Green
away
Winne
r
1981
The Highwayman
By Charles Keeping
LEARNING TO LOOK
This activity is to encourage children to look more closely and critically
at illustrations. It can be modelled whilst working with the whole class
or a mixed ability group. It encourages children to offer their personal
interpretation of the illustration and to share and shape their ideas
orally in a collaborative setting.
The aims of this activity are:
• to increase the interaction with and enjoyment of picture books for
children of all ages
• to develop children’s confidence and vocabulary to respond to
what they see – to observe and describe
• to encourage them to build on their previous experience,
imagination and understanding to make sense of visual
information – to interpret
• to consider a variety of graphic forms and their interaction with a
text in order to convey layers of meaning – to appreciate
• to recognise different styles and techniques used and developed
by a variety of illustrators – to analyse
• to begin to recognise and appreciate visual metaphor, irony, puns
and jokes etc. – to participate
The following questions have been designed to help children to look
more closely at the illustrative work of Charles Keeping. By moving
from the whole picture to the smallest part children are encouraged
to search for and use all available clues given by the artist to make
meaning. Please select and adapt the questions to make them
appropriate for your setting.
If possible give children one copy of the picture to share between
two or use an enlarged picture that everyone can see.
TELL ME ABOUT CHARLES KEEPING’S ILLUSTRATION…
Please select/adapt questions, which you think are most appropriate
for the children you are working with…
How do these two pictures make you feel?
In what ways do they work together on your emotional response?
First Picture:
What do you notice about the Highwayman?
Why has the artist chosen to exaggerate the size of his mouth?
How would you describe the expression on his face?
In what ways do you observe the illustration working with the text?
For example how is the madness of the man portrayed in the illustration?
Consider:
• The depiction of the horse
• Where the energy and movement are coming from
• The juxtaposition of straight and curving lines, angles and shapes
• The creation of confusion
• Intense images of passion/violence/aggression
• Where attention to detail is given
The illustrator has filled this page with sound. Where is it coming from?
What can you hear in your imagination?
How has the illustrator used the space on this page?
Consider:
• The position of the horse and rider
• How the intensity of ink at the foot of the page has created a border.
What is the effect of the horse’s hoof stepping over that border?
• What is the effect of the Highwayman’s rapier going off the edge of the page?
What tools and devices has the artist used to create different intensity of line and colour?
The language of this narrative verse is filled with colour. Why do you think Charles Keeping
chose to work in black and white?
In what ways do you think that the lack of colour helps the reader work with the words and
the picture?
Now look at the second page. How does the layout of this contrast with the first page?
What has happened to the energy that ran through the rapier?
Where has the illustrator given attention to detail in this picture?
How has the stillness been achieved?
Consider:
• The perspective
• The shape created by the body
• The way that the body fills the page
• The application of ink and the boldness and intensity of line and colour
Where are you, as you look at this dead body?
In what ways has the illustrator drawn you in so close?
Why has Keeping chosen not to show ‘the bunch of lace at his throat’?
In what ways do the two pictures contrast with one another?
Does the style and presentation of these illustrations give you any clues about when it was
published?
Consider details such as:
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Page layout
Fashion
Use and application of colour
Definition of colour
Amount of colours used
Appearance of characters
Illustrative style
Artistic movements
When do you think it was published?
1950s?
1960s?
1970s?
1980s?
1990s?
2000s?
WRITE IT DOWN
Harvest children’s responses and record their descriptions and comments on a whiteboard/flip chart.
Are there any aspects of the picture that they find particularly interesting or puzzling?