Inspired by: Blodin The Beast - Week 4

Inspired by the themes explored in Michael Morpurgo's "Blodin the Beast," students are encouraged to delve into the various motifs that resonate throughout the narrative. The central learning objective is to identify recurring themes in literature, using Hosea's story as a case study. Hosea, under the tutelage of an old sage, embarks on a perilous trek to a land of abundance and serenity to save his fellow villagers from a grim destiny. Students are prompted to compare the main characters—Blodin, Shanga, and Hosea—with those from other books, considering traits such as Blodin's threatening presence and greed, Shanga's calm and thoughtful demeanor, and Hosea's eagerness and bravery. They are then asked to contemplate the overarching themes present in the story, such as the dichotomy of darkness and light, the journey of maturation, the contrast between physical and spiritual strength, the triumph over fear, the dynamics of power and its corruption, and the enlightenment that comes with experience.

Another aspect of learning focuses on structuring paragraphs around a central theme. Students reflect on Hosea's solitary challenge, where despite his physical fragility, he summons the inner fortitude to confront and overcome daunting obstacles, including perilous fauna, extreme fatigue, and intense thirst. An exercise prompts them to envision Hosea's introspective diary entries, capturing his deepest thoughts and emotions as he confronts his fears. Additionally, the lesson extends to the grammatical realm, teaching students the use of the perfect form of verbs to articulate temporal relationships and causality. They are asked to consider Hosea's accomplishments, such as his first encounter with the wilderness and its exotic creatures, and to expand on this list using the past perfect tense, thereby reinforcing their understanding of verb tenses and their implications within the context of Hosea's heroic journey.