The last New Kingdom tomb at Thebes: The end of a great tradition?
The Last Kingdom - MISS O'GALLAGHER'S CLASS - Home
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The Last Kingdom By Bernard Cornwell Historical Fiction – Writing Practice – Final Exam Preparation Viewing and Reading Log • As you explore the texts in the Reading Booklet, you will learn about this important period in history. • Use this booklet to help you select, organise and remember important information about The Last Kingdom. • You will be allowed to use this booklet in the writing of your chapter.
Transcript of The Last Kingdom - MISS O'GALLAGHER'S CLASS - Home
The Last Kingdom By Bernard Cornwell
Historical Fiction – Writing Practice – Final Exam Preparation
Viewing and Reading Log
• As you explore the texts in the Reading Booklet, you will learn about this important period in history.
• Use this booklet to help you select, organise and remember important information about The
Last Kingdom.
• You will be allowed to use this booklet in the writing of your chapter.
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Understanding Historical and Geographical Setting
The following maps illustrate the movements of the The Great Heathen Army of 865 and England at the time of Alfred the Great. These maps are historically accurate. Being able to locate setting on a map provides a better understanding of the setting. Circle, underline, or highlight the names of the cities, towns and regions that are described in the story.
The map above should be in color. Your beloved teacher will show you the map in color. Use markers or pencils to color the different regions, battles and movements.
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Although this map is historically accurate, its focus is mainly the places mentioned in The Last Kingdom Annotate it with details of the action from the episodes you watch. You can also add any other place names that are not included.
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Date : 1000 BCE
• Celts lived in England. • Spoke Gaelic Languages such as
Scottish, Welsh and Irish. • Words left behind: bard, clan, plaid,
slogan, trousers
Date : _______
Date : _______
Date : _______
Date : _______
Date : _______
Date : _______
Date : _______
More History of the English Language – Timeline • Create a timeline that illustrates how the
English language is “living.”
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Beowulf
Beowulf
Who wrote it? Why is it important?
What’s the story about? Who are the main characters?
What are the important symbols? What are the themes?
What did you learn? What did you find surprising? What information could be used in your story?
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The Vikings and Their Language
Old Norse Words Old English Words hale whole skill craft skirt shirt kirk church to egg (on) to edge sick ill to raise to rear fro (to and fro) from screak/screech shriek
*Note: the words in bold are all currently in the English language. **Old Norse brought to English the hard “k” sound. Note the occurrence of this sound in the sample words above. At one time, the words “skirt” and “shirt” referred to the same article of clothing. Over time, however, “skirt” entered the English language and adopted a new meaning. Instructions: For each of the following words, write the meaning, being sure to notice the subtle differences in meaning of these similar terms.
1. hale
whole
2. skill
craft
3. skirt
shirt
4. to egg
to edge
5. sick
ill
6. to raise
to rear
7. fro
from
8. screak/screech
shriek
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The Last Kingdom -- Characters
• As you watch the episodes, complete the following chart with descriptions, relationships and other relevant information about the fictional characters in the episodes.
Fictional Characters Descriptions, relationships, Saxon or Dane, and other
relevant information Uhtred (formerly Osbert)
Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg *
Gytha
Ælfric *
Father Beocca *
Scallion
Earl Ragnar the Fearless *
Ragnar Ragnarsson (Ragnar the Younger) *
Thyra Ragnarsdottir
Brida *
Sigrid
Ravn
Storri
Sven Kjartansson
Kjartan
Leofric *
Odda the Younger
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• As you watch the episodes, complete the following chart with descriptions, relationships
and other relevant information about the historical characters in the episodes.
Historical Characters Descriptions, relationships and other relevant information
King Aethelred King of Wessex from 865 to 871
Alfred * King of Wessex from 871 to 899
Guthrum the Unlucky * Danish warlord, controlled East Anglia, later converted by King Alfred
Ubba Lothbroksson * Danish warlord feared by many
Ælswith
Alfred's wife who dislikes Uhtred
Æthelwold
Aethelred’s son, Alfred's nephew
Odda the Elder Ealdorman of Wessex
Odda the Younger
Odda the Elder’s son
King Edmund of East Anglia
King Osbert of Northumbria
http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/the-last-kingdom
Who Are They?
• Identify (name) the characters marked with an asterisc in the previous lists.
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Who are They?
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Cultural Elements
• As you watch the episodes, and read the excerpts of the novel, pay close attention to cultural differences between the Saxon and Danish Tribes (The Vikings, as we call them).
• Complete the chart in as much detail as possible (vocabulary, expressions, descriptions, information).
• Remember to use these details in the chapter you will write.
Cultural Elements and Differences Saxons Danes
Religion
Traditions
Warfare
Family
Clothing
Accessories
Other details
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What’s the Story?
The Last Kingdom is a series of eight novels. Each television season is an adaptation of one of the novels. You’ll have watched only two episodes. As you have learned, the narrative structure has a rising and falling structure. This structure can be applied to the whole series, and also to its individual episodes.
• After watching each episode, write a short summary of the story. • Use what you know about narrative structure to summarize each part of the episode. • Read the excerpt provided by your teacher to deepen your understanding of the story.
Episode 1:
Orientation Who, when, where
Complication Problem – Starts the narrative
Sequence of events Challenges, action, tension
Climax Denouement
Resolution Problem is “solved”, the “end” , or cliff-hanger.
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Episode 1 – What Happens Next? – Writing Practice
• With a partner, write the introduction to what happens next • Pay attention to grammar (past tenses, sub verb agreement, sentence structure) • Also pay attention to author’s voice (style, tone, mood) • Use the excerpts at the end of the Reading Booklet to help with this, particularly
pages 196 to 199 • BIG HINT: Figure out what part of episode 1 the last paragraph on page 199
coincides with • Begin your paragraph there • In other words, your paragraph begins at the end of this episode _______________________________________________________________________________________
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Episode 2:
Orientation Who, when, where
Complication Problem – Starts the narrative
Sequence of events Challenges, action, tension
Climax Denouement
Resolution Problem is “solved”, the “end”, or cliff-hanger.
Predictions – What Will Happen Next?
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Other Interesting Links About the Vikings • Use the grids below to note any interesting information you could use for your chapter.
The Norse Gods and Realms
Viking Warfare and Weapons
How the Vikings Conquered Europe
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Excerpts from the novel The Last Kingdom
• Read the excerpts from the novel by Bernard Cornwell. • Pay attention to the style of writing and the dialogue. • Answer the questions below. • Add any other information you find to your Viewing Log (Cultural Elements)
1. List details (characters, setting, plot, etc.) from the excerpts that were not included, or different, in the episodes? ________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Who is telling the story, what’s the point of view (POV)?
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3. Describe the narrator.
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4. How old is Uhtred when he’s telling his story? How do you know this?
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5. What do you think are “the four great feasts” Uhtred refers to? Think about the traditions Christians
celebrate today for ideas.
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6. Who are “Our ancestors” Uhtred refers to? Refer to your timeline.
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7. What was Uhtred’s original name? Why was he baptized again and given the name Uhtred?
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8. When Uhtred says: “I had no wish to join Alfred and learn to bruise my knees with praying”, what
does he mean? What does his tone suggest? How do you know this?
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9. Who are the “spinners”? What is their role? What makes you think this?
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10. Make a list of vocabulary that would enhance your chapter. Remember to include definitions and form (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Word: Form: Definition: ________________________________________________________________________________
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