Beastly and Brutal

Subject: English Literature
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11 - 14
Order Number: 5075

Beastly and Brutal is the sequel to Hideous and Horrible, and comprises a further selection of thirteen copyright-free passages based on the topic of horror.

As in the previous booklet, the stimulus materials range in difficulty from fairly simple to quite complex, both in content and expression. There are also two longer stories, which are split into separate sections. In this new resource there is more emphasis on social questions such as animal cruelty, and human suffering caused by slavery or poverty.

The new pack includes poetry by 'Anon', and D.H. Lawrence, and a modern translation of part of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'. There is also a simplified version of a scene from Macbeth. Narrative selections are taken from novels or short stories by Jerome K. Jerome, Conan Doyle, and Mrs Gaskell; there are also adaptations of stories by American writers including Jack London, Herman Melville and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Each extract is coupled with a comprehensive worksheet, designed to give students practice in areas such as comprehension, research skills, and spelling and vocabulary exercises.

Suggestions for spoken English include:

• preparation of dramatic readings
• discussion and debate
• prepared talks
• group projects, as well as individual, pair and group work

Written outcomes include:

• story-telling
• poems
• personal and descriptive writing
• letters and newspaper articles
• questions on characterization
• expression of personal opinions

Recommendations for further research using I.T. skills are included, as well as wider reading based on books by the same authors.

All the worksheets have been tried and tested in the classroom and are in line with the latest curriculum requirements for Key Stages 3 and 4.