The Demon Headmaster - Lesson 7 - PowerPoint

In Lesson Seven of the English Teaching Resources for 'The Demon Headmaster' by Gillian Cross, students delve into the character dynamics and motivations through dialogue analysis. The activity, titled "Who Said That?" involves matching quotes to the characters who said them and interpreting what these words reveal about their personalities and roles in the story. For instance, Dinah's dialogue exposes her as a strong-willed and brave character who is not afraid to stand up against injustice, demonstrating her protective nature towards Harvey. On the other hand, the Headmaster's response to Dinah's outburst shows his manipulative and calculating disposition, always seeking to turn situations to his advantage.

Other characters, such as Mrs Hunter and Harvey, provide insight into the family's dynamics and the challenges they face in being believed about the school's strange happenings. The prefects, Rose and Jeff, are portrayed as extensions of the Headmaster's will, enforcing his rules without question. Lloyd's frustration and anger reflect the impact of the school's oppressive environment on his behaviour. Following the dialogue analysis, students are prompted to read and discuss Chapter Eight, engaging with questions that explore the Headmaster's intentions and speculate on future developments. Additionally, students are tasked with creating a storyboard for Chapter Eight, using either traditional drawing materials or digital tools, including the 'Storyboard That' website, to visually summarise the narrative's key events.