Reading, interpreting, acting: another way to bring literature to life in the classroom!
As part of the unit on ‘The Values and Feats of Knights’, Year 7 pupils worked on an extract from *Perceval the Welshman*, depicting the encounter between Perceval and a knight.
Through a theatrical adaptation, they brought to life the dialogue between the young hero, marvelling at the knight’s appearance, and the knight himself, surprised by Perceval’s naivety and curiosity. The discussion centred on the lance, the shield and the chainmail allowed the pupils to gain a practical understanding of a medieval knight’s armour and to better comprehend Perceval’s perspective on this world, which was still unfamiliar to him.
This activity placed oral expression at the heart of the learning process: diction, intonation, expressiveness and active listening were all drawn upon to bring the characters to life and make the dialogue come alive. It also helped to develop the pupils’ self-confidence and acting skills.
Linked to the 5ème curriculum unit ‘Becoming a heroine or hero: romantic destinies (narrative, fiction)’, this dramatisation offered a dynamic approach to medieval literature, whilst inviting pupils to explore the construction of the hero and the values of chivalry.