1. Poetry Slides 1

Considering the nature of home

English

Unit:

Poetry about place and home

Outcome

I can explore what home means to different people and interpret hidden meanings in poems about home.

Keywords

contrast

an obvious difference between two or more things

realistic

representing things in a way that is accurate and true to life

attitude

a point of view about something

Lesson outline

Considering the nature of home

Considering ideas about home

Reading ‘My City’

Considering ideas about home

Explanation

Discuss: what does ‘home’ mean to you?

somewhere with family

Home

somewhere familiar

safe, cosy, relaxing

a place you can be yourself

Considering ideas about home

Explanation

Discuss: what is Anne Brontë (a famous 19th century writer) saying about home?

Restore to me that little spot,With gray walls compassed round, Where knotted grass neglected lies, And weeds usurp the ground. Though all around this mansion highInvites the foot to roam, And though its halls are fair within-- Oh, give me back my HOME!

Considering ideas about home

Explanation

Discuss: what is Charles Swain (a famous 19th century poet) saying about home?

Home’s not merely four square walls, Though with pictures hung and gilded: Home is where affection calls, Filled with shrines the heart hath builded! Home! go watch the faithful dove, Sailing ‘neath the heaven above us; Home is where there's one to love! Home is where there's one to love us!

Considering ideas about home

Check

True or false?

Both Brontë and Swain value the luxury of their homes.

False

True

Justify your answer

Bronte values the character of her home and Swain emphasises the importance of love in a home.

Swain values an aesthetically pleasing home but Bronte does not.

Considering ideas about home

Task A

Practice

Use the prompts to write metaphors about home which reveal hidden meanings to your reader.

For example: Home is an orange glow, Home is a kangaroo, providing comfort in its pouch, At home it is always summer, Home is a succulent, Home is a cup of tea and a biscuit, Home is the softest of blankets.

1. If home was a colour, what would it be?
2. If home was an animal, what would it be?
3. If home was a season, what would it be?
4. If home was a plant, what would it be?
5. If home was a food, what would it be?
6. If home was an object, what would it be?

Considering ideas about home

Task A

Feedback

Now annotate one of your lines of poetry to reveal the hidden meaning you were trying to show.

Home is precious and extremely valuable.

Home is green.

Home is a daisy.

Home is emerald green.

Home is a humble daisy.

Home is safe.

Lesson outline

Considering the nature of home

Considering ideas about home

Reading ‘My City’

Reading ‘My City’

Explanation

Discuss: what comes to your mind when you think of London?

Discuss: how do you think actually living in London differs from people’s perception of the city?

Reading ‘My City’

Explanation

Read the poem ‘My City’ by George The Poet.

After you have read it, discuss:

1. What did you notice about this poem?
2. What do you think the writer’s attitude towards his home, London, is?
3. How is this poem different/similar to the other poems about home that we read previously in the lesson?

Reading ‘My City’

Check

True or false?

George The Poet presents London as perfect.

False

True

Justify your answer

George The Poet presents the good and bad of London.

George The Poet clearly seems to hate living in London.

Reading ‘My City’

Task B

Practice

Complete the following sentence starters to explain how George The Poet presents London: George The Poet seems to value … George The Poet criticises …because … At the end of the poem, George The Poet invites the reader to … Overall, George The Poet seems to …

Reading ‘My City’

Task B

Feedback

You could have mentioned:

• George The Poet values the diversity of London
• George The Poet criticises the inequalities in London because he perceives that it is unfair for the poor to suffer whilst the rich prosper
• George The Poet invites the reader to consider the whole of London, not just the glamorised, touristic areas
• overall, George The Poet presents a realistic portrayal of his city; he presents London as full of contrasts; he considers the good and the bad, opens up about where he was brought up and talks about the struggles of living there

Summary

Considering the nature of home

• we can read between the lines to better understand people’s attitudes on home
• Brontë loves home for its imperfections, whilst Swain emphasises that love makes a home
• George The Poet provides a realistic portrayal of London in ‘My City’
• George The Poet values diversity of his home but criticises the widespread inequality