Poetry

Scheme Objective Can demonstrate understanding of a poetic work through drama. Can improvise and devise a drama from poetry.

Key words Teacher in role (as a News Editor). Hot seating. Character. Ballad. Lesson 1 Objectives Can respond through questioning to character and story. To know what a ballad is. You are journalists, and you need to make notes. Homework: Newspaper To find out what life was like in the 1840’s

It was a Sunday evening And in the April rain That Charlotte went from our house And never came home again. Her shawl of diamond redcloth, She wore a yellow gown, She carried the green gauze handkerchief She bought in Bodmin town. About her throat her necklace And in her purse her pay: The four silver shillings She had at Lady Day. In her purse four shillings And in her purse her pride As she walked out one evening Her lover at her side. Out beyond the marshes Where the cattle stand, With her crippled lover Limping at her hand. The Ballad of Charlotte Dymond by Charles Causley

Details We have a missing person. Charlotte Dymond is a young lady of about 18 years. She was last seen walking on Bodmin Moor after church on Lady’s Day. 14 th April Witnesses have reported her as being seen walking with a Matthew Weeks. She was reported missing by her recent employer Mrs Peters of Penhale Farm after she had failed to return when expected. A search was conducted by Mrs Peters of the farm, where she discovered a ladies’ handkerchief in Mr Weeks’ room. Matthew Weeks is a current employee of Mrs Peters, and works as a farm hand. Charlotte Dymond and Matthew Weeks are well known in the area and are reported as being romantically involved.

Thomas Prout is a relative of Mrs Peters and also works on the farm. Thomas Prout who was planning to move closer to Penhale where both Matthew and Charlotte worked. It is known that Matthew and Thomas did not get on. Charlotte had told Mrs Peters that she was meeting Thomas Prout at the Chapel on the evening of the Sunday that she disappeared. Matthew returned to the farm at 9:30 that evening. He said he had walked with Charlotte to the edge of the moors and then left her, walking two miles to a neighbouring village to see friends.

Task 2 Groups of 3. Take it in turns to hot-seat the following characters. Mrs Peters, Matthew Weeks and Thomas Prout. Questions must be put to the characters by journalists. N.B. Characters do not have to answer all questions, they do not have to tell the truth.

Breaking News Matthew Weeks has run away to Plymouth and is being held by the constable. He has been unable to account for Charlotte’s disappearance even though witnesses had recognised the couple from a distance walking on the moor on the day that Charlotte went missing. On further questioning he has claimed that Charlotte has found another job in Blisland and is working there. Use all the information that you have collected to create a Newspaper article about Charlotte Dymond’s disappearance.

What is the date of your Newspaper? What is the name of your Newspaper? What is the title of your Headline? (Gives a clue to what the story is about). Write a paragraph explaining who and what the story is about. Explain where it is, and when it happened. Write your interview notes into a paragraph for each character. Write a paragraph summarising the story and any additional information. For example, a contact address or name if Charlotte Dymond is found. Possible resources for historical research. History resources for life in 1840s: Joseph Arch The Story of his Life Told by Himself (from page 10). Internet Library

Key words Building character Spotlighting Teacher in role Lesson 2 Objectives To collaborate within a small group. To improvise typical family life in To work with teacher in role to improvise a village of characters. To understand and respond to spotlighting. To respond to spotlighting appropriately.

Breaking News Miss Charlotte Dymond has been found on Bodmin Moor. She has been murdered.

Charlotte walked with Matthew Through the Sunday mist, Never saw the razor Waiting at his wrist. Charlotte she was gentle But they found her in the flood Her Sunday beads among the reeds Beaming with her blood. Matthew, where is Charlotte, And wherefore has she flown? For you walked out together And now are come alone. Why do you not answer, Stand silent as a tree, Your Sunday worsted stockings All muddied to the knee? The Ballad of Charlotte Dymond by Charles Causley

Why do you mend your breast-pleat With a rusty needle’s thread And fall with fears and silent tears Upon your single bed? Why do you sit so sadly Your face the colour of clay And with a green gauze handkerchief Wipe the sour sweat away? Has she gone to Blisland To seek an easier place, And is that why your eye won’t dry And blinds your bleaching face?

‘Take me home!’ cried Charlotte, ‘I lie here in the pit! A red rock rests upon my breasts And my naked neck is split!’ Her skin was soft as sable, Her eyes were wide as day, Her hair was blacker than the bog That licked her life away; Her cheeks were made out of honey, Her throat was made of flame Where all around the razor Had written its red name.

Key words Physicality. Conscience Alley. Character. Lesson 3 Task 1 Objectives Can use body to express character Know how movement, stature and position shows character and feeling. Can explore character through Conscience Alley.

As Matthew turned at Plymouth About the tilting Hoe, The cold and cunning constable Up to him did go: ‘I’ve come to take you, Matthew, Unto the magistrate’s door. Come quiet now, you pretty poor boy, And you must know what for.’ ‘She is as pure,’ cried Matthew, ‘As is the early dew, Her only stain it is the pain That round her neck I drew! ‘She is as guiltless as the day She sprang forth from her mother. The only sin upon her skin Is that she loved another.’

They took him off to Bodmin, They pulled the prison bell, They sent him smartly up to heaven And dropped him down to hell. All through the granite kingdom And on its travelling airs Ask which of these two lovers The most deserves your prayers. And your steel heart search, Stranger, That you may pause and pray For lovers who come not to bed Upon their wedding day, But lie upon the moorland Where stands the sacred snow Above the breathing river, And the salt sea-winds go. Charles Causley

Keywords Freeze frame. Narrator. Devise. Task 2 Objectives To select key moments of the ballad. To devise a freeze frame for each key moment. To understand the purpose of a freeze frame. To explore the use of Narrator/s in performance of the ballad.

Character list Charlotte Dymond (The student playing Charlotte could also double as the hang man). Matthew Weeks The Constable Thomas Prout and or Mrs Peters (Narrator characters)

Lesson 4 Keywords Devising. Monologue. Movement and mime. Rhythm, pace and tempo. Objectives To demonstrate an understanding of a poem through drama using monologue, mime, rhythm, pace and tempo. To build on other people’s ideas when working in groups. To know and be able to explain a monologue. To understand how rhythm, pace and tempo is used to create meaning.

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out. Pastor Martin Niemöller

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. 1.All very fast. 2.All very slow. 3.Normal pace and pause for 5 seconds at the end of every line. 4.Normal pace and pause for 5 seconds at the end of ‘I remained silent’.

Lesson 5 Keywords Acting Improvising Rhythm, pace and tempo. Objectives To improvise a play inspired by the poem. To build on other people’s ideas To understand how rhythm, pace and tempo is used to create meaning.

Lesson 6 Performance and evaluation To understand and contribute to rehearsal. To perform in front of others To analyse drama in performance, using appropriate language and theatre vocabulary to suggest improvements To self-assess own work and assess the work of others (Evaluation) To set their own targets for learning

Lesson 6 Performance and evaluation Can perform to others. Can evaluate own work and the work of others. Can show character and story to an audience. Can communicate a convincing character using words, movement and gesture