The Snow Spider - Session 5 - Reading Comprehension

In Session 5 of "The Snow Spider" reading comprehension, students delve into the intricacies of Gwyn's experiences, both at school and within his personal life. The session's questions probe into how Gwyn is perceived by his peers, revealing the nature of his interactions and the treatment he receives from other children. Gwyn's relationship with his mother and Alun is also explored, uncovering the reasons behind his mother's happiness at seeing Alun and the cause of Gwyn's anger towards him. Furthermore, the session investigates the nightly activities of Arianwen, the spider, and examines the emotional aftermath for Gwyn following an incident with Dewi.

Additional questions encourage students to reflect on Gwyn's past encounters with Eirlys and to consider why Eirlys might have assisted Gwyn in getting home. The descriptive language used by the author to portray Eirlys is scrutinised, with phrases such as 'very frail', 'as pale as the snow', 'ice-cold', and 'icy touch' prompting students to contemplate the impression these words create of her character. Finally, the session culminates with an exercise in brevity and comprehension, as students are challenged to distil the essence of Session 5 into a concise summary of no more than 50 words.