Martirio is easy to write off as the villain. This 60-minute lesson helps students argue something more interesting: that she is a victim of her society who becomes a verdugo, and that the question hasta qué punto is exactly where the marks are.
Students begin with Martirio's own words ("Dios me ha hecho débil y fea…") and build a picture of her across the three acts. They then plan and write a full essay of about 400 words on the question ¿Hasta qué punto es Martirio una víctima de la sociedad en La casa de Bernarda Alba?
What students cover
Martirio in five words: finding a quotation to prove each one
A quote bank of 13 key quotations and actions, organised by act, with what each one reveals
Martirio's symbols: the portrait, blood and poison, and suffocation
Adela and Martirio compared, then the "¿víctima, culpable o las dos cosas?" evidence task
Planning a thesis with nuance and a full essay plan
A vocabulary and phrase bank for arguing, analysing quotations and concluding
A peer-review grid and a model essay of about 439 words to compare with their own
What's included
Teacher PowerPoint (18 slides) with a timed 60-minute plan, a thesis ladder from basic to best, model paragraphs, a live writing timer and speaker notes
Student PDF pack (10 pages) with the quote bank, symbols table, víctima/culpable task, planning frame, essay writing pages, self- and peer-assessment, exit ticket and model essay
Homework: finish the essay to about 400 words, colour-code PEA in two paragraphs, and compare with the model
Good to know
For Year 13 A Level Spanish students studying La casa de Bernarda Alba.
Martirio is easy to write off as the villain. This 60-minute lesson helps students argue something more interesting: that she is a victim of her society who becomes a verdugo, and that the question hasta qué punto is exactly where the marks are.
Students begin with Martirio's own words ("Dios me ha hecho débil y fea…") and build a picture of her across the three acts. They then plan and write a full essay of about 400 words on the question ¿Hasta qué punto es Martirio una víctima de la sociedad en La casa de Bernarda Alba?
What students cover
Martirio in five words: finding a quotation to prove each one
A quote bank of 13 key quotations and actions, organised by act, with what each one reveals
Martirio's symbols: the portrait, blood and poison, and suffocation
Adela and Martirio compared, then the "¿víctima, culpable o las dos cosas?" evidence task
Planning a thesis with nuance and a full essay plan
A vocabulary and phrase bank for arguing, analysing quotations and concluding
A peer-review grid and a model essay of about 439 words to compare with their own
What's included
Teacher PowerPoint (18 slides) with a timed 60-minute plan, a thesis ladder from basic to best, model paragraphs, a live writing timer and speaker notes
Student PDF pack (10 pages) with the quote bank, symbols table, víctima/culpable task, planning frame, essay writing pages, self- and peer-assessment, exit ticket and model essay
Homework: finish the essay to about 400 words, colour-code PEA in two paragraphs, and compare with the model
Good to know
For Year 13 A Level Spanish students studying La casa de Bernarda Alba.
