Year 9 - English
Contrasting characters: using juxtaposition
Malevolent characters: fiction 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 create and write malevolent characters. They first look at the conventions of malevolent characters, before learning about the techniques they can use to present their malevolent characters. They finally plan and write their fiction with a malevolent character in it.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to effectively use contrast and juxtaposition when crafting characters.
Key Notes
- Juxtaposition is a useful tool when describing contrasting characters.
- Contrasting characters can deepen our understanding of their roles and personalities.
- Placing contrasting characters in opposition can create dramatic tension and conflict.
- Careful consideration of vocabulary choices aids our crafting of juxtaposition.
Vocabulary To Learn
- juxtaposition: two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
- malevolent: having or showing a wish to do evil to others
- benevolent: having a desire to do good; kind
- protagonist: the main character in a story
- antagonist: a character who actively opposes or is hostile to others (usually the protagonist)
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils might think that using contrast and juxtaposition in character descriptions means simply listing opposing traits without showing how they interact or affect each other.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Juxtaposition is a useful tool when describing contrasting characters. Contrasting characters can deepen our understanding of their roles and personalities.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'juxtaposition'
two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils might think that using contrast and juxtaposition in character descriptions means simply listing opposing traits without showing how they interact or affect each other. Correction: It's important to show how the contrasting traits of characters impact each other. For example, instead of just stating that one character is kind and the other is cruel, describe a scene where their actions and behaviors directly conflict.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Crafting character through dialogue Study Guide
- Crafting malevolent characters Study Guide
- Crafting physical description for malevolent characters Study Guide
- Describing setting and developing tone Study Guide
- Planning fiction writing about a malevolent character Study Guide
- Using figurative language effectively for character description Study Guide
- Using paragraphs effectively Study Guide
- Using vocabulary effectively in fiction writing Study Guide
- Writing fiction about a malevolent character Study Guide
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