Viking Boy

Viking Boy by Tony Bradman

‘Viking Boy’ by Tony Bradman is an exhilarating adventure set in the rugged landscape of ancient Scandinavia.

Follow the journey of Gunnar, a young Viking boy determined to prove his worth in a world of conquest and honor. When his father is brutally slain by raiders, Gunnar embarks on a quest for vengeance, sailing across treacherous seas and facing formidable foes.

Along the way, he discovers the true meaning of courage, loyalty, and the bonds of friendship. With vivid prose and rich historical detail, Bradman weaves a captivating tale of bravery and resilience against the backdrop of the Viking Age.

Viking Boy is a thrilling saga that will transport your UKS2 readers to a time of legendary warriors and epic quests.

Chapter 1

Diving straight into Chapter 1 of Viking Boy, your class will be introduced to Gunnar and his parents.

Many of our questions focus on Gunnar and his parents, looking at descriptions, looking for evidence, identifying words using descriptions, identifying word class, sequencing the events and more.

Sample Comprehension Question: Q8

“…you’d better do as your father says, Gunnar.” “No I won’t,” muttered Gunnar. “If you’re staying, I’m staying
too.”
What does Gunnar’s comment tell us about him?

Chapter 2

In this chapter, your class will sequence events, identify a hyperbole within context, follow events of Gunnar, Skuli, the raiders and the wolf men.

Your KS2 class will also look at synonyms, explore key vocabulary, identify missing punctuation as well as answering retrieval comprehension questions linked to Father, Arnor and other characters.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Summary

Gunnar’s world crumbles as he realizes that Skuli has betrayed them by aligning with the Wolf Men, revealing himself as their leader. Skuli taunts Bjorn, Gunnar’s father, about his prowess in battle and deceitfully admits that the raiders he warned about were his own men. Skuli’s lack of remorse and his ambition to take over Bjorn’s farm lead to a confrontation where Bjorn, despite his bravery, is fatally wounded by Grim and the archers. Helga, Gunnar’s mother, fiercely defends her family, but is overpowered. Skuli, unmoved by the chaos he has caused, instructs his men to display Bjorn’s body as a warning, intensifying Gunnar’s helpless rage and sorrow.

As Gunnar and Helga are thrown beside Bjorn’s lifeless body, Skuli mocks them, offering Helga a twisted proposition to become his wife, which she vehemently rejects. Gunnar boldly declares a blood oath for vengeance against Skuli, which only amuses the ruthless leader. Skuli decides that Gunnar is too dangerous to be left alive and orders Grim to kill him. Helga’s desperate pleas and Gunnar’s futile struggle seem to be in vain until an unexpected event occurs, marked by a blaze of light and the sound of beating wings, suggesting a potential turn of fate amidst the despair.

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Summary

As Gunnar and his family brace for their grim fate, a radiant light appears on the horizon, approaching rapidly and revealing itself as nine Valkyries riding enormous winged wolves. These legendary shield maidens of Odin have come to claim the fallen warrior, Bjorn, for Valhalla. The sight strikes awe and fear into everyone present, including Skuli and his Wolf Men. Helga, Gunnar’s mother, recognizes the Valkyries from old stories and is filled with a mix of relief and reverence. The Valkyries land and their leader, Brunhild, steps forward to identify Bjorn. Gunnar, gathering his courage, speaks for his father and accuses Skuli of murder.

Brunhild and her Valkyries prepare Bjorn’s body for the journey to Valhalla, leaving Gunnar and Helga to bid their final farewells. As the Valkyries depart, Skuli orders Grim to kill Gunnar, revealing his continued treachery. However, in a desperate act to save her son, Helga attacks Grim, giving Gunnar the chance to flee. He escapes into the forest, narrowly avoiding arrows and leaving behind the chaos, seeking refuge in the darkness of the woods as the shadow of death looms.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Summary

Gunnar runs through the forest, seeking refuge under a large oak tree, where he grapples with his grief and newfound hatred for Skuli. He vows vengeance and contemplates the seemingly impossible task of avenging his father’s death. He decides that instead of confronting Skuli directly, he must somehow reach Valhalla and bring his father back to life, believing that Odin has the power to resurrect fallen heroes. Remembering the temple called the God House, where his community worshipped, he heads there, hoping to pray for guidance. Upon reaching the God House, he lays his father’s amulet on the altar and prays to Odin for a way to Valhalla.

An old man appears, offering food and conversation. Despite initial wariness, Gunnar accepts his offer and listens as the old man explains that Valhalla is in Asgard, accessible by the rainbow bridge Bifrost, which begins in the Land of Ice and Fire. The journey will be arduous, involving a sea voyage and dealing with Heimdall, the guardian of the bridge. As Gunnar considers the daunting task ahead, he succumbs to exhaustion and falls asleep. When he wakes, the old man has vanished, leaving behind a bag with supplies, including a significant eagle’s feather, hinting at the old man’s mystical knowledge and possibly divine nature.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Summary

Gunnar rekindles the fire with the flint and eats more bread and cheese, pondering the strange encounter with the old man who mysteriously knew his name and spoke of flying with an eagle to the Land of Ice and Fire. After dismissing thoughts of sorcery and deciding to be grateful for the old man’s help, Gunnar keeps the feather safe. He sets off for Kaupang, guided by a shepherd and spending nights in a cave and a cow byre. On the third day, he arrives at Kaupang and is overwhelmed by the bustling town with its many huts, larger buildings, and crowded harbour.

Navigating the narrow alleys, Gunnar meets a friendly boy named Gauk, who offers to help him find a ship. Gauk leads him through increasingly confined and menacing alleys, where they are ambushed by two bigger boys, Ivar and Njal. Despite Gunnar’s attempts to avoid trouble, they demand his bag, and when he refuses, Njal strikes him with a club, forcing him to drop it. The boys tie Gunnar’s wrists and drag him through the alleys, with Gauk mockingly telling him they are taking him to meet the king, as they enjoy his distress.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Summary

Gunnar is dragged into the hall of a wealthy lord named Orm, who is large, bald, and adorned with gold. Orm, seated on a throne made of bones, is approached by Gauk, who offers to sell Gunnar as a slave. Despite Gunnar’s protests of being freeborn, Orm and his men overpower him. Gauk bargains with Orm and eventually sells Gunnar for three gold pieces. Gunnar is then led away by Rurik, a large man with a gentle demeanor who advises him to comply to avoid further beatings. As Gunnar is led through the courtyard, he sees people of all ages and races packed into slave pens, filling him with despair.

Rurik brings Gunnar to a smithy where a smith named Hogni is preparing a thrall ring to mark him as a slave. Gunnar, realizing this might be his last chance to escape, waits for an opportunity. When Rurik cuts the bindings on Gunnar’s wrists, Gunnar grabs a shovel and strikes Hogni in the face, knocking him out. He then makes a run for it, hearing only the sound of Rurik laughing as he flees from the smithy, seeking a way to avoid the grim fate of slavery.

Chapters Overview

In Viking Boy we have created 21 question sets.

Each set consists of:
– 4 retrieval questions
– 4 SPAG questions
– 4 Deeper questions (authorial technique, inference, sequencing, summarising, similes, metaphors etc.)

We have taken a range of areas from the KS2 Literacy curriculum to give your class broad, balanced and varied skills as they progress through their whole class reading book.