The Lighthouse
by Agnes Owens
Learning Intentions
We are going to study the short story ‘The Lighthouse’ by Agnes
Owens.
In this unit of study you will learn how to:
1. Analyse and evaluate a short story.
2. Annotate a short story.
3. Write a successful critical essay on a short story.
4. Use quotations effectively in critical essay writing.
Title: Predictions
• What do we typically associate with lighthouses?
• What do they symbolise?
• What expectations do we have about the story
based on its title?
Task: Create a mind map answering these questions in your
jotter.
Lighthouses Symbolism
• Highest point of land that is closest to the sea.
• Alerts ships that land is near (rocks, reefs,
shallow waters)
• Guidance and safety
• Danger
• Vigilance (keeping a look out)
Make sure you have all these written down.
Opening of the Story
‘Let’s go somewhere else,’ said Megan to her brother Bobby playing
on the beach with his pail and spade. ‘Let’s go to the lighthouse.’
‘I don’t want to,’ he said, without looking up. At three and a half years
he had the face of an angel, but his appearance belied a strong
determination to have everything his own way. So thought Megan,
aged ten.
‘You can stay if you like,’ she said, ‘but I’m going and I just hope a
monster doesn’t get you.’
‘Monster’
1. On your post-it note quickly sketch an image that you think
represents a monster.
2. Stick it on the wall when you are done.
3. Examine your monsters. What do you notice about them?
What characteristics do they share? Create a list in your jotter.
‘Monster’
Think about it: What makes a
monster?
This term is very important. Keep it in
mind as we read the short story.
Opening Questions
1. Which characters are introduced at the beginning of the story
and what do we learn about each one?
2. What is the relationship between the characters?
3. What is the setting of the story?
4. Based on the information provided in the introduction – and
the title ‘The Lighthouse’ – what do you think the plot of the
story will be?
Write answers in jotters.
The Actual Story: What Happens?
• We’ll read the story once through as a class.
1. Summarise: Create a short summary for the
plot of the story. Lets see who can create the
most succinct summary.
2. Sequencing: In groups of 2/3 you will be
given the events of the story. Put them in
the correct order as quickly as possible. Glue
down on the sheets of paper.
Understanding: Vocabulary
1.
2.
Read the story again to yourself. As you read, underline any words that you may
not know or are not sure about.
Make sure that you can define the following words along with any others you have
underlined. Work in pairs and use a dictionary if needed. Be ready to share your
definitions with the class.
–
–
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–
–
–
–
–
–
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Belied
Brooding
Exasperated
Tantrums
Tottered
Sullenly
Turreted
Riveted
Mooring buoy
Hovering
Understanding: Vocabulary
1.
2.
Read the story again to yourself. As you read, underline any words that you may
not know or are not sure about.
Make sure that you can define the following words along with any others you have
underlined. Work in pairs and use a dictionary if needed. Be ready to share your
definitions with the class.
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Belied
fail to give a true impression of (something).
Brooding
engaged in or showing deep thought about something that makes one sad.
Exasperated irritate intensely; infuriate.
Tantrums
an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration
Tottered
move in a feeble or unsteady way.
Sullenly
bad-tempered and sulky.
small tower on top of a larger tower or at the corner of a building or wall
Turreted
Riveted
Mooring buoy Fascinated
a buoy to which ships or boats can be moored
Hovering
linger close at hand in an uncertain manner
Foreshadowing
In the story Agnes Owens uses a technique called
foreshadowing.
A warning or indication of a future event.
• The first time we read the story we don’t notice the importance of the clues
even though they increase the tension and make us feel that something bad will
happen. The ending is still a shock to us.
• However, once we know the ending and read the story for a second time we
realise that the writer left clues throughout the story that foreshadow the events
at the end.
Can you think of examples of foreshadowing in TV shows and films you’ve
watched recently?
Foreshadowing in Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAn7I0k0Ky
Y&list=PLSbhjVbi7iZim2PE80B_wOagFYXOrKJrC
• Before Bambi’s mother is
shot by a hunter, she gives
Bambi a stern lecture on
the dangers of man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2UQv2JU
ZoU
Can you think of why this is an example of
foreshadowing?
Foreshadowing Exercise
1. The first example of
foreshadowing is in the
introduction of the
story. Can you identify
it?
2. Highlight the relevant
piece of text and label it.
3. Now write a comment
next to your highlighted
section explaining why
this is an example of
foreshadowing?
Remember, foreshadowing is when
the writer gives you a clue about
something that is going to happen
later the in the story. Therefore, the
clue will mirror the later event.
Foreshadowing: Example
– “I just hope a monster doesn’t get
you”
This foreshadows Bobby being abducted by the
man from the golf course. In the quotation
Megan is referring to a pretend monster and is
using it to scare and manipulate Bobby.
TASK
However, the monster that does get Bobby is a
Now look through the rest of the story
real danger who also forces
toother
do things
andBobby
look for
examples of
he doesn’t want to.
foreshadowing – clues that hint at the
ending of the story.
Foreshadowing: Another Example
Megan has scared Bobby again by saying their parents are likely to be locked up
for leaving them on the beach. She is scared the woman will hear so she muffles
his howl.
“At that he let out a howl so loud she was forced to put her hand over his
mouth.”
This foreshadows Megan’s murder:
“When her eyes flickered, he put his hand over her mouth and nose for a
considerable time”.
The word “flickered” shows that she is still alive at this point. The man then kills
her. This time a hand is put over a mouth to kill, rather than to prevent trouble.
The reader knows he is killing her intentionally because he holds his hand there
for a “considerable” time. This means it was a deliberate act as he took his
time.
Characterisation
1. Write down five adjectives you would use to describe both
Megan or Bobby. Start a separate list for each.
2. Find and record quotations from the text to back up what you
are saying. Write these next to your adjective.
Eg: Bobby
• Stubborn – refuses to go to the lighthouse ‘I don’t want to’
Megan
Bobby
Manipulative – She lies and deceives Bobby
into going to the lighthouse by saying there
is an ice cream van.
Gullible – he believes the gorillas in the book
are monsters, as Megan told him.
Selfish – she doesn’t care what Bobby thinks
as long as she gets her own way.
‘I’m going and I just hope a monster doesn’t
get you’
Stubborn – refuses to go to the lighthouse ‘I
don’t want to go to the lighthouse’
Adventurous – ‘let’s go to the lighthouse’
Annoying – he was butting Megan’s stomach
with his head
Aggressive – ‘If you don’t start moving I’ll
slap your face’
Playful – loves playing in the sand with his
spade and bucket
Suspicious – ‘She began to wonder if he
might be one of those strangers’
An attractive child – ‘had the face of an
angel’
Body Maps
1. You have 4 minutes to draw the characters of Megan and Bobby.
• Use a new page for each. Have your character take up the
majority of the page, but leave room for your writing.
• Fill in the body maps using evidence from the text and quotes
where possible…..
Add to your drawing
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Head – what are they thinking about?
Shoulders – what do they worry about?
Hands – what do they do? (Job, roles, hobbies, etc)
Stomach – what do they hunger for (want)?
Eyes – what do they see?
Ears – what do they hear?
Heart – what do they feel?
Feet – where do they go? (which direction do they take/where do
their choices take them?)
Megan
Record answers in jotters:
1. Why do you think Megan is such an angry
character?
2. Do you feel sympathy for the character of
Megan?
3. Why are you sympathetic? Give a list of reasons
for your answer.
Sympathy for Megan
• She gets attacked by her little brother.
• She feels the pressure of having to look after
Bobby.
• She is suspicious of other adults.
• Megan eventually worries about her brother,
showing her caring side.
• Her mean and caring actions are
representative of a normal sibling relationship.
Bobby
1. What does Bobby’s reaction
to Megan’s murder reveal
about his character?
2. What do you think
happened to Bobby?
Other Characters
The Stranger
1. Why do you think the
stranger’s name is never
revealed to you?
His name is never revealed as
this is representative of an
uncaring society and shows that
the dangers that are posed to
children are often hidden and
unexpected.
The Woman
1. Why did the woman not stop to
make sure Megan and Bobby were
ok?
2. What does this reveal about wider
society?
The woman’s failure to protect Megan
and Bobby is symbolic of society’s
failure to protect the innocence of
children. The author shows that
innocence is a fragile state, which can
be taken away in a cruel manner.
Setting
1. In pairs, go through the story and underline any instances
where the setting is described or plays a key role.
2. Discuss: Why is the setting so important in the story?
• The setting stimulates the disagreement between Megan and
Bobby.
• The golf course was stumbled on, as was the stranger (the
setting mirrors this aspect of the plot – just as they stumble
across the golf course, so too do they stumble across the man.)
‘Pathetic fallacy’
• A technique used in media and writing where the writer
uses the weather or nature – including seasons- to
suggest and reinforce human emotion.
• Can you think of examples?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9JTfU7YtGQ
• How was pathetic fallacy used in this movie clip?
• Can you think of other examples from movies?
1. How is pathetic fallacy used in the short story? Write
examples in your jotter (3 or 4). Underline and label on
your copy of the text.
Pathetic Fallacy in the Story
Pathetic fallacy – When the setting mirrors the mood of the
characters.
Mood changes as the setting does. It starts sunny and the
atmosphere is light.
Deserted beach creates a sense of worry as no one is around to
help.
The setting eventually consumes Megan and is as apathetic
towards her death as society appears to be.
Uncaring setting (that does not change because of a dead girl)
mirrors the uncaring society that Megan and Bobby inhabit.
Theme
• What are the
themes of the
short story?
• Neglect
• -How are Bobby and Megan
neglected throughout the short
story?
• Lack of caring society
-Why do you think the author never
reveals the name of the parents,
woman or the stranger?
Theme continued
• Loss of childhood
innocence.
-Give examples of
ways in which both
Megan and
Bobby’s innocence
is taken away from
them.
• Human cruelty/Violence: how
is this shown in the story?
• Megan’s emotional cruelty
and neglect of Bobby.
• Bobby’s physical
violence/anger towards
Megan.
• Parents’ verbal abuse towards
children.
• Society’s neglect of vulnerable
people.
• Violence and murder
committed by The Stranger.