Year 6 - English
Exploring themes in 'No Country'
'No Country' and 'Frizzy': graphic novels exploring identity and belonging
Study Hub
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 read and explore two fictional graphic novel texts, 'No Country' and 'Frizzy'. They discuss the context of both graphic novels. Finally, pupils explore the visual, narrative and contextual elements of specific scenes and discuss the key themes within each text.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to give a personal response to a graphic novel text.
Key Notes
- We can develop our personal response to a text by reflecting on what we have read so far.
- When giving a personal response, we can focus on emotional impact, characters, narrative elements, atmosphere & setting.
- One of the prominent themes in the text is survival; it follows a family as they struggle to survive during a civil war.
- Take-away ideas within a graphic novel may link to themes that are explored and developed in it.
Vocabulary To Learn
- personal response: reflections that we make about a text after reading it
- theme: a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may find it challenging to discuss themes part way through a narrative.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
We can develop our personal response to a text by reflecting on what we have read so far. When giving a personal response, we can focus on emotional impact, characters, narrative elements, atmosphere & setting.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'personal response'
reflections that we make about a text after reading it.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may find it challenging to discuss themes part way through a narrative. Correction: Model examples of themes with how they are portrayed in the graphic novel text. For example, war and politics can be seen in the newspaper clippings and the discussion between Beatrice's parents.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing a scene and exploring themes in 'Frizzy' Study Guide
- Analysing a scene in 'No Country' Study Guide
- Identity and characterisation in 'Frizzy' Study Guide
- Identity and characterisation in 'No Country' Study Guide
- Introducing the context of 'Frizzy' Study Guide
- Introducing the context of 'No Country' Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 6 English guide library.