Explicit Information
Who does Odile live with?
Her grandfather (since she was a baby)
What does the word fierce mean in the context of the passage?
Very strong or powerful.
How does the reader know Odile is shocked in the extract?
She screams, her breathing stops and gasps for air.
Why does the writer reveal in the beginning that Odile can fly?
Creates anticipation.
Gives the reader something to look forward to and creates curiosity.
What is unusual about the setting? Give TWO details from the text.
Extremely cold.
Should mention any example such as:
Snow being thick enough to hide a cat
Birds being blown backwards
The house being built into the mountain.
What does irate mean in the sentence describing the seagull?
Very angry or extremely annoyed.
What can we infer about Odile's relationship with her grandfather?
They are close;
He has cared for her since she was a baby;
He is protective;
She respects him.
His words and behaviour show that he cares for and guides her.
Why does the writer describe Odile's father's coat in so much detail?
The coat is important to Odile
Becomes significant when the wind catches it and helps her fly.
Detailed description also makes it memorable/adds to the depth of the story
What are the final two main events in the extract?
Odile runs downhill with the coat stretched out.
She discovers/experiences that she can fly.
What does billowed mean when the writer describes Odile's coat?
Blown or expanded outwards by the wind.
The writer says the coat was blown out behind her like a sail.
Why does Odile rub snow into her eyes?
She thinks she might be imagining what happened and wants to make sure she's awake.
Why does the writer tell the reader about the strength of the wind before Odile flies?
It prepares the reader for what happens
Demonstrates what a significant accomplishment flying is
Find three details that show how powerful the wind is.
Birds are blown backwards;
They reverse-somersault through the sky;
Feathers are shed like confetti;
The wind catches Odile's coat;
The coat billows like a sail;
Her hair blows into her eyes and mouth.
Why does the writer compare the feathers to confetti?
The comparison helps the reader imagine many small feathers being scattered through the air. It creates a vivid visual image of the strength of the wind.
Why does Odile question whether she really flew?
What does this tell the reader about her?
Flying is an unimaginable concept/seems unbelievable so wants to be sure if it happened.
Tells the reader she is ANY of the following:
Curious;
Cautious;
Rational;
Determined to understand what happened.
Why is the final sentence, “And Odile flew.”, an effective ending?
Short and dramatic.
Confirms what has happened and creates a strong ending while making the reader curious about what will happen next.