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The figure in the graveyard – Worksheet 5a

© Smart Learning Ltd 2012 – Copying permitted for purchasing institution only.Aiming for Levels 4 to 6, Lesson 5

4. List three well-known superstitions.

a. ____________________________________________________________________________

b. ____________________________________________________________________________

c. ____________________________________________________________________________

3. In a few words, describe a typical setting for a gothic horror film.

huge

frightened

Activity: Work with a partner. Complete the activities below as quickly as possible. 1. Look at the words in the left-hand column below. For each one, challenge each other to think of

other words or phrases that have the same or a similar meaning.

2. Look at the five groups of words below. Which is the odd one out in each group? Circle your choice,

then explain your reasons to your partner.

a. devilish heavenly ghoulish deadly b. bleak deserted soft harsh c. treacherous hideous beauteous dangerous d. derelict crumbling pretty dismal e. freakish scary delightful monstrous

dark

ruined

scared

evil

big

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The figure in the graveyard – Worksheet 5b

© Smart Learning Ltd 2012 – Copying permitted for purchasing institution only.Aiming for Levels 4 to 6, Lesson 5

As the woman stood up I saw that she was dressed entirely in

black, her skirt was to the floor and she had on a jacket, tightly

buttoned around her skeletal frame. Her head was still bowed as

she turned to me, holding up the single white flower she had in her

hand; she lifted her head, slowly, determinedly, and as her white

face and dark eyes raised towards me, I felt my blood run cold.

WORD/PHRASE ASSOCIATIONS EFFECT ON THE READER

‘entirely in black’

‘skeletal’

‘single white flower’

‘white face and dark eyes’

‘I felt my blood run cold’

death, darkness

loneliness, delicacy

The reader may feel fearful of this figure because it is unusual to dress entirely in black, which reminds us of death and can sometimes feel threatening.

The contrast of ‘white’ and ‘dark’ in this image is startling to imagine and will stick in the reader’s mind.

Activity: Look at the words and phrases that have been underlined in the following passage from The Woman in the Graveyard (Student’s Book, p. 31).

Complete the table below by explaining: What we might associate with each word or phrase

What effect each word or phrase might have on the reader.

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The figure in the graveyard – Worksheet 5c

© Smart Learning Ltd 2012 – Copying permitted for purchasing institution only.Aiming for Levels 4 to 6, Lesson 5

As the woman stood up I saw that she was dressed entirely in black, her

skirt was to the floor and she had on a jacket, tightly buttoned around her

skeletal frame. Her head was still bowed as she turned to me, holding up

the single white flower she had in her hand; she lifted her head, slowly,

determinedly, and as her white face and dark eyes raised towards me,

I felt my blood run cold.

Activity 1: Now it is your turn. Have a go at continuing the extract from The Woman in the Graveyard.

Start by re-reading the last few lines of the extract below; you could have another

look at the whole extract in the Student’s Book too, on page 31.

Continue the text, choosing words carefully to have a similar, spooky effect on the reader.

Activity 2: Swap work with a partner. Highlight the words and phrases that you think are particularly

effective in your partner’s writing. Discuss your thoughts with your partner.