Thursday 20th May

LC: To develop setting descriptions

When describing settings, we need to use similar techniques to what we used yesterday when looking at character descriptions. 

What were these?

• similes
• metaphors
• expanded/noun phrases
• powerful verbs and adverbs
• well chosen adjectives
• personification
• alliteration

Have a look at the extracts below. Which examples can you find? draw another table in your book like we did for the character descriptions. 

The Hobbit: Tolkien

It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. The door opened on to a tube-shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted, provided with polished chairs, and lots and lots of pegs for hats and coats—the hobbit was fond of visitors. The tunnel wound on and on, going fairly but not quite straight into the side of the hill—The Hill, as all the people for many miles round called it—and many little round doors opened out of it, first on one side and then on another. No going upstairs for the hobbit: bedrooms, bathrooms, cellars, pantries (lots of these), wardrobes (he had whole rooms devoted to clothes), kitchens, dining-rooms, all were on the same floor, and indeed on the same passage. The best rooms were all on the left-hand side (going in), for these were the only ones to have windows, deep-set round windows looking over his garden, and meadows beyond, sloping down to the river.

As the multiple moons exchanged places with the sun in the now azure sky, a misty haze began to form under the canopy of swaying, rugged trees. What was this place? Why was it so eye catching and yet so unnerving? Curling around thick spiraling branches were constricting vines, which braced and creaked – taking choking holds of the helpless trunks within. Dangling down from the layer of moss, vast, bold leaves flickered like flames in the growing bluster of wind. Dust, grit and grime drifted through the archways created by the curving branches which overshadowed the dimming the forest, leaving areas of unknown and bewilderment.

However, the most puzzling of all the sights was the strange, exotic, unfamiliar plants which throbbed with glowing rage. Sapphire, ruby and emerald pierced the sometimes dull surroundings - filling it with an eeriness and raised even more questions about this frightful place. In addition, these supernatural forms danced and twisted in an odd attempt to hypnotize and entice any vulnerable being. Vulnerable was exactly how Suzie felt as she stood lost and engulfed in this strange and threatening setting. This place was truly special, but for the wrong reasons. Because, in the chaos of the natural surroundings, (where vines choked vines and branches beat down branches) she could feel the eyes of the forest fixed upon her! It was hypnotizing! On top of this, there was a sense that perhaps this was all a mask for an even darker presence… or even a being…

Through a small gap in the flickering leaves, two dull, piercing eyes emerged followed by a gaping mouth full of teeth that jutted out like yellow pegs of evil! Before Suzie had time to spin and flee, the furious beast came charging through foliage like a steam train. Smashing and bursting the tress, splintered due to the strength of this vile being which took its first lung towards the helpless, scrambling girl. Like a clamp, its jaws came chomping down around Suzie’s bag and lifted her high up into the air. Fortunately, as quick as a flash, the young explorer, grasped hold of the fastening and sprang it open causing her to escape from the monster’s raging mouth. As she landed onto the damp, saturated ground, she took a forward roll which removed her from the immediate danger of being stamped on. However, the disorientated beast was only temporarily distracted.

Within seconds, it had caught sight of the now fleeing young girl and made another dart towards her. Leaping over fallen branches, and stumbling around sharp rocks, Suzie’s heart was now pounding like an exploding drum. Suddenly, she caught sight of a cliff! If she could make it over the cliff, perhaps there would be a small chance she would escape! Faster and faster her legs carried her. Closer and closer the creator came! Reaching the edge of the land, she took a desperate leap out over the surging, frothing water below – she closed her eyes. Behind her, the horrid mammal took one final snap towards her, its feet clinging on to the edge of the cliff. Suzie felt its warm putrid breath on the back of her neck but slipped out of its grasp, plunging down towards the deep river below… With a frustrated growl, the beast retreated back into the depths of the wood in which it belonged… Suzie, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen…

Many moons ago, an enchanting and fascinating palace stood amongst a sea of trees. It was spectacular. Branches and twigs had been manipulated to form a grand staircase with a vast amount of authentic looking rooms. Although this fortress was inhabited by a fearless Queen, (well I thought I was) she was no match for what roamed in the woodland. The reality is that this is just a dream. I think it was a dream. Was it a Dream? Anyways, this is where I live.

 Living deep within an enchanted forest, (well not really) lonely and hopeless I live in the forest in a very special tree, an old silver birch tree, which I call home. (It’s just my tree-house). My home stands proudly at over 20 feet tall (it is by far the biggest of its kind......ummm). Like a snake shedding its skin, the silver, crumbling bark is flaking from its exterior. Because the tree is so old, the roots spread for miles under the ground, like a spider’s web encompassing the earth.

From this old, impressive tree, grows an array of shapes, sizes, colours and textures of leaves. As the autumn leaves hang from the branches, they sway in the howling wind. Occasionally, a leaf falls and, ready to leave its home, it dances, spirals and twirls through the air, eventually landing on the ground.

Although my home is a tree, with leaves, bark and branches, to the human eye it is much more: it is a rainbow of colours bursting through the air. Like any person who wears clothes, I need somewhere to dry my washing; however, because my hollow is small, I have my washing line outside. Hanging off the washing line, is an assortment of colourful clothing: t-shirts, stripy socks, a scarf and shorts. Also, a pair of six-fingered gloves (because I am an aberration, who has six fingers on each hand). Above the washing line, I use the branches and grooves in the tree trunk effectively. Since I don’t have a lot of space inside the hollow, I store my belongings outside. Strangely, a bike wheel is propped between a thick branch and the trunk, as an umbrella hangs of the most delicate of the tree’s twigs.

Far below where the golden sun shimmered on the surface; deeper than the rainbow coral; beyond the darkest of caverns stood the most glorious of all sights.

Like golden shards from heaven, beams of light sliced through the darkness to reveal a myriad of colours.  Plants, all neatly placed in organised rows waved at the passing traffic: shoals of silver fish; scuttling, red crab; lumbering purple squid and, of course, the daughters of Triton.

Each girl swam through the ornate, golden gates to a corner of the palace garden.   Adrina sped the furthest, to her own sanctuary.  Isolated from her sisters, she began to twirl through the piles of delicate shells, each one baring more chips each time she visited.  Like a tornado, she whipped up the seabed, creating diamond ripples that spread beyond her own room.  Above her, the seaweed too danced from random corners where it hung from her collection of treasures from her ship wreck adventures.

Aquata glided beyond her elder sister into her own private haven.  As she gently lay herself onto the soft sea bed, she counted the rows upon rows of tiaras, pearls and potions.  Assessing her collection, she flipped her tail fin, directing the team of sea sponges to address the residue that had gathered over night.  Khaki green soldiers, the marched to their duty.