BOUDICA: a character wrting task

A character study

If your child is revising for 11+ creative writing over the summer, you may like to try this short task to support writing about a warrior (or similar) in a story, for a person description or a recount of an event.

So, here we have Boudica. The vocabulary list is versatile and can be used to describe other types of heroes or villains.

The images and background

The images on this post show two slightly different depictions of Boudica (which in Latin means ‘victorious woman’). She was a queen of the ancient British Iceni tribe. In AD 60 or 61, she led a failed uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire. Many historians consider her a symbol of the struggle for justice and independence.

The definition of warrior = a brave or experienced soldier or fighter

How to pronounce ‘Boudica’ = boo-dih-ka

If your child hasn’t studied Boudica in KS2, here’s a link to a BBC cartoon (about 5 minutes long) to help:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/.../class-clips-video/articles/zmyhf4j

Task to try at home

Write a few paragraphs to describe Boudica just before a battle using the vocabulary list and ideas of your own. Think of not only what she looks like but her actions and how they convey her thoughts and mood.

Here is a vocabulary list to help you with your writing 

Hands

• large, gnarled hands
• calloused and rough
• clenched fists

Limbs

• muscular
• powerful
• commanding
• sinewy

Hair

• burnt-umber
• tied into braids
• bone comb

(note: some celt soldiers added chalk or lime water to their hair to shape it into spikes or tufts as a form of intimidation in battle).

Face

• furrowed brow
• scars of war
• bloodshot eyes
• determined stare
• eyes cold as steel

Clothing/weapons

• coarse, frayed woollen tunic
• leather belt
• a heavy rabbit fur shawl
• battered shield
• wielding a bloodthirsty axe
• sharpened spear
• her spear was waiting attentively for its instruction

Speech

• “It takes skill to win a battle, but brains to win a war.”
• a coarse command
• a low growl
• she roared her instructions.

Movement/emotions

• Like Heracles, she showed no fear.
• Blood pounded in her temples; her senses were on high alert.
• She tried to clamp down the fear that almost paralysed her.
• She had to move soon, or it was all over.
• In a lightning-fast move, she sprinted across the waterlogged battlefield.
• Like a raging bull, she crashed through her assailants, knocking them to the sides.
• Beads of sweat ran down her forehead, her breath shallow and gasping.
• Boudica rallied her army with a bellowing cry and jeered at the enemy.
• She held the axe high which cast a shadow over her face masking her fear.

Example text extract 

Boudica’s calloused hands gripped the weighty axe as she felt the thuds of enemy feet vibrating from over a mile away. Her face showed the scars of war, and her furrowed brow showed her fear (although she tried to hide it). In her steely, cold eyes, a determination shone through, and her army felt reassured by her Heraclean will.

“It takes skill to win a battle,” she growled coarsely over her shoulder, “but brains to win a war. Be ready.”

Resting her axe against her leg, she reached up and tied her chalked hair into a tight braid; she was ready for battle.

-ends-

So, get those pens ready for battle, and ... LET’S WRITE!

I hope you enjoy the task.

Anna