Unlocking the Secrets of Poetry: Analyzing Poems with Confidence

Unlocking the Secrets of Poetry: Analyzing Poems with Confidence
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Slide 1: Slide
EnglishUpper Secondary (Key Stage 4)GCSE

This lesson contains 19 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 45 min

Items in this lesson

Unlocking the Secrets of Poetry: Analyzing Poems with Confidence

Slide 1 - Slide

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Learning Objective
At the end of these sessions on poetry,  you will be able to identify and analyse the following in a selection of poems :
  • Theme
  • Language
  • Sound, Rhythm &  Rhyme
  • Structure & Form
  • Context

Slide 2 - Slide

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What poems and poets have you read or studied?

Slide 3 - Mind map

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How do you start?
Step 1

Think about what the poem is actually saying. 
Consider:
  • Title - what insight does this give you?
  • Poet & Context - look at the poet's background and what was going on at the time of writing.
  • Content - What is the poem about? What is the poet saying? Who is the speaker and what is the message?

Slide 4 - Slide

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How do you start?
Step 2

Then move on to consider:
  • Structure - how is the poem set out on the page- look at the number and size of stanzas, the line lengths and use of punctuation.
  • Form - does the poem follow a specific pattern(think about structure, rhythm and/or rhyme). Is it a sonnet, ballad or narrative poem?

Slide 5 - Slide

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What do you need to consider when you start to analyse a poem?

Slide 6 - Mind map

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IMPORTANT!
Structure and Form

  • Don't look at this in isolation. 
  • Ask yourself how these have been used and how they link back to the meaning and message of the poem.

Slide 7 - Slide

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IMPORTANT!
Structure and Form

  • Sonnet 
  • Ballade
  • Narrative Poem
  • Free Verse Poem

Slide 8 - Slide

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Slide 9 - Link

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Slide 10 - Link

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How do you start?
Step 3 - Rhyme & Rhythm

Links closely to Step 2 (form and structure)
Is the rhyme & rhythm:
  • regular, 
  • irregular or unusual,
  • none at all or do they change during the poem? 
  • more importantly, how does this relate back to the meaning and message of the poem?

Slide 11 - Slide

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Interpreting the Poem's Theme
The theme is the central idea or message of the poem.

 It often reflects universal truths about life, emotions, or human experiences.

Slide 12 - Slide

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Exploring the Poem's Structure
Understanding the structure of a poem, such as:
  •  stanzas, 
  • line length,
  • and rhyme scheme, provides insight into the poet's intention and the poem's impact.

Slide 13 - Slide

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Analyzing Poetic Devices
Poetic devices, such as:
  •  similes,
  • metaphors, 
  • alliteration, 
  • and personification, add depth and imagery to the poem. Identifying these devices enhances understanding.

Slide 14 - Slide

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Connecting Emotions and Imagery
Emotions conveyed in a poem are often intertwined with vivid imagery, creating a powerful impact on the reader. Analyzing these elements provides insight.

Slide 15 - Slide

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Formulating a Personal Response
After analyzing the poem's elements, form a personal response to the poem's meaning and message. Support your response with evidence from the text.

Slide 16 - Slide

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Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Slide 17 - Open question

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.
Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Slide 18 - Open question

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.
Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

Slide 19 - Open question

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.