The exam

The exam will be in two halves. One half will focus on reading and have an extract from the book that you will have to read and interpret. There will be a question that asks you to comment on the writer’s use of language (their intentions, the effect of words, themes, characters). The second task will ask you to write something like a letter, set of instructions, newspaper article etc. (instructional).

Reading Exam Revision

Make sure you understand the main characters in the novel and can explain their personalities (Use the Thesaurus to identify sophisticated words to describe them).

Hiccup:

Gobber:

Toothless:

Camicazi:

Gobber:

Old Wrinkly:

Stoik the Vast:

One Eye:

Technical vocabulary

Make sure you use the ‘posh words’ to describe things to demonstrate your knowledge of the book:

Narrator: The person telling the story

Narrative: The text on the page

First person: Using ‘I’- the story is written from a character’s point of view

Characterisation: How the characters act (what they do to define them)

Protagonist: The main character

Antagonist: Enemy/ rival of the main character

Figurative language: Similes, metaphors, personification (creates imagery, but isn’t real)

Hyperbole: Where a character exaggerates something to prove a point

Dialogue: Speech exchanged between characters/ what a character says

Linear narration: The story unveils in chronological order

Tone: How are the characters speaking? Think musically here!

Catharsis: Achieving happiness after a state of stress and anxiety (ending of HTTYD)

Connectives:

Adding connectives to build: Moreover, furthermore, in addition, as well as

Emphasising connectives to prove points: Most importantly, arguably, above all

How to answer?

B.U.G. (Brainstorm your ideas, underline the instruction words (verbs) and go back over at the end).

Point, evidence, explore, language, interpret, relate back to question!

A Answer the question / P Select a quote to prove it / Explore what the quote reveals about the character’s thoughts and feelings. / For a better mark: / Pick out a single word to analyse in detail- what arethe connotations of the word?

** It will help if you know your nouns/verbs/adverbs/adjectives so you can single them out in your ‘Language’ (Single word analysis)**

Task:

Read the extract. Spend 30 minutes answering the question. Try to write 3 APE paragraphs!

Remember to GET A BETTER MARK discuss the effect of a specific word after you have finished the APE chain. You could call this APEL. The L means language, so you will pick out a word and say what it is (adverb/adjective/verb/noun), then comment on the associations or meaning of the word.

Eg:

The verb ‘roared’ illustrates that Gobber is a loud and aggressive man. Specifically ‘roared’ is an action we associate with lions, perhaps suggesting that Gobber’s presence was to be feared.

Task: Take 30 minutes to answer the following question. Write at least 3 paragraphs.

Example response for Creating:

In the above extract, tension is created through the author’s use of language. Most importantly, through the use of adjectives. Cressida Cowell describes the Doomfang as having an “enormous, bloodshot, green dragon eye”. Arguably, this could be seen as triple emphasis; the author is emphasising the greatness of this monster. In addition, the words “Enormous” and ‘Blood shot” paint an image of a terrifying creature with great stature. Therefore, this creates tension because the author is unconsciously comparing Hiccup to a huge, menacing creature. Moreover, the colour and adjective ‘green’ connotes envy, evil and fear. Therefore, it could be said that this eye is warning Hiccup to quickly change tactics and run for his life! Likewise, it alludes to the fact that this ‘Doomfang’ is not a friendly creature.

Furthermore, it is obvious that the author has used oxymoronic phrases to highlight tension between Hiccup and The Doomfang. She expresses that Hiccup gazed “downwards in fascinated horror” to show that Hiccup was experiencing two conflicting emotions inside of him. By using the adjective ‘fascinated’ to describe the ‘horror’ on Hiccup’s face, we get the impression that Hiccup is numb and incapable of moving, almost like his sense of curiosity has taken over him. Moreover, the tension here could be left with the audience; they want Hiccup to move and fear for his life. Therefore, the tension is created in this extract through the use of specific language features and the character’s reactions (specifically the verbs and adjectives).

Writing tasks:

  • Use the internet to work out HOW to write a set of instructions. Make notes on this.
  • Remind yourself of what happens in the episode from the novel where Hiccup steels the potato. Write a set of instructions of how to steel a potato from a tribe of Hysterics.
  • Write a spell to cure Vorpentitus using your understanding from the novel.
  • Create a front page newspaper article based on an episode from the novel – your choice. Remember to include all the presentational elements of a newspaper.

You could also help yourself by re-listening to it. You can find David Tennant reading it on Youtube for free.