Starter:
The quote is from chapter 4
It is the older Arthur, looking back at his younger
self.
What do you think is implied by the quote?
‘Innocence, once lost, is
lost forever’.
Lesson Objective:
To show understanding of the
writer’s storytelling techniques
How effective have the opening
chapters been so far?
• How has Susan Hill engaged you as a reader?
• How much do we know about Arthur? Do we
want to know more?
• Which character is most interesting?
• Do you have a question about the text you’d like
to ask Susan Hill?
More clues:
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I felt like a spectre
A pair of gloomy ravens
Drabness
Had I known that my untroubled night of good sleep was
to be the last that I was to enjoy for so many terrifying,
racked and weary nights to come…
• I do not believe I have ever again slept so well as I did
that night in the inn
• I was still all in a state of innocence, but that innocence,
once lost, is lost forever
Contrasts
• In contrast to the FOREBODING which was evident in
chapter 3 we have lots of descriptions which convey
Arthur’s sense of calm and happiness in chapter 4
• ‘There was a touch of warmth in the autumn sunshine’
• ‘The air was fresh, crisp and clear’
• ‘By contrast with the fog of London, and the wind and
rain of the previous evening’s journey up here, the
weather was quite altered...’
The Woman in Black
• Pick out three descriptions of The Woman in Black (p49)
• What is the significance of the line ‘when I looked up again, I saw a
blackbird on the hollybush a few feet away…’?
• What is important about the way Mr Jerome reacts to the ‘young
woman’? (PEE)
Writer’s Craft
• So, finally we have met the ‘Woman in
Black’
• Why did Susan Hill wait so long to
introduce the ghost?
• How did she build up our expectations
and suspense in the first 3 and a half
chapters?