Rus Madon

Organisations

• Society of Authors

Details

I feel passionate that children should read for pleasure and I want to share the power of stories.

Using Beowulf’s Ghost as the start point, I offer visits to KS3 (Age 12-14) and KS2 in transition to KS3 (Age 10-11).

My approach: I am flexible with my approach and can focus one or more of the following:

• Reading for Pleasure: Readings from Beowulf’s Ghost plus Q&A
• The importance of Beowulf in English literature and what lies behind myths and legends as described below
• The process of writing a book (plot, characters etc)

What lies behind myths and legends: Encouraging audience participation, I briefly discuss well-known legends such as Robin Hood, the King Arthur cycle (Merlin, Guinevere etc), Hereward the Wake, and of course, Beowulf.

There will be learning through asking questions about what lies behind the story, what seed of truth is at the heart of any myth. The audience will be asked to extrapolate ancient myths with modern myths and to think about stories they hear in the media.

The importance of Beowulf in English Literature:

• Beowulf, originally a poem, now a classic text
• Translations by many great writers and poets (Tolkien, Heaney)
• Dramatized and interpreted (Hollywood films and books, Morpugo)
• Most stories are on two levels, the narrative and the theme. Beowulf: the narrative is about slaying monsters but the theme is about human frailty.

Curriculum: The session will align with the English curriculum KS3 – introduction to Beowulf. The OE classic. There will also be an opportunity to study the setting, the plot and characterisation of Beowulf, and how I have interpreted this for my own book, Beowulf’s Ghost.

Resources to go with the session:

• List of questions for students to follow up the presentation
• Q and A for reading comprehension (once you have read the Beowulf’s Ghost). I will run a follow up Zoom meeting if required.

Charges: I am offering my services free of charge for the first few bookings, and will look to recover costs through direct book sales either at the time of the presentation or pre-ordered through the school.

Other: Prior to becoming a full-time author, in my previous career, I developed extensive communication and presentation skills. I also like to create fun and interactive visits. I have help preparing materials and resources from a teacher, previously Head of KS2, Literacy Lead, and experienced in supporting transition to KS3.

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