does it want you to feel? Day Two Genres and Conventions Genres

For each of these snapshots, can you work out the genre? How many conventions can you spot?

Write a sentence for each picture in the style of that genre. 2. Skyward by Brandon 3. Gangsta Granny by Sanderson David Walliams Genres The surface was still brighter “I hate spending time with than I’d imagined. Our planet, Granny,” protested Ben. Detritus, was protected by “Her TV doesn’t work, all several enormous layers of she wants to do is play 1. Five on a Treasure Now, let’s look at some ancient space debris. Junk Scrabble and she stinks of written pieces and do Island by Enid Blyton the same. that was way up high, outside cabbage!” "You know, I really think that Which genre are they? the air, in space. Wrecked “In fairness to the boy she would solve our difficulty, if space stations, massive metal does stink of cabbage,” What are the we telephone to your Aunt conventions that you shields, old chunks of metal agreed Mum, as she can spot? and arrange for the children big as mountains—there were applied some last minute to go there.” many layers of it, kind of like What is the effect on lip-liner. the reader? The children began to feel broken shells around the “You’re not helping, wife,” rather excited. It would be planet. muttered Dad. “At worst fun to go to a place they We hadn’t built any of that. my mother has a very slight had never been to before, We’d crashed on this planet odour of boiled and stay with an unknown when my grandmother was a vegetables.” Challenge: Are they cousin. girl, and this stuff had been “Can’t I come with you?” successful in making you "Are there cliffs and rocks ancient then. Still, some of it pleaded Ben. “I love ball- feel the way that they and sands there?" asked worked. whatsit dancing,” he lied. want you to feel? Anne. "Is it a nice place?" “The Krell live up there?” I “It’s called ballroom "I don't remember it very asked. “Beyond the debris dancing,” corrected Dad. Hint: Does the ‘comedy’ well," said Daddy. "But I feel field?” “And you don’t love it. You extract succeed in making sure it's an exciting kind of “Yes,” Father said. “They fly said, and I quote, ‘I would you feel amused? place. Anyway, you'll love it! down through the gaps in the rather eat my own bogeys It's called Kirrin Bay.” layers to attack.” than watch that rubbish’.” Genres - Answers

1. Five on a Treasure 2. Skyward by Brandon 3. Gangsta Granny by Island by Enid Blyton Sanderson David Walliams This extract appears to be This extract is from a from an adventure book as science fiction text as it This extract appears to be it mentions visiting an has the setting of a comedy because of the unknown place. It also hints different planet. It also quick-paced that the children will be mentions different types conversation between allowed to go on this of advanced technology the family members. Their adventure by themselves. and hints at the possibility unexpected responses, Therefore, it is successful in of aliens – ‘the Krell’.I like when the mother making the reader feel think that this text makes agrees with the son, excited for the children as the reader feel nervous make the reader feel they’re about to explore as it seems like an unsafe amused. somewhere new. setting. Genres

Which is your favourite genre? Why? Make sure to talk about conventions in your answer! Day Three Genre Writing Genres

INSTRUMENTAL 1 Listen to these different instrumentals and match them to any https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV3uc0WYU-I genre that we’ve been looking at. INSTRUMENTAL 2 Explain why that piece of music fits with that genre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxIoR3HbJQo

There are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers. This is your INSTRUMENTAL 3 opinion so have fun with it! Just make sure that you explain your ideas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmS4x331fz4

Key Words Pace Rhythm Pitch Dynamics (loud/quiet) Planning

1. Choose a genre. 2. Brainstorm how this picture could be the starting point for that type of story. 3. Develop your ideas into a clear plan by using as many different conventions as you can. Have a clear beginning, middle and end.

For example, if you chose the science fiction genre, would aliens suddenly appear and disrupt the picnic? If so, how? Why? How would this progress into a story? Writing

1. Write a key scene from your plan. 2. Label your writing with the conventions that you’ve used. 3. Annotate with how you’re trying to make your reader feel and why. Check!

If you’ve been successful, you should be able to fill in the blanks for your work! If you can’t quite fill in the blanks, improve your work and come back to it. I have written a story that is from the ____ genre. You can tell because I have included the conventions of ____ and ___. I made sure that my readers would feel _____ by ______. I do this in the line where it says ‘______’. This line creates an effect of ____. Day Four Fantasy Fantasy

We’ve been looking at genres in general. Now, we’re going to focus on the fantasy genre!

Fantasy is a genre of literature that features magical and supernatural elements that do not exist in the real world.

Can you already think of some conventions of this genre? Conventions

Some conventions of the fantasy genre: - Magic - Supernatural events - Journeys and quests - Unexpected hero - Powerful villain - Magical creatures - Fantasy worlds and impressive settings - Often set in the past or an imagined time Do we believe it?

Magical Dragons Fairies Most items Least believable and Elves believable Unexplored Fate or Magic Portals to kingdoms destiny other worlds

Rank these features of fantasy on a scale from most believable to least believable.

If a friend told you that they had seen a dragon, how likely is it that you would believe them? Why read fantasy?

Why do people read fantasy if it is so unlike real life? Write a paragraph that answers this question. Consider why different people might read fantasy.

Challenge: How could writers or artists use this genre to criticise our real world? Reading Fantasy - Answers

Some people read fantasy as a Some people read fantasy form of escapism – anything for entertainment. It offers can happen in a fantasy world new, exciting possibilities and and there are no ‘real world’ exhilarating quests. restrictions.

Challenge: Some people read fantasy to Some people read fantasy analyse how a fantastical world is different to our own. In some ways, for education. Fantasy allows it might be better. In some ways, it us to experience places, might be worse. Writers or artists cultures and lives we might can use this genre to point out what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ about our otherwise never visit or know. world. Why fantasy?

1. 2. 3.

a) What is most interesting about these ‘fantasy’ art pieces? b) Would people look at them for escapism, entertainment or education? c) Challenge: Could you argue that each picture has more than one appeal? Day Five Low vs. High Fantasy Types of Fantasy

Now that we understand some of the conventions of the fantasy genre, we are going to look at the difference between ‘high’ and ‘low’ fantasy.

Some fantasy stories are full of magic and the world is completely unlike our own. This is high fantasy.

Some fantasy stories have less magic and the world might be more familiar and similar to the real world. This is low fantasy. Types of Fantasy

2. Low 3. High Fantasy Fantasy

1. 4. 5.

Rank these images from ‘low fantasy’ to ‘high fantasy’. Make sure to explain why you have placed them in that order. Types of Fantasy - Answers

3. Low High Fantasy Fantasy 2. 1. 5. 4.

This is a possible order that you may have. The impressive, magical settings are high fantasy and the city settings lean towards low fantasy. I have placed number 2 in the top position as it also includes a traditional wizard in medieval clothing. Number 3 is in the middle because it could be set in the past or an imaginary world. Number 1 is the lowest level of fantasy because it appears to be set in a normal, modern city and she only appears to have slight magical abilities and items. Fantasy Art

1. Draw your own fantasy image. 2. Label it clearly with the conventions that you’ve used. 3. Write a paragraph that explains how it is ‘low fantasy’ or ‘high fantasy’. High or Low?

From this lesson, you should be able to work out whether these statements are true or false.

True or False? 1. High fantasy is always set in a city. 2. If a story is set in England, it is more likely to be low fantasy. 3. If I’m reading a book and there are lots of imaginary names for people and places, it is more likely to be high fantasy. 4. If a story has magic in it, it can’t be low fantasy. 5. A book or piece of art is either high fantasy or low fantasy – it can’t blend the two. 6. The main difference between high fantasy and low fantasy is the setting. Answers

How many did you get right?

This week, we are going to be looking at some extracts from different fantasy texts. These range from low fantasy to high fantasy.

We are going to look at different fantasy sub-genres.

Sub-genre: A genre that is part of a larger genre. Young Adult Fantasy

This is a sub-genre of fantasy that has its own set of conventions (typical features).

What types of things would you expect a young adult fantasy to include? Young Adult Fantasy

Common ideas in this type of fantasy: - The chosen one (a character that becomes the key to saving the world) - Coming of age (a young main character that grows over the course of the story) - The evil overlord (a very powerful villain) - No adults (without adults, the young adult characters are forced to mature alone and deal with the adventure themselves) - Inevitable romance (a relationship that you usually see coming) - Traumatic pasts (difficult childhoods or tragic experiences) - Groups (people are divided in some way – like the different houses in Harry Potter) Bildungsroman

Many young adult fantasy texts have elements of the Bildungsroman genre.

This genre focuses on the growth of the main character from youth to adulthood. Therefore, one of the most important things becomes the character’s personal journey.

Make a list of things that you learn as you become an adult. Howl’s Moving Castle – Dianna Wynne Jones Sophie of course knew the hat trade quite well already. Since she was a tiny child she had run in and out of the big workshed across the yard where the hats were damped and moulded on blocks, and flowers and fruit and other trimmings were made from wax and silk. She knew the people who worked there. Most of them had been there when her father was a boy. She knew Bessie, the only remaining shop assistant. She knew the customers who bought the hats and the man who drove the cart which fetched raw straw hats in from the country to be shaped on the blocks in the shed. She knew the other suppliers and how you made felt for winter hats. There was not really much that Fanny could teach her, except perhaps the best way to get a customer to buy a hat.

“You lead up to the right hat, love,” Fanny said. “Show them the ones that won’t quite do first, so they know the difference as soon as they put the right one on.”

In fact, Sophie did not sell hats very much. After a day or so observing in the workshed, and another day going round the clothier and the silk merchant’s with Fanny, Fanny set her to trimming hats. Sophie sat in a small alcove at the back of the shop, sewing roses to bonnets and veiling to velours, lining all of them with silk and arranging wax fruit and ribbons stylishly on the outsides. She was good at it. She quite liked doing it. But she felt so isolated and a little dull. The workshop people were too old to be much fun and, besides, they treated her as someone apart who was going to inherit the business someday. Bessie treated her the same way. Bessie’s only talk anyway was about the farmer she was going to marry the week after May Day. Sophie rather envied Fanny, who could bustle off to bargain with the silk merchant whenever she wanted. The most interesting thing was the talk from the customers. Nobody can buy a hat without gossiping. Sophie sat in her alcove and stitched and heard that the Mayor never would eat green vegetables, and that Wizard Howl’s castle had moved round to the cliffs again, really that man, whisper, whisper, whisper…. The voices always dropped low when they talked of Wizard Howl, but Sophie gathered that he had caught a girl down the valley last month. Whispers and whispers.

There was so much custom as April drew on towards May Day that Sophie had to put on a demure grey dress and help in the shop too. But such was the demand that she was hard at trimming hats in between customers, and every evening she took them next door to the house, where she worked by lamplight far into the night in order to have hats to sell the next day. Caterpillar-green hats like the one the Mayor’s wife had were much called for, and so were pink bonnets.

That night, as she sewed, Sophie admitted to herself that her life was rather dull. Instead of resorting to talking to the hats, she tried each one on as she finished it and looked in the mirror. This was a mistake. The staid grey dress did not suit Sophie, particularly when her eyes were red-rimmed with sewing, and, since her hair was a reddish straw colour, neither did caterpillar-green nor pink. The one with the mushroom pleats simply made her look dreary. “Like an old maid!” said Sophie. Not that she wanted to race off with counts, or even fancied half the town offering her marriage. But she wanted to do something - she was not sure what - that had a bit more interest to it than simply trimming hats. May Day came. Merrymaking filled the streets from dawn onward. Fanny went out early, but Sophie had a couple of hats to finish first. Sophie sang as she worked.

Cesari’s was open till midnight on holidays. “I shall buy one of their cream cakes,” Sophie decided. “I haven’t had one for ages.” She watched people crowding past the window in all kinds of bright clothes, people selling souvenirs, people walking on stilts, and felt really excited. But when she at last put a grey shawl over her grey dress and went out into the street, Sophie did not feel excited. She felt overwhelmed. There were too many people rushing past, laughing and shouting, far too much noise and jostling. Sophie felt as if the past months of sitting and sewing had turned her into an old woman or a semi-invalid. She gathered her shawl around her and crept along close to the houses, trying to avoid being trodden on my people’s best shoes or being jabbed by elbows in trailing silk sleeves. When there came a sudden volley of bangs from overhead somewhere, Sophie thought she was going to faint. She looked up and saw Wizard Howl’s castle right down on the hillside above the town, so near it seemed to be sitting on the chimneys. Blue flames were shooting out of all four of the castle’s turrets, bringing balls of blue fire with them that exploded high in the sky, quite horrendously. Wizard Howl seemed to be offended by May Day. Or maybe he was trying to join in, in his own fashion. Sophie was too terrified to care. She would have gone home, except that she was halfway to Cesari’s by then. So she ran.

“What made me think I wanted life to be interesting?” she asked as she ran. “I’d be far too scared. It comes of being the eldest of three.” COMPREHENSION

List four things that Sophie already knew about the hat trade from the first paragraph.

1. 2. 3. 4. ANSWERS

Things that Sophie already knew about the hat trade…

• Sophie knew that hats were damped and moulded on blocks. • Sophie knew that flowers and fruit and other trimmings were made from wax and silk. • Sophie knew the people that worked in the hat trade. • Sophie knew the shop assistant, Bessie. • Sophie knew the customers. • Sophie knew the man who drove the cart. • She knew the cart fetched straw hats. • She knew the straw hats were to be shaped on the block in the shed. • Sophie knew the suppliers. • Sophie knew how to make felt for Winter hats. VOCABULARY

1. Choose the meaning of the word ‘demure’ from the words below. ‘Sophie had to put on a demure gray dress’

Ugly Modest Mundane Damp

2. List four synonyms for the word ‘dreary’ in the sentence… ‘The one with the mushroom pleats simply made her look dreary.’ ANSWERS

1. Demure means modest.

2. Synonyms for the word ‘dreary’ are…

Dull Bleak Lifeless Boring Drab Lacklustre Monotonous Grim Cheerless Dismal Miserable Young Adult Fantasy

Can we see any of these conventions in Howl’s Moving Castle? Write a paragraph about whether you think that Howl’s Moving Castle is a typical young adult fantasy story. Use quotes to support your ideas.

Common ideas in this type of fantasy: - The chosen one (a character that becomes the key to saving the world ) - The evil overlord (a very powerful villain) - No adults (without adults, the young adult characters are forced to mature alone and deal with the adventure themselves) - Inevitable romance (a relationship that you usually see coming) - Traumatic pasts (generally, difficult childhoods or tragic experiences have happened to the main characters) - Groups (people are divided in some way – like the different houses in Harry Potter) Possible Answer

At first, Howl’s Moving Castle doesn’t appear to be a typical young adult fantasy story. We do have a young main character, but she seems to have a stable life. She has been in the hat shop ‘since she was a tiny child’ and mentions adults like her ‘father’ and ‘Fanny’. Nonetheless, as the extract progresses, we see that she is ‘someone apart who was going to inherit the business someday’ and will have to come of age over the course of the story. We realise that she must start to learn about herself and become braver as she describes herself as ‘scared’ and ‘dull’. She admits to herself that ‘she wanted to do something - she was not sure what - that had a bit more interest to it than simply trimming hats’. Therefore, it is likely that she will go on an adventure. Day Seven Young Adult Fantasy HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE

Let’s re-cap this young adult fantasy text in a creative way. Design a hat for Sophie and annotate with reasons why she would like it. Use quotes to support your annotations.

‘What made me think that I wanted life to ‘She felt so isolated’ be interesting?’

Sophie would like Sophie would like this hat because it this hat because it is a plain colour so can talk so it would it wouldn’t stand make her feel less out too much and lonely. would be boring. TRUE OR FALSE?

1. Sophie knew a lot about the hat trade. 2. Sophie is a tiny child. 3. Sophie never sells hats. 4. Wizard Howl’s castle can move. 5. There is a lot more trade coming up to May Day. 6. Sophie is treated the same as the other workshop people. 7. Sophie runs in the direction of Cesari’s. 8. Wizard Howl is offended by May Day. ANSWERS

Foreshadowing: An indication (hint) at a future event in a text. Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwROgK94zcM FORESHADOWING

She goes on an exciting adventure

She is transformed into an old woman

Challenge: Why is foreshadowing particularly important in a fantasy text? ANSWER

Foreshadowing is particularly important in a fantasy text because it helps to ease the reader into the magical elements of the story. By giving the reader an idea of what to expect, they won’t become overwhelmed and will be interested by the hints of magic. We first hear the whispers of ‘Wizard Howl’ which foreshadows how he will become a central character later on. Further in the extract, it states ‘she looked up and saw Wizard Howl’s castle’ with ‘balls of blue fire’ which further showcases the magic from a distance. Sophie comments ‘Wizard Howl seemed to be offended by May Day’. The word ‘seemed’ foreshadows that she might not be quite right about Wizard Howl and makes the reader interested about their interactions when they inevitably meet and she goes on an exciting adventure. Young Adult Fantasy

Can we see any more of these conventions in Howl’s Moving Castle? From watching the trailer, can we see any more of these features in Howl’s Moving Castle? Add to your paragraph from yesterday.

From watching the trailer, we can see that Howl’s Moving Castle is clearly a young adult fantasy story. Her meeting with Howl is an inevitable romance from the moment where he lifts her onto the balcony. It becomes obvious that their relationship will develop. Furthermore, as she embarks on this adventure, she is forced to leave all adults behind and face the magical villain that has cursed her. Day Eight Urban Fantasy Urban Fantasy

Today, we are learning about urban fantasy. This sub-genre is similar to low fantasy. It is a fantasy with supernatural elements that is set in a world where this isn’t normal. Typically, this is the real world and it is usually set in a city (an urban environment).

• The mystery: Urban fantasies tend to include some crime or have a strong mystery element. There is a lot of suspense. • Dark themes: A lot of urban fantasy features monsters and the horrific to different levels. • Low fantasy: The magic is seen as strange. It can include the paranormal like ghosts, werewolves, zombies and vampires. • Magic and technology: Urban fantasy explores how these two things would work together. Urban vs. Rural

Let’s look at why writers might choose an urban setting over a rural one. Urban: relating to a city Rural: relating to the countryside List everything that comes to mind when you think of the city. Then, do the same for the countryside. Possible Answers

Busy Peaceful Loud Nature Crowded Quiet Technology Safe Modern Calm Fast-paced Slow-paced Work Relaxation Urban Fantasy

Highlight/underline all of these things as you spot them in the extract: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. • The mystery: Urban fantasies tend to include some crime or have a strong mystery element. There is a lot of suspense. • Dark themes: A lot of urban fantasy features monsters and the horrific to different levels. • Low fantasy: The magic is seen as strange. It can include the paranormal like ghosts, werewolves, zombies and vampires. • Magic and technology: Urban fantasy explores how these two things would work together. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan

Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. If you're reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life. Being a half-blood is dangerous. It's scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways. If you're a normal kid, reading this because you think it's fiction, great. Read on. I envy you for being able to believe that none of this ever happened. But if you recognize yourself in these pages—if you feel something stirring inside— stop reading immediately. You might be one of us. And once you know that, it's only a matter of time before they sense it too, and they'll come for you. Don't say I didn't warn you. My name is Percy Jackson. I'm twelve years old. Until a few months ago, I was a boarding student at Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids in upstate New York. Am I a troubled kid? Yeah. You could say that. I could start at any point in my short miserable life to prove it, but things really started going bad last May, when our sixth-grade class took a field trip to Manhattan— twenty-eight kids and two teachers on a yellow school bus, heading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at ancient Greek and Roman stuff. I know—it sounds like torture. Most Yancy field trips were. But Mr. Brunner, our Latin teacher, was leading this trip, so I had hopes. Mr. Brunner led the museum tour. He rode up front in his wheelchair, guiding us through the big echoey galleries, past marble statues and glass cases full of really old black-and-orange pottery. It blew my mind that this stuff had survived for two thousand, three thousand years. He gathered us around a thirteen-foot-tall stone column with a big sphinx on the top, and started telling us how it was a grave marker, a stele, for a girl about our age. He told us about the carvings on the sides. I was trying to listen to what he had to say, because it was kind of interesting, but everybody around me was talking, and every time I told them to shut up, the other teacher chaperone, Mrs. Dodds, would give me the evil eye. This time, she was standing at the museum entrance, way at the top of the steps, gesturing impatiently at me to come on. How'd she get there so fast? I went after Mrs. Dodds. Halfway up the steps, I glanced back at Grover. He was looking pale, cutting his eyes between me and Mr. Brunner, like he wanted Mr. Brunner to notice what was going on, but Mr. Brunner was absorbed in his novel. I looked back up. Mrs. Dodds had disappeared again. She was now inside the building, at the end of the entrance hall. Okay, I thought. She's going to make me buy a new shirt for Nancy at the gift shop. But apparently that wasn't the plan. I followed her deeper into the museum. When I finally caught up to her, we were back in the Greek and Roman section. Except for us, the gallery was empty. Mrs. Dodds stood with her arms crossed in front of a big marble frieze of the Greek gods. She was making this weird noise in her throat, like growling. Even without the noise, I would've been nervous. It's weird being alone with a teacher, especially Mrs. Dodds. Something about the way she looked at the frieze, as if she wanted to pulverize it... "You've been giving us problems, honey," she said. I did the safe thing. I said, "Yes, ma'am." She tugged on the cuffs of her leather jacket. "Did you really think you would get away with it?" The look in her eyes was beyond mad. It was evil. She's a teacher, I thought nervously. It's not like she's going to hurt me. I said, "I'll—I'll try harder, ma'am." Thunder shook the building. "We are not fools, Percy Jackson," Mrs. Dodds said. "It was only a matter of time before we found you out. Confess, and you will suffer less pain." I didn't know what she was talking about. All I could think of was that the teachers must've found the illegal stash of candy I'd been selling out of my dorm room. Or maybe they'd realized I got my essay on Tom Sawyer from the Internet without ever reading the book and now they were going to take away my grade. Or worse, they were going to make me read the book. "Well?" she demanded. "Ma'am, I don't..." "Your time is up," she hissed. Then the weirdest thing happened. Her eyes began to glow like barbecue coals. Her fingers stretched, turning into talons. Her jacket melted into large, leathery wings. She wasn't human. She was a shriveled hag with bat wings and claws and a mouth full of yellow fangs, and she was about to slice me to ribbons. Then things got even stranger. Mr. Brunner, who'd been out in front of the museum a minute before, wheeled his chair into the doorway of the gallery, holding a pen in his hand. "What ho, Percy!" he shouted, and tossed the pen through the air. Mrs. Dodds lunged at me. With a yelp, I dodged and felt talons slash the air next to my ear. I snatched the ballpoint pen out of the air, but when it hit my hand, it wasn't a pen anymore. It was a sword—Mr. Brunner's bronze sword, which he always used on tournament day. Mrs. Dodds spun toward me with a murderous look in her eyes. My knees were jelly. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the sword. She snarled, "Die, honey!" And she flew straight at me. Absolute terror ran through my body. I did the only thing that came naturally: I swung the sword. The metal blade hit her shoulder and passed clean through her body as if she were made of water. Hisss! Mrs. Dodds was a sand castle in a power fan. She exploded into yellow powder, vaporized on the spot, leaving nothing but the smell of sulfur and a dying screech and a chill of evil in the air, as if those two glowing red eyes were still watching me. I was alone. There was a ballpoint pen in my hand. Mr. Brunner wasn't there. Nobody was there but me. My hands were still trembling. My lunch must've been contaminated with magic mushrooms or something. Had I imagined the whole thing? I went back outside. It had started to rain. COMPREHENSION

List four things that the narrator tells us about being a half- blood from the purple section on the first page.

1. 2. 3. 4. ANSWERS

Possible things about half-bloods…

• Percy didn’t want to be a half-blood • It is scary • It is dangerous • It can get you killed • Other things/people can sense it • Other things/people will come for half-bloods Urban Fantasy

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is an urban fantasy. Let’s look at why! Complete the table below.

Urban Fantasy Quotes Effects

‘It was only a matter of time before we This shows how Percy’s true identity is found you out. Confess, and you will suffer mysterious because… Mystery less pain.’ The writer uses foreshadowing as it hints… ‘I didn't know what she was talking about.’ We wonder… It makes the reader feel… as…

Dark Themes

These subtle hints that there is something magical or strange going on makes the Low Fantasy reader… The word ‘___’ suggests… so we think…

Modern Setting Urban or Rural?

Later in the story, Percy Jackson is taken to ‘Camp Half-Blood’. This is a camp for people like him. They will train him and try to keep him safe.

Why might the writer have chosen a rural setting for this campsite? Write at least a paragraph in answer to this question. Compare it to the urban (city) setting that we have seen in the previous extract. Answer

In your answer, you should have mentioned: • The campsite would seem safer in a rural setting because the countryside is usually quieter and it is away from the city so fewer people would be able to harm him. It is slower paced so it allows Percy to relax after his difficult experiences in the city. • The city has been presented as a place of danger because we see Mrs Dodds being easily able to attack him. You could’ve used quotes here. • You might also have considered how the rural setting moves the character away from technology so that they are free to explore magic and train without interference from modern gizmos and gadgets. Day Nine Portal Fantasy Portal Fantasy

Today, we are learning about portal fantasy. This sub-genre is where a person is transported from one world to another by some sort of magic. Generally, the portal will lead from the real world to a different place that is high fantasy.

If you were stood here, which realm would you choose to portal into and why? A Daughter of Smoke and Bone

This text is a portal fantasy! Brimstone Let’s see if we can spot any conventions of fantasy and portal fantasy.

Background story: The text is set in Prague where Karou, a young girl studying art, fills her sketchbooks with monsters that she has met in another world. Karou She ventures to this other world through a magical door. Through the door, there are magical characters (half-beast, half-human) who are her friends. Brimstone is their leader Twiga and sends her on errands. He sends Kishmish to deliver Karou messages which summon her to their world.

Kishmish A Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Karou crossed the Charles Bridge and took the tram north to the Jewish Quarter, a medieval ghetto that had given way to a dense concentration of Art Nouveau apartment buildings as pretty as cakes. Her destination was the service entrance in the rear of one of them. The plain metal door didn’t look like anything special, and in and of itself, it wasn’t. If you opened it from without, it revealed only a mildewed laundry room. But Karou didn’t open it. She knocked and waited, because when the door was opened from within, it had the potential to lead someplace quite different. It swung open and there was Issa, looking just as she did in Karou’s sketchbooks, like a snake goddess in some ancient temple. Her serpent coils were withdrawn into the shadows of a small vestibule. “Blessings, darling.” “Blessings,” Karou returned fondly, kissing her cheek. “Did Kishmish make it back?” “He did,” said Issa, “and he felt like an icicle on my shoulder. Come in now. It’s freezing in your city.” She was guardian of the threshold, and she ushered Karou inside, closing the door behind her so the two of them were alone in a space no bigger than a closet. The outer door of the vestibule had to seal completely before the inner one could be opened, in the manner of safety doors at aviaries that prevent birds from escaping. Only, in this case, it wasn’t for birds. The shop door creaked open to admit them, and Karou stepped across the threshold. As always, she felt the slightest wave of nausea at the transition. She was no longer in Prague. Even though she had lived in Brimstone’s shop, she still didn’t understand where it was, only that you could enter through doorways all over the world and end up right here. As a child she used to ask Brimstone where exactly “here” was, only to be told brusquely, “Elsewhere.” A Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Brimstone was not a fan of questions. Wherever it was, the shop was a windowless clutter of shelves that looked like some kind of tooth fairy’s dumping ground—if, that is, the tooth fairy trafficked in all species. Viper fangs, canines, grooved elephant molars, overgrown orange incisors from exotic jungle rodents—they were all collected in bins and apothecary chests, strung in garlands that draped from hooks, and sealed in hundreds of jars you could shake like maracas. The ceiling was vaulted like a crypt’s, and small things scurried in the shadows, their tiny claws scritch-scritching on stone. Like Kishmish, these were creatures of disparate parts: scorpion-mice, gecko-crabs, beetle-rats. In the damp around the drains were snails with the heads of bullfrogs, and overhead, the ubiquitous moth-winged hummingbirds hurled themselves at lanterns, setting them swaying with the creak of copper chains. In the corner, Twiga was bent over his work, his ungainly long neck bowed like a horseshoe as he cleaned teeth and banded them with gold to be strung onto catgut.A clatter came from the kitchen nook that was Yasri’s domain. And off to the left, behind a huge oak desk, was Brimstone himself. Kishmish was perched in his usual place on his master’s right horn, and spread out on the desk were trays of teeth and small chests of gems. Brimstone was stringing them into a necklace and did not look up.“Karou,” he said. “I believe I wrote ‘errand requiring immediate attention.’ ” “Which is exactly why I came immediately.” “It’s been”—he consulted his pocket watch—“forty minutes.” Comprehension

1. Write a one sentence summary about what happens at the beginning of the extract. Then write one for the middle and one for the end.

2. How does the book cover link to the extract? *Challenge: link to genre*

3. Think of three synonyms for the word ‘plain’ in the first paragraph. Answers

Q1 Q2 Q3 Karou approaches the The extract links to the doorway and knocks on book cover because ‘Plain’ the door before being they both feature doors. admitted by Issa. The fact that the door is ajar and we can’t see • Simple what is beyond suggests • Ordinary Karou is no longer in that it is leading to Prague and flashes ‘Elsewhere’ which is • Unadorned back to when she was where Karou ventures in • Basic first told by Brimstone the extract. Furthermore, that the shop is in this shows how both the ‘Elsewhere’. extract and the cover demonstrate conventions of the Karou looks around the fantasy genre as the shop before Brimstone door features as a portal criticises her lateness. to another world. Portals

In this portal fantasy, the portal is a door. It looks quite plain and isn’t anything special. Other portal fantasy stories also have simple portals. Can you think of any? In The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the portal is simply a wardrobe. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the portal is a rabbit hole.

‘The plain metal door didn’t 1. Create a list of different everyday items that look like anything special, and could be portals. in and of itself, it wasn’t. If you 2. Look again at the description of the door (to opened it from without, it the right). What makes it different to an revealed only a mildewed ordinary door? laundry room. But Karou didn’t open it. She knocked and 3. Why do you think that fantasy writers use waited, because when the everyday things as portals? door was opened from within, it had the potential to lead someplace quite different.’ Possible Answers

As a challenge, Create a list of different everyday items that could be portals. why don’t you A window, a chimney, a bridge, a tunnel, a car, a create your computer, a mirror, a painting, a maze or a swing. own portal?

Look again at the description of the door (to the right). What makes it different to an ordinary door? It leads to somewhere different when it is opened ‘The plain metal door didn’t from within. look like anything special, and in and of itself, it wasn’t. If you Why do you think that fantasy writers use everyday opened it from without, it things as portals? revealed only a mildewed It makes the possibility seem more real for the reader and they can enjoy the idea of stumbling across laundry room. But Karou didn’t some hidden magic. It also emphasises the journey open it. She knocked and from the ‘real’ world into the fantasy one. By using an everyday object as a portal, everything on the waited, because when the other side seems even more fantastical and door was opened from within, wonderous. it had the potential to lead someplace quite different.’ Day Ten Portal Fantasy Portal Fantasy

1. Choose five key words from the extract about his shop. 2. Use the words to write your own descriptive sentences. Imagine you have just walked into the shop.

Example: Key word – ‘clutter’ My sentence – Stumbling into the dim room, I tripped over the clutter that was scattered haphazardly over the floor. Structure To re-cap Daughter of Smoke and Bone, put these events in the right order…

Issa wishes “Blessings” upon Karou. Twiga is bent over his work. Karou enters Brimstone’s shop. Karou walks through the streets of Prague. Brimstone stringing teeth onto a necklace. Karou flashes back to when she was a child. Answers

Here is the right order!

Karou walks through the streets of Prague. Issa wishes “Blessings” upon Karou. Karou enters Brimstone’s shop. Karou flashes back to when she was a child. Twiga is bent over his work. Brimstone stringing teeth onto a necklace. Magical Language

Consider… How does the writer use language to present the shop as magical? Quote Technique Effect

‘small things scurried in the Onomatopoeia Through utilising this sound, the writer evokes a shadows, their tiny claws scritch- sense of mystery in the shop. The fact that the scritching’ ‘things’ making this noise remain unnamed, alludes to the fantastical setting as it may be an unknown, magical species. This makes the shop seem wondrous, though also unfamiliar and possibly unnerving.

‘sealed in hundreds of jars you could shake’ Simile Magical Language

How does the writer use language to present the characters and setting as fantastical?

Improve this answer.

The writer uses the quote ‘like a snake goddess in some ancient temple’. This uses words to show that the character is interesting and creates a picture in the reader’s mind. The word ‘snake’ shows she’s like a snake. Therefore, the character is fantastical. Improved!

Here is how you might have improved it… The writer introduces us to mysterious characters that are fantastical by showing their unique and different qualities. She uses the simile ‘like a snake goddess in some ancient temple’. This compares the character to a magnificent being that seems very powerful. By using the word ‘ancient’, it makes the reader think that she has been alive for a long time and must be much more wise than a human. Therefore, the writer makes her seem very impressive and the reader is enchanted by her. Nonetheless, the ‘snake’ imagery makes us wonder whether she can be trusted as these creatures are typically associated with being sly. This hint of danger makes the reader feel unsure about this fantastical character. Descriptive Writing

Develop this section of the text by writing your own description of the kitchen and Yasri. Make sure that you make it seem fantastical! Week 3 Day Eleven Epic Fantasy Fantasy

From memory, list some conventions of the fantasy genre. Consider: Setting, characters, etc.

Challenge: Can you do the same for a fantasy sub-genre of your choice? Epic Fantasy

Today, we are learning about epic fantasy. This sub- genre is similar to high fantasy but the main difference is that epic fantasy focuses more on conflict whereas high fantasy focuses more on setting.

Epic Fantasy: • Focus is on the scale of the conflict • A large cast of characters • Magic a key part of plot/story/character abilities • Often takes place in medieval times • Usually features a good vs evil story

Write a definition of conflict. The Hobbit Hobbits

Conflict is a clash or disagreement. It is a struggle or battle between opposing people, things or ideas. Dwarves In epic fantasy, the conflict is generally large. It will likely affect the whole world and be on a huge scale. Elves Today, we are looking at The Hobbit. In this story, the conflict is between the different groups in their society. The final battle is where the goblins and Wargs fight the elves, dwarves and humans. Our main character, a hobbit, becomes tangled up in this conflict on the side of the elves, dwarves and humans.

Goblins Wargs Write about your predictions for this conflict. Who would be most likely to win in this conflict and why? What part might the hobbit play in this battle? Why might a reader want the hobbit to be a hero? The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. The door opened on to a tube- shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted, provided with polished chairs, and lots and lots of pegs for hats and coats—the hobbit was fond of visitors. The tunnel wound on and on, going fairly but not quite straight into the side of the hill—The Hill, as all the people for many miles round called it—and many little round doors opened out of it, first on one side and then on another. No going upstairs for the hobbit: bedrooms, bathrooms, cellars, pantries (lots of these), wardrobes (he had whole rooms devoted to clothes), kitchens, dining-rooms, all were on the same floor, and indeed on the same passage. The best rooms were all on the left-hand side (going in), for these were the only ones to have windows, deep-set round windows looking over his garden, and meadows beyond, sloping down to the river. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you and me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can hear a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and laugh deep fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it). Now you know enough to go on with. Reading Activities

1. List 4 things you would find in this hobbit’s house.

2. List three words you could replace ‘bright’ with in the following sentence: ‘they dress in bright colours’

3. Sketch and label your interpretation of a hobbit based on the description in the last paragraph. Answers

1. List 4 things you would find in this hobbit’s house: • tube-shaped hall • little round doors • wardrobes • panelled walls • bedrooms • kitchens • floors tiled and carpeted • bathrooms • dining-rooms • polished chairs • Cellars • deep-set round • pegs for hats and coats • pantries windows 2. List three words you could replace ‘bright’ with in the following sentence: ‘they dress in bright colours’ Bold Vibrant Sunny Lively Luminous Vivacious Effervescent 3. Sketch and label your interpretation of a hobbit.

• natural leathery soles • no beards • thick warm brown hairy feet • fat in the stomach • Curly hair • bright colours (chiefly green and yellow) • long clever brown fingers • no shoes • good-natured faces Reluctant Hero One type of hero that is used in stories is the reluctant hero. This is a hero that doesn’t want to go on an adventure, journey or quest. It can be an ordinary individual and they are pushed into extraordinary circumstances.

Why might the hobbit be a reluctant hero? Write at least a paragraph to explain why and use quotes to support your ideas. You might consider why he wouldn’t want to leave his home and what about him makes him unlikely to be successful in an epic fantasy conflict. Day Twelve Epic Fantasy Epic Fantasy

List as many adjectives for this setting as possible. You could use a thesaurus to help you! Comprehension

To re-cap The Hobbit, let’s answer these true or false questions. 1. Hobbits live in a hole in the ground. True or False 2. There is nothing to eat in a hobbit’s house. True or False 3. The front door is round and painted blue. True or False 4. The best rooms have windows over-looking the garden. True or False 5. The best rooms are all on the right-hand side of the tunnel. True or False 6. Hobbits are not magical creatures. True or False 7. Hobbits walk heavily, like a herd of elephants. True or False 8. They dress in bright colours – mainly in yellow and green. True or False 9. They wear shoes with leathery soles. True or False 10. Hobbits have dinner twice a day when they can. True or False Comprehension Answers

1. Hobbits live in a hole in the ground. True 2. There is nothing to eat in a hobbit’s house. False 3. The front door is round and painted blue. False 4. The best rooms have windows over-looking the garden. True 5. The best rooms are all on the right-hand side of the tunnel. False 6. Hobbits are not magical creatures. True 7. Hobbits walk heavily, like a herd of elephants. False 8. They dress in bright colours – mainly in yellow and green. True 9. They wear shoes with leathery soles. False 10. Hobbits have dinner twice a day when they can. True Fantasy Description

TASK: Improve this section of the story. Choose three rooms to develop into descriptive pieces. Make sure that you make these rooms seem as though they belong in a high fantasy story. Look at the check-list on the next slide for help!

‘No going upstairs for the hobbit: bedrooms, bathrooms, cellars, pantries (lots of these), wardrobes (he had whole rooms devoted to clothes), kitchens, dining-rooms, all were on the same floor, and indeed on the same passage.’ Self Assess

How many of these fantasy conventions did you manage to include in your description?

Fantasy Convention Tick Hints of magic Magical creatures lurking in the rooms Magical items Medieval or old-fashioned features to the rooms Fantastical atmosphere by using enchanting imagery and ambitious adjectives Foreshadowing an epic conflict (maybe by describing a weapon or an important scroll) Mentioning our reluctant hero – the hobbit Day Fourteen Writing Fantasy Fantasy Genre

In your own words, summarise what the fantasy genre is and name some of the conventions. Fantasy Genre - Answer

The fantasy genre features magical and supernatural elements that do not exist in the real world. Some conventions of this genre: magic and supernatural events; journeys and quests; an unexpected hero; a powerful villain; magical creatures; fantastical worlds and impressive settings; and often set in the past or an imagined time. In addition to this, there are a variety of fantasy sub-genres that have their own different features and take on the genre. Fantasy Sub-Genres

How many of the sub-genres can you name? How many features of each sub- genre can you list? Fantasy Sub-Genres - Answers

Young Adult Fantasy Urban Fantasy Portal Fantasy Epic Fantasy • The chosen one • Low fantasy • Transportation • High fantasy • The evil overlord • Feature the real • Everyday portals • A big conflict • No adults world & technology • Travel to a high • Epic magic • Inevitable romance • Magic is strange fantasy realm • Many characters • Traumatic pasts • Dark themes • Learn about new • Medieval times • Divided groups • Mystery world • Good vs. evil plot

Which is your favourite sub-genre? Why? Over the last couple of weeks, we have read a variety of different Planning a Fantasy fantasy extracts. Today, we’re going to plan our very own fantasy story!

Steps… 1. Choose a fantasy sub-genre. 2. Brain-storm key features that you’ll include. 3. Develop your characters, setting and plot. Main Character Zephyr is an ordinary boy in the real world. He has a loving family but is rebellious and longs for adventure. Model Plan Villain The evil ruler of Demonae is the villain. He tries to keep everyone trapped in his realm so that he Characters can control them.

Mentor Key Features A magical creature (talking mouse) called Marvin who helps people to get home. Portal Everyday item: End Main character learns to a waterfall Transportation PORTAL FANTASY be grateful for peaceful It works by The portal only works and ordinary life. finding the one way. To get back, hidden the evil ruler must let Plot passage behind you leave. Middle the waterfall Settings In this new world, the main and following character struggles. The main the tunnel. High Fantasy World conflict is to complete the evil Real World Set in Demonae – a ruler of Demonae’s riddle so Set in the Lake District – a dangerous world that blazes that he can return home. quiet and peaceful area with fire and evil beings where nothing much happens Beginning Steps… Main character is bored with the Lake District and 1. Choose a fantasy sub-genre. longs for adventure. Finds a mysterious portal 2. Brain-storm key features that you’ll include. and journeys through it. 3. Develop your characters, setting and plot. Foreshadowing  What do you need to foreshadow? Planning  What sorts of clues can you include?  How can you hint that a conflict might be about to start?

Techniques Make sure that you plan subtle clues in your beginning and middle so that the reader can anticipate what All successful stories include techniques that the writers use to make might happen by the end. their work more effective. For my plan, I might foreshadow that my main character will struggle to complete a riddle. I could do this in the We have looked at some techniques used in fantasy. In particular, beginning by him putting off his English homework. I we have focused on foreshadowing, ambitious vocabulary and could emphasise this in the middle when he struggles to understand what his parents tell him. imagery.

To use these effectively, we need to consider them when planning our work. Look back at your plan and adapt it to answer the questions on this slide. Vocabulary  Where could you include some interesting words? Imagery  Look at vocabulary that you’ve used when planning your imagery. Could you use a thesaurus to come up  Where could you include some vivid description? with some better adjectives?  Where can you add in some sensory description (taste, touch, hear, smell, see)?  Think of some words that you might repeat too many  How is your character going to look? Could you draw comparisons between your times. How many interesting synonyms can you list? character and something else?  How are you going to describe your setting in a way that brings it to life for the reader? For my plan, I might start listing some interesting words associated with hell to describe Demonae. I might also list For my plan, I might consider how to make Demonae seem different to the peaceful Lake some synonyms for peaceful so that I don’t over-use this District. I might compare it to hell. Therefore, I will plan phrases like ‘the fiery depths’, ‘the word when describing the Lake District. demonic shadows’, ‘caught up in these devilish riddles’. I will also consider the sensory description of this setting – it might smell like smoke and ash, feel swelteringly hot and there could be constant thunderous rumbling sounds. Check Steps… 1. Have a 5-minute break! 2. With fresh eyes, read through your plan carefully. 3. Can you see anything that could be improved or changed to be more effective?

Remember: it is good to edit and change things. It means that you are making them even better. Day Fifteen Writing Fantasy Writing Fantasy

Today, you’re going to write up a section of your story. Now, you won’t have time to write it all up well! So you will need to carefully choose where to start and finish. Summarise what will happen in your story – like I have done below.

My Story I am going to start with Zephyr climbing up to reach the waterfall. He will mention how bored he is with his current life. He will also narrate how he has heard whisperings of a portal beyond the waterfall. My middle conflict will be when he reaches the waterfall and doesn’t think that there is anything there. I will show his disappointment and frustration. Until, he hears a rumbling down the tunnel. He will follow it and reach Demonae. My ending will be his sudden realisation that Demonae is similar to hell and that his way back is blocked. I will leave it on this cliffhanger. Writing Fantasy

Now, it is time to write up your story! Make sure that you look carefully back at your plan and include some fantasy conventions and the techniques that we have worked on.

You have 30 minutes. Make sure that you don’t rush. The biggest mistake that you could make is for everything to happen too fast. Slow down each moment in each scene to build tension and suspense. Self Assessment

1. Have a 5-minute break! 2. Read back through your work carefully and make any necessary changes. 3. Complete this table. How many of these things did you manage to do well?

Success Criteria Tick Used conventions from my chosen fantasy sub-genre Included an interesting conflict Use this table to reflect on your work. Described a character using vivid imagery Choose the area that Described a setting using vivid imagery you don’t think you did as well on and try Described each of the five senses to improve it. Used at least five different ambitious words Used foreshadowing to hint at something that happened later on