POETRY BY THEME Objectives : To consolidate your understanding of the poems by linking poems together by theme Challenge : Evaluate how the elements of language and structure get the message across

What are the themes? ◦ In pairs identify what the themes are. ◦ You have 1 minute. ◦ Power ◦ Death ◦ Damage and Decay ◦ Men and Women ◦ Pride ◦ Identity ◦ Loss ◦ Women’s Voices

Starting points – 10 minutes Independently ◦ Power ◦ Death ◦ Damage and Decay ◦ Men and Women ◦ Pride ◦ Identity ◦ Loss ◦ Women’s Voices ◦ In your books, create a mind map for each of these themes. Consider: ◦ Which poems relate to the theme? ◦ What language and structural techniques are used in the cluster are used to show each theme.

Pairs/Small Group Task ◦ In your groups you will need to explore and present on a theme. ◦ You will need to produce an A2/A1 sized poster that records your ideas as well as a spoken presentation that you will deliver on Friday to the class. ◦ There are prompt questions in the support area as well as revision guides, but only use these if you are stuck. The most important things to consider are: ◦ What aspects of the poem show the theme ◦ How do elements of structure and language get the theme across ◦ How could you compare the different poems of your theme ◦ AO1 respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations ◦ AO2 explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings ◦ AO3 explain links between texts, evaluating writers different ways of expressing meaning and achieving effects

Comparing on the theme of Power ◦ Power is a major literary theme and can be seen all over the poetry collection. ◦ Power is shown to have distinct levels through the characters in these poems, whether it can be a natural force, physical or psychological with mind games. ◦ Identify which poems you can associate with power. ◦ Remember power can also be explored through a lack of power.

Further Revision ◦ Can you explore them further by developing personal opinions and drawing wider links to other poems? ◦ You can also attempt these questions to help you revise: ◦ How is power portrayed in each of the poems? ◦ How are the differences in power portrayed between a poem that has a male voice and one with a female voice? ◦ What techniques do the poets use to present the theme of power? ◦ Who is the most powerful character and why? ◦ Which poem do you prefer and why?

Comparing on a theme of loss ◦ The theme of loss is prevalent in the collection/ ◦ Loss is seen in a variety of ways from losing an imagined friend (and possibly the innocence of childhood), to losing traditions and losing a loved one through death. ◦ The poets cleverly reveal the sadness of their loss and invite the readers to empathise with their sorrows.

Further Revision ◦ Can you explore them further by developing personal opinions and drawing wider links to other poems? ◦ You can also attempt these questions to help you revise: ◦ What are the major similarities and differences between the poems? ◦ Which character do you feel the most empathy for and why? ◦ Which character seems to be the saddest about their loss? ◦ Have you ever experienced a similar loss to that seen in one of the poems?

Comparing Outcasts in society ◦ The theme of being an outcast from society is explored explicitly in 3 poems ◦ The three poems explore characters who are cast aside because of homelessness, extreme fashion and physical disability.

Further Revision ◦ For revision, you need to explore the poems further. Read them carefully and explore other interesting quotations. ◦ How do they link to each other as well as the other poems in the anthology? ◦ You can also answer the following questions: ◦ Which poem do you prefer? ◦ Which character do you feel the most pity for? ◦ How do the poets explore isolation? ◦ Identify which person they are written in and comment on the differences.

Comparing women’s voices ◦ You may be asked to compare how female voices are presented. ◦ There are only 4 poems out of 15 that feature a woman’s voice…

Further Revision ◦ Explore each of the poems further by finding other interesting quotations and developing an evaluative personal opinion of them. ◦ Revise by answering these questions: ◦ What do they have in common? ◦ How are they different? ◦ Which poems talk are about relationships with men? ◦ Is it restrictive that women are usually only seen this way? ◦ Why are only 4 out of 15 of the poems about women?