Lesson plan:

Narrative: plots and sub-plots

This episode has a cleverly crafted plot which is useful for drawing students' attention to the complex patterns underlying many apparently simple narratives. In the beginning the episode develops two seemingly separate sub-plots - the story of the remote control and the preparation for the spaghetti eating competition - and then draws them together. Draw students' attention to this aspect of the narrative using a diagram on the board which shows the structure. The episode also provides hints that the two sub-plots will be brought together, particularly in the restaurant scene.

As a whole class

View the episode Spaghetti Pig Out then discuss with the class the two sub-plots in the program.

Dramatic irony and naive protagonists

In the playground scene after Gribble has stolen the television remote control, there is an ironic counterpoint between dialogue and visuals. The Twists walk through the playground expressing the belief that Gribble wouldn't use the remote control irresponsibly. The visual shows that he has done just that. This is a simple example of the use of dramatic irony of naive protagonists, characters who know less than the reader of the text, a form of writing which students will come across in their study of literature.

As a whole class

Re-play the playground scene and draw attention to the way in which the visuals contradict the characters' words.

In small groups

Ask students to write or act out their own scene in which a character is unaware of events occurring around him or her.

Parody

Much of the humour of this episode arises from the use of parody. Parody is when you ridicule or make fun of someone by imitating them in an exaggerated way. It is colloquially referred to as 'sending someone up' or 'taking them off'. The climactic competition scene parodies television game shows.

In small groups

Explain the concept of parody and allow students to create their own parodies of favourite television programs. Parody is an effective method of drawing students' attention to the conventions at work because they need to identify them before they can send them up.

Conflict

Conflict is central to nearly all story-telling. Identify and describe the conflicts developed in this episode. Which of the conflicts occur in every episode of Round the Twist?