The Highwayman - Lesson 6 - Got the Plot PowerPoint

Lesson 6 of 'The Highwayman' educational series, titled 'Got the Plot PowerPoint', aims to reinforce students' understanding of the classic narrative poem by Alfred Noyes. The objective is to solidify students' comprehension of the story by having them engage with the text up to stanza nine and complete a summary by filling in missing words. The poem's dramatic opening sets the scene with a nameless highwayman riding across the moors on a blustery, moonlit night, heading to an old inn. There, he plans to meet Bess, the landlord's daughter, with whom he is deeply in love. However, a love triangle emerges as Tim, the ostler at the inn, who is also smitten with Bess, eavesdrops on the lovers' conversation.

The plot summary activity guides students through the unfolding drama as jealousy takes hold of Tim, leading him to betray the highwayman by informing the soldiers of his whereabouts. These soldiers then cruelly bind Bess to the foot of her bed, gag her, and place a gun beneath her chest, laying a trap for the returning highwayman. Additionally, the lesson includes a creative task where students are asked to create a comic strip that depicts the story so far, visually narrating the events that have unfolded in the poem. This engaging approach helps students to visualize the narrative and further embed their understanding of the poem's key events and characters.