Ready Steady Read Together
Poems from the Second World War: Poetry Lesson 4
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
Strangely unreal seems the roar of guns, the long-continued crash of falling walls…
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
What is the main point or summary of each verse?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
Blitz
In London now Death holds high festival.
The clustered candelabra of the flares,
High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven,
Hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop
Towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
In parody of dawn the eastern sky
Flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
The moonbeam tentacles of searchlights grope
Through baffling cirrus, while the moon herself
Seems to grow smaller, shrinking from the earth,
Her brightness reddened by the reek of war.
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strangely unreal seems the roar of guns,
The long-continued crash of falling walls,
With snake-like sibilance of splintered glass,
And slowly swelling mushrooms of black smoke
Rising from bursting bombs. With all of these
We are familiar through a thousand films,
And scarce believe them to be bitter truth.
Strangely unreal too the ageless faces
Of those who struggle out of shattered homes;
Faces expressionless through fear and dust,
Dust that was once the fabric of their homes.
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I’ve seen old women, trembling from the shock,
Yet angry only that their limbs should thus
Betray the fear their smiling lips denied.
I’ve seen young children watch the solid walls
Bend inwards with the blast and then recoil;
Seen their eyes wide with terror and their mouths
Closed far too tightly for such tender lips,
Yet never sound came from them in their fear.
I have seen Death hold festival tonight,
With hideous beauty of a dark ritual,
And yet, as plainly, read a Covenant
That Man’s conquerable kindliness
Shall master hate as surely as the dawn
Makes dim the terrors of Death’s Beltane fires.
Mary Désirée Anderson
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
candelabra
parody
vault of heaven
baffling cirrus
snake-like sibilance
covenant
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
candelabra
Explore
Find Read Talk
In London now Death holds high festival.
The clustered candelabra of the flares,
High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven,
Hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop
Towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
candelabra
Your turn
vault of heaven
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
parody
baffling cirrus
snake-like sibilance
covenant
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
Blitz
In London now Death holds high festival.
The clustered candelabra of the flares,
High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven,
Hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop
Towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
In parody of dawn the eastern sky
Flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
The moonbeam tentacles of searchlights grope
Through baffling cirrus, while the moon herself
Seems to grow smaller, shrinking from the earth,
Her brightness reddened by the reek of war.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
Strangely unreal seems the roar of guns,
The long-continued crash of falling walls,
With snake-like sibilance of splintered glass,
And slowly swelling mushrooms of black smoke
Rising from bursting bombs. With all of these
We are familiar through a thousand films,
And scarce believe them to be bitter truth.
Strangely unreal too the ageless faces
Of those who struggle out of shattered homes;
Faces expressionless through fear and dust,
Dust that was once the fabric of their homes.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I’ve seen old women, trembling from the shock,
Yet angry only that their limbs should thus
Betray the fear their smiling lips denied.
I’ve seen young children watch the solid walls
Bend inwards with the blast and then recoil;
Seen their eyes wide with terror and their mouths
Closed far too tightly for such tender lips,
Yet never sound came from them in their fear.
Reveal Vocabulary
I have seen Death hold festival tonight,
With hideous beauty of a dark ritual,
And yet, as plainly, read a Covenant
That Man’s conquerable kindliness
Shall master hate as surely as the dawn
Makes dim the terrors of Death’s Beltane fires.
Mary Désirée Anderson
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
In London now Death holds high festival. The clustered candelabra of the flares, high in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes. In parody of dawn the eastern sky flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
In London now Death holds high festival.
The clustered candelabra of the flares,
High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, hang motionless,
Then slowly, slowly, drop towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
In parody of dawn the eastern sky flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
In London now Death holds high festival. The clustered candelabra of the flares, high in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes. In parody of dawn the eastern sky flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Main Point
What is the main point or summary of each verse?
What's the main idea of the text?
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
In London now Death holds high festival.
The clustered candelabra of the flares,
High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven,
Hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop
Towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
What is the main point or summary of each verse?
It is like Death is having a celebration in London. The flares or bombs hang in the night sky over London like suspended candles before falling towards people’s homes.
Reveal Explainer
Teach
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
What is the main point or summary of each verse?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Verse 2
In parody of dawn the eastern sky
Flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
The moonbeam tentacles of searchlights grope
Through baffling cirrus, while the moon herself
Seems to grow smaller, shrinking from the earth,
Her brightness reddened by the reek of war.
Reveal Main Point
The sky is so bright from glowing fires that it mimics the dawn. Searchlights move through the clouds and the moon appears smaller and red from all the smoke.
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Strangely unreal seems the roar of guns,
The long-continued crash of falling walls,
With snake-like sibilance of splintered glass,
And slowly swelling mushrooms of black smoke
Rising from bursting bombs. With all of these
We are familiar through a thousand films,
And scarce believe them to be bitter truth.
Strangely unreal too the ageless faces
Of those who struggle out of shattered homes;
Faces expressionless through fear and dust,
Dust that was once the fabric of their homes.
Verse 3
Reveal Main Point
The sounds of war – guns, falling buildings, breaking glass and exploding bombs – seem unreal, like something from a film rather than real life. People emerge from the remains of their homes in a state of shock and covered in dust.
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Verse 4
I’ve seen old women, trembling from the shock,
Yet angry only that their limbs should thus
Betray the fear their smiling lips denied.
I’ve seen young children watch the solid walls
Bend inwards with the blast and then recoil;
Seen their eyes wide with terror and their mouths
Closed far too tightly for such tender lips,
Yet never sound came from them in their fear.
Reveal Main Point
Older women try to smile even though their arms and legs are trembling from the shock. Children watched the destruction of their homes with wide eyes, but they do not cry out despite their terror.
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Verse 5
I have seen Death hold festival tonight,
With hideous beauty of a dark ritual,
And yet, as plainly, read a Covenant
That Man’s conquerable kindliness
Shall master hate as surely as the dawn
Makes dim the terrors of Death’s Beltane fires.
Reveal Main Point
It feels like Death is having a celebration that is so horrible you are captivated by it. Even in the terrible events of the Blitz, he vowed that human kindness and goodness would overcome hate and destruction just like morning light makes things which were scary in darkness less frightening.
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘candelabra’?
True or False?
The destruction of the Blitz was like a scene in a film.
False
True
Match Me
Match each word to its correct definition:
3 baffling
4 covenant
1 vault
2 parody
C promise or agreement
B an arched roof
A an imitation or mockery
D puzzling or confusing
Click if correct
Check
Link Me
Link the poetic feature with the correct line from the poem:
A Through baffling cirrus, while the moon herself
1 alliteration
B The moonbeam tentacles of searchlights
2 juxtaposition
C With snake-like sibilance of splintered glass
3 metaphor
Check
D Flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires
4 personification
Click if correct
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
explore different styles.
Reveal
Read rhyming poems, free verse, haikus and limericks.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.
RSRT Y6 L4 Poems from the Second World War
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Transcript
Ready Steady Read Together
Poems from the Second World War: Poetry Lesson 4
What do you think you know?
What?
Who?
Why?
Where?
How?
When?
Book Talk: Let's explore this illustration.
Explore
What do you know and think?
Strangely unreal seems the roar of guns, the long-continued crash of falling walls…
How might this extract link to the illustration?
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Today's Question(s)
What is the main point or summary of each verse?
Explore
Let me read today's text
Explore
Blitz
In London now Death holds high festival. The clustered candelabra of the flares, High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, Hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop Towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
In parody of dawn the eastern sky Flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires. The moonbeam tentacles of searchlights grope Through baffling cirrus, while the moon herself Seems to grow smaller, shrinking from the earth, Her brightness reddened by the reek of war.
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strangely unreal seems the roar of guns, The long-continued crash of falling walls, With snake-like sibilance of splintered glass, And slowly swelling mushrooms of black smoke Rising from bursting bombs. With all of these We are familiar through a thousand films, And scarce believe them to be bitter truth. Strangely unreal too the ageless faces Of those who struggle out of shattered homes; Faces expressionless through fear and dust, Dust that was once the fabric of their homes.
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I’ve seen old women, trembling from the shock, Yet angry only that their limbs should thus Betray the fear their smiling lips denied. I’ve seen young children watch the solid walls Bend inwards with the blast and then recoil; Seen their eyes wide with terror and their mouths Closed far too tightly for such tender lips, Yet never sound came from them in their fear.
I have seen Death hold festival tonight, With hideous beauty of a dark ritual, And yet, as plainly, read a Covenant That Man’s conquerable kindliness Shall master hate as surely as the dawn Makes dim the terrors of Death’s Beltane fires.
Mary Désirée Anderson
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Vocabulary
Explore
Hover for definitions!
candelabra
parody
vault of heaven
baffling cirrus
snake-like sibilance
covenant
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I will model the first.
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
candelabra
Explore
Find Read Talk
In London now Death holds high festival. The clustered candelabra of the flares, High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, Hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop Towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
Reveal Vocabulary
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
candelabra
Your turn
vault of heaven
Find the word or phrase Read the sentence Talk about it to a partner
parody
baffling cirrus
snake-like sibilance
covenant
Use your text
Explore
Vocabulary Check & Re-read
Explore
Reveal Vocabulary
Blitz
In London now Death holds high festival. The clustered candelabra of the flares, High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, Hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop Towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
In parody of dawn the eastern sky Flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires. The moonbeam tentacles of searchlights grope Through baffling cirrus, while the moon herself Seems to grow smaller, shrinking from the earth, Her brightness reddened by the reek of war.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Reveal Vocabulary
Strangely unreal seems the roar of guns, The long-continued crash of falling walls, With snake-like sibilance of splintered glass, And slowly swelling mushrooms of black smoke Rising from bursting bombs. With all of these We are familiar through a thousand films, And scarce believe them to be bitter truth. Strangely unreal too the ageless faces Of those who struggle out of shattered homes; Faces expressionless through fear and dust, Dust that was once the fabric of their homes.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
I’ve seen old women, trembling from the shock, Yet angry only that their limbs should thus Betray the fear their smiling lips denied. I’ve seen young children watch the solid walls Bend inwards with the blast and then recoil; Seen their eyes wide with terror and their mouths Closed far too tightly for such tender lips, Yet never sound came from them in their fear.
Reveal Vocabulary
I have seen Death hold festival tonight, With hideous beauty of a dark ritual, And yet, as plainly, read a Covenant That Man’s conquerable kindliness Shall master hate as surely as the dawn Makes dim the terrors of Death’s Beltane fires.
Mary Désirée Anderson
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Fluency
Explore
Let me use my reader's voice...
In London now Death holds high festival. The clustered candelabra of the flares, high in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes. In parody of dawn the eastern sky flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
What did you notice?
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
My Turn
Your Turn
Echo Read
In London now Death holds high festival.
The clustered candelabra of the flares,
High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, hang motionless,
Then slowly, slowly, drop towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
In parody of dawn the eastern sky flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Sound like a reader!
Stand up!
Choral Read
In London now Death holds high festival. The clustered candelabra of the flares, high in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes. In parody of dawn the eastern sky flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires.
Explore
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Focus
Explore
Strategy: Main Point
What is the main point or summary of each verse?
What's the main idea of the text?
Teach
Let me show you
Reveal Text Marks
In London now Death holds high festival. The clustered candelabra of the flares, High in the darkly thrumming vault of heaven, Hang motionless, then slowly, slowly, drop Towards the shrinking darkness of men’s homes.
What is the main point or summary of each verse?
It is like Death is having a celebration in London. The flares or bombs hang in the night sky over London like suspended candles before falling towards people’s homes.
Reveal Explainer
Teach
From: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015. Licensed under CLA. Do not copy or share.
Strategy Stop
What else could you use to answer today's question(s)?
Teach
Your Turn
What is the main point or summary of each verse?
Find the answers
Text mark
Explore
Acceptable Answers
Verse 2
In parody of dawn the eastern sky Flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires. The moonbeam tentacles of searchlights grope Through baffling cirrus, while the moon herself Seems to grow smaller, shrinking from the earth, Her brightness reddened by the reek of war.
Reveal Main Point
The sky is so bright from glowing fires that it mimics the dawn. Searchlights move through the clouds and the moon appears smaller and red from all the smoke.
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Strangely unreal seems the roar of guns, The long-continued crash of falling walls, With snake-like sibilance of splintered glass, And slowly swelling mushrooms of black smoke Rising from bursting bombs. With all of these We are familiar through a thousand films, And scarce believe them to be bitter truth. Strangely unreal too the ageless faces Of those who struggle out of shattered homes; Faces expressionless through fear and dust, Dust that was once the fabric of their homes.
Verse 3
Reveal Main Point
The sounds of war – guns, falling buildings, breaking glass and exploding bombs – seem unreal, like something from a film rather than real life. People emerge from the remains of their homes in a state of shock and covered in dust.
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Verse 4
I’ve seen old women, trembling from the shock, Yet angry only that their limbs should thus Betray the fear their smiling lips denied. I’ve seen young children watch the solid walls Bend inwards with the blast and then recoil; Seen their eyes wide with terror and their mouths Closed far too tightly for such tender lips, Yet never sound came from them in their fear.
Reveal Main Point
Older women try to smile even though their arms and legs are trembling from the shock. Children watched the destruction of their homes with wide eyes, but they do not cry out despite their terror.
Practise & Apply
Acceptable Answers
Verse 5
I have seen Death hold festival tonight, With hideous beauty of a dark ritual, And yet, as plainly, read a Covenant That Man’s conquerable kindliness Shall master hate as surely as the dawn Makes dim the terrors of Death’s Beltane fires.
Reveal Main Point
It feels like Death is having a celebration that is so horrible you are captivated by it. Even in the terrible events of the Blitz, he vowed that human kindness and goodness would overcome hate and destruction just like morning light makes things which were scary in darkness less frightening.
Practise & Apply
Quiz Time
Start
Picture Me
Which image is the best match for ‘candelabra’?
True or False?
The destruction of the Blitz was like a scene in a film.
False
True
Match Me
Match each word to its correct definition:
3 baffling
4 covenant
1 vault
2 parody
C promise or agreement
B an arched roof
A an imitation or mockery
D puzzling or confusing
Click if correct
Check
Link Me
Link the poetic feature with the correct line from the poem:
A Through baffling cirrus, while the moon herself
1 alliteration
B The moonbeam tentacles of searchlights
2 juxtaposition
C With snake-like sibilance of splintered glass
3 metaphor
Check
D Flames with the ghastly beauty of great fires
4 personification
Click if correct
Feedback: Who did what well?
FindRead Talk
EchoRead
ChoralRead
ReadingStrategy
Answers & Text Marks
Other...
To be a book lover, you could...
explore different styles.
Reveal
Read rhyming poems, free verse, haikus and limericks.
Copyright Notice
This document has been supplied under a CLA Licence with specific terms of use. It is protected by copyright and, save as may be permitted by law, it may not be further copied, stored, re-copied electronically or otherwise shared, even for internal purposes, without the prior further permission of the Rightsholder. Extracts sourced from: Poems from the Second World War by Gaby Morgan © 2015 Schools must purchase the original text for full content.