THE MOMENT MARGARET ATWOOD BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE Colonization A

THE MOMENT MARGARET ATWOOD

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE Colonization • • • A colony is a country or area of ; amd which is ruled by or occupied by people from another country. Countries would ‘colonize’ other countries for many reasons, including: For resources Spread religion and culture Transportation of prisoners Slavery Power At its most powerful, in 1914, the British Empire ruled over 412 million people across the world. This is why many countries around the world speak English.

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE Famous colonists • Julius Caesar – Roman army • Attila the Hun – Huns • Queen Victoria – British Empire • Hernan Cortes – Spanish conquistador

VOCABULARY Read the text. Can you underline any of the words you don’t know yet.

SPEECH Write some examples of speech from the images below. What might they say to people who say “I own this, ”?

moment A specific, brief period of time.

The moment when, after many years of hard work and a long voyage A long journey involving travel by sea.

You stand in the centre of your room, house, half-acre, square mile, island, country Is a measurement of land used in the USA. Half Acre A football pitch in the UK is around 1 ½ acres.

You stand in the centre of your room, house, half-acre, square mile, island, country An area of land in the shape of a square, where each side measures 1 mile.

The cliffs fissure and collapse Split or crack into a long, narrow opening.

Climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming. Announce something officially or publicly.

QUIZ MASTERS • 1. What happens when ‘I own this’ is said? • 2. Who is whispering? • 3. What was the other way round?

The cliffs fissure and collapse, The air moves back from you like a wave And you can’t breathe Which phrase in the section above is a simile? What four things did the author say happens when someone says they own land? 1. 2. 3. 4.

Summarise what the poem means to you…

INFERENCE SKILLS 1. 2. 3. Think about what you already know. Look for clues and evidence. Make a clear explanation. • P – Make your point. • E – Use evidence from the text. • E – Explain further

and say I own this What do you think the author’s thoughts are about owning land?

The trees unloose their soft arms from around you, The birds take back their language, What do you think the author means by this?