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15 October 2024

Posted by Harley Truslove

Changing Perspectives

To start our session Ali gave us a one-page recap of the story Jack & the Beanstalk, then got our writers to retell the narrative from the perspective of another character. Two of our writers took the viewpoint of the beanstalk, discussing the nature of magic and the irritation of having someone climb you; one of our writers discussed the moribund view of the cow knowing she would be sent for slaughter; we also got Jack’s mother chopping down the beanstalk after he climbed it so he wouldn’t return and bother her.


Ali gave out a worksheet for our writers to complete, where the main character Sam was presenting their class with a painted picture of their dog Olly, and our writers had to work out what was being said in reaction. Everyone decided Sam’s friends were going to be harsh and mock the painting - though Ali revealed to us after the exercise she had left the wording intentionally vague, so the friends could have been celebrating the picture instead.


She then went on to give us some backstory: Sam’s dog Olly had died the previous week, and had our writers continue the scene from there, changing the interpretation of what was happening between the group.


Finally Ali read us a short story about Sam going to school for the first day of Year 6, and had our writers rewrite the scene from another character’s perspective. A couple of our writers went for the point of view of the supply teacher in his ratty blue jumper, one writer giving it the context that Sam’s mum had saved his life the week before so to repay her he bought Sam’s uniform rather than a new jumper for himself. We also had the supply teacher experiencing a hangover and realising he hated children, as well as being someone who sought out magical children in ordinary schools. Finally one of our writers wrote the story from the perspective of Kevin, the rather unfortunate child who got thrown by the wayside by Sam - story attached.



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