Year 4 - English
Understanding the plot of 'Jabberwocky'
'Jabberwocky': narrative writing
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils write a full narrative based on the nonsense poem 'Jabberwocky' from 'Through the Looking-Glass' by Lewis Carroll. Pupils write an opening, build-up, climax and resolution, focusing on writing all parts of the narrative arc and devoting time to editing their writing.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to understand the plot of 'Jabberwocky'.
Key Notes
- 'Jabberwocky' was written in 1871 by Lewis Carroll and included in his book 'Alice Through the Looking Glass'.
- Speaking in a clear and engaging tone is important when reading a poem aloud.
- Nonsense words are completely made up words that do not have a meaning.
- 'Jabberwocky' tells the story of a young man defeating a dangerous creature: the Jabberwock.
- Summarising the verses helps the reader to be able order the key moments chronologically.
Vocabulary To Learn
- narrative poem: a type of poem that tells a story
- nonsense: spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense
- stanza: a part of a poem consisting of two or more lines arranged together as a unit
- summarise: to briefly recollect the main points in a piece of writing
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may find it difficult to understand the plot due to all the nonsense words.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'Jabberwocky' was written in 1871 by Lewis Carroll and included in his book 'Alice Through the Looking Glass'. Speaking in a clear and engaging tone is important when reading a poem aloud.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'narrative poem'
a type of poem that tells a story.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may find it difficult to understand the plot due to all the nonsense words. Correction: The nonsense words do not have a definition. We can read them alongside the real words to understand the plot.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Editing the final two paragraphs of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Generating vocabulary to write a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Peer editing the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Planning the build-up of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Planning the climax of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Planning the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Planning the resolution of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Publishing a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Writing the build-up of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Writing the climax of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Writing the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
- Writing the resolution of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky' Study Guide
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