ABSTRACT
Summary of the chapter
Introduction. Touching on the popularity of pirate adventures and their use as vehicles for increasing children’s knowledge of various aspects of narrative fiction. Using pirate adventures as an adjunct to exploring the broader genre of historical fiction. Contextualising pirate adventures as taking place in the Caribbean between the 1660s and 1830s.
Tropes (recurring motifs or themes) in pirate adventures. How some of these can be used in other genres: space pirates, fantasy world pirates etc.
Story grid. A visual planner for generating plot ideas. Asking children to interpret and select images to combine with the storyline visual planner.
Pirates and stereotypes.
Looking at character motivation – why become a pirate? Linking this with the strength of reasons for action and the believability of the plot.
Minor characters – assembling a crew.
Then and now. A research activity highlighting some differences between the world during our ‘pirate timeline’ and the modern day.
Vocabulary, anachronisms and the plasticity of language.
Romanticising. Touching on the idea of glamorising pirates in fiction; making their adventures more colourful, exciting and appealing than they really were.
Treasure map and riddles. Using these common motifs in pirate adventures. Looking at different kinds of riddles and encouraging children to write their own.115
