Hello, everyone, it's lovely to see you here today.

For this lesson on analysing Seneviratne's poem, "A Wider View".

My name's Dr.

Clayton and I'm here to guide you through your learning journey today.

Now, analysing poetry is one my favourite things to do, and today we're really going to zoom on some of the imagery that's never Seneviratne uses as well as the structure in order to consider how she creates meaning.

Now you'll need your copy of the AQA "Worlds and Lives" anthology today, so make sure you have that with you.

So if you're ready, grab your pen, laptop, whatever you using for this lesson, and let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to understand how Seneviratne uses structure and language to explain her viewpoint.

So we have four words today we're going to focus on as our key words.

They've identified in bold throughout the learning material.

And I'll try to point 'em out to you as well so you can see them being used in context.

Our first keyword is metaphysical, and that means relating to the part of philosophy that's about understanding existence and knowledge.

Our second keyword is axis, and that is a real or imaginary straight line going through the centre of an object that's spinning.

Our third keyword is cyclical, and that means occurring in cycles; is recurrent.

Our fourth and final keyword is flux, and that's the action or process of flowing or flowing out.

So I'll just give you a moment to write down those keywords and their definitions.

So pause the video and write them down now.

Fantastic, let's get started with the lesson.

So we have two learning cycles in our lesson today.

For our first learning cycle, we're going to consider the structure of the poem and think about how Seneviratne creates meaning through the journey, through the poem she takes us on.

For the second learning cycle, we're going to consider some of the specific metaphysical imagery that Seneviratne uses, and think about what this tells us about ideas about time within the poem.

Now we're going to start by thinking about how we can connect the structure of a poem to the meaning of the poem.

I think sometimes people find it hard to see the meaning in the structure, so hopefully the discussions will help show you.

You don't always have to think about structural devices.

You can consider the structure in a more conceptual way.

Now, arguably Seneviratne's poem is all about connections through time.

So what I'd like to think about is why do you think looking at the structure of poem is important for understanding how the poet wants to perceive time? So if we think about time in motion and constantly moving, how might that connect the idea of the journey we take through a poem? Now, if you're working with someone else, you might talk about your ideas with them.

If you're working by yourself, you might just think about your ideas.

So pause the video and think about what the connection between the structure of a poem and the concept of time might be.

Now, as I said, I know some people struggle with analysing the structure of a poem because perhaps they might see it as less intentional than the language and imagery.

But the first word of a poem is carefully chosen as your entry point to the poem.

And the corresponding structure of the poem creates a journey through the poem, and it therefore could relate to how the poet wants to see the passing of time.

So for example, the first word might represent our starting point in the journey, and then the rest of the poem shows how time passes and our experiences grow and change through the way the poet has constructed the poet.

Now, as I said, the first word of a poem is very important.

It's as our entry point to the poem.

And then the final word is equally important because it shows us what the final image is that the poet wants us to take away from the poem.

And everything in between is how we've gone from the first word to the final word and the journey it's taken us to get there.

Now we might imagine the relationship between the subject and her great-great-grandfather through the structure.

We move from the word from to the final word us.

Now from indicates the point in space at which a journey starts and us suggests a connection between people.

So I'd like to think about what the implications are of this journey from from to us.

What does that tell us about the connection between the great-great-grandfather and the speaker and by extension ideas around identity in general.

So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

They might have noticed that we start with a great-great-grandfather's life and we go from there to the idea of the connection between the speaker and the great-great-grandfather.

So you might then think the poem implies that the lives of our ancestors are the point at which our journey starts.

We end on us because our identities are connected to their lives.

Now I have a quick check for understanding, so I'd like you to tell me whether it's true or false that we might interpret the structure of a poem as taking us on a journey through the poem.

So pause the video and make a selection now.

Correct answer is true.

We can interpret the structure of a poem as taking us on a journey through the poem.

Now I'd like to justify that answer.

So is it A, that by starting with the word from, Seneviratne implies the journey from the poem starts with the ancestor? Or is it B by starting with the word us, Seneviratne implies a constant connection between the speaker and her ancestor? So pause the video and make a selection now.

The correct answer is A, by starting with the word from, Seneviratne implies the journey through the poem starts with the ancestor.

So very well done if you got that right.

Now let's consider some of the structural devices that Seneviratne uses.

Now each stanza of the poem uses enjambment.

Generally speaking, you'll find enjambment in most poems because enjambment is a continuation of the meaning of the line over onto the next.

And you rarely see a poem where every line is a complete sentence.

So this is a useful structural device, try and understand and conceptualise because you'll likely come across it quite a lot.

Now we might represent enjambment like this.

So you can see the arrows moving from one line over to the next.

And what I'd like to think about is what might the enjambment represent? So what might it say about the speaker's life and the connection to our ancestors' life? Think about it conceptually in terms of a continuation.

How might this link to ideas of connection and identity? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to consider.

Now I always like to think about enjambment as conceptually linking to ideas of continuation 'Cause, suggest things don't stop where we expect them to, but as they continue over and continue the train of thought.

So perhaps enjambment represents a continual flow of time and perhaps the sentences running onto each other could depict the way the ancestors' life impacts and affects the speaker's identity.

Now while each stanza contains enjambment within them, the stanza that all single sentences with no enjambment between them.

So sometimes you might find a poem where the line continues over onto the next stanza, but Seneviratne has chosen to put full stop at the end of each stanza.

So it might represent that like this.

So you can see the arrows representing enjambment within the stanzas, but there are full stops to break up the link between the stanza.

Now what I'd like to think about is what might this represent about time and the connection between the speaker and ancestor? What might the break signify? So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

It was great to see people thinking back to what we just said about enjambment and how it represents a continuation.

Now we might enhance our ideas by now considering how the enjambment is placed in the poem.

They might think it could perhaps suggest that while the enjambment shows close links between place, family history and identity, the full stops represent the speaker and ancestor exist as separate people, even though the ancestors impact the speaker's identity.

So we aren't just continual copies of our ancestors, but they do contribute to who we are.

Now for quick check for understanding, what I'd like to do is tell me which Oak pupils interpretation of the enjambment is the most relevant to metaphysical ideas in the poem.

Now, metaphysical is one of our key words.

It means philosophical ideas about our existence.

So Laura said, "The enjambment arguably represents the continual physical suffering the Industrial Revolution causes the speaker's great-great-grandfather." And Izzy said, "The enjambment arguably mimics the flow of time and suggests there are overlaps and connections between the speaker's identity and it ancestors' life." So pause the video and make a selection now.

Now both those interpretations are valid interpretations of enjambment and the idea of something continuing.

However, Laura's idea focuses on the literal idea of the suffering of the great-great-grandfather.

When Izzy says, however, that the enjambment arguably mimics the flow of time and suggests there are overlaps and connections with speaker's identity and her ancestors life.

Izzy is thinking about the metaphysical nature of philosophical ideas about time and identity.

So very well done if you've got that right.

Fantastic works so far, everyone.

We're now onto the first task of the lesson, but we're going to bring these ideas of structure together and think about how they contribute to the overall meaning of the poem and what it might suggest about the connections between time and identity.

So the full stop at the end of stanza three and then the adverb today at the start of stanza four seemed to create a structural shift to the present, which implies there's a separation between the past and the present.

So we might say the first three stanza of the poem about the past and the last two stanza as being about the present.

Now, what do you think Seneviratne is saying about time through the structure of the poem? Do you think she's actually saying there's a separation between the past and the present? And I'd like you to write a short answer.

We might consider the journey from from to us.

So the idea we start with the great-great grandfather's life and end with a speaker and the great-great-grandfather being connected.

The use enjambment, which just a continuation of something.

The use of a single sentence as a stanza, which implies a break from something and the shift to today and stanza four.

So the temporal shift into the present.

So pause a video and write a short answer about what you think Seneviratne is saying about time through the structure of the poem.

Amazing work, everyone.

These are some really complex ideas and it was great to see people having a go.

Now I'd like you to consider Izzy's ideas and think about whether you agree or disagree.

So Izzy said, "While the stanzas create a separation between the past and the present, the structural journey through the poem as well as the enjambment reduce this sense of separation.

Perhaps Seneviratne's purpose is to suggests the cyclical nature of time means that the past impacts the present, for example, though way the ancestor's life impacts on the speaker's identity; however, for this to be true, there would necessarily need to be some sort of distinction between the past and the present otherwise, the speaker and her great-great-grandfather would merely be copies of each other." So I'd like you to pause the video, think about whether you agree or disagree with Izzy's ideas.

Lovely work, everyone.

It's always useful to consider other people's ideas about a poem because it might spark inspiration for you to consider something in a different way or perhaps it might make you even more certain of your own interpretation if you disagree with someone else's ideas.

We'll all respond to poetry differently 'cause it's so connected to ideas of emotional responses.

Hopefully this learning cycle has also helped you to see how we can interpret meaning from the structure of a poem.

Fantastic work so far, everyone.

We're now to the second learning cycle, but we're going to consider how we can interpret the metaphysical language in the poem and how it suggests meaning.

Now, metaphysical is one of our key words and it means ideas that relate the philosophy of existence.

So we're going to focus our analysis on Seneviratne's use of metaphysical language in the final stanza and think about what it's saying about time and our existence within time.

Now in the final stanza, the speaker and her great-great-grandfather are standing together despite being from different time periods.

We might visualise it like this, where both the speaker and the great-great-grandfather are existing in the same moment in time, despite the great-great-grandfather being in 1869 and the speaker being in the present.

Now I'd like you to keep this visual in your head as we talk through some of the metaphysical language 'cause I think it'll help you to connect to the meaning of the poem.

Now let's consider what Seneviratne is specifically saying about time through her language.

The speaker describes time as influx that their gaze is on an axis.

Now these are two of our keywords and flux is the action or process of flowing in or flowing out.

And axis is a real or imaginary straight line going through the centre of an object that's spinning.

Now might visualise flux as a moving wave.

You might visualise an axis like this idea of a line going through the rotating earth.

So I'd like to look at both the definitions and the visual interpretations and think about what both of those words have in common.

What might that suggest about time? So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Fantastic discussions there.

It was great to see people noticing that both flux and axis create a sense of movement through the notion of flowing and spinning.

Therefore, perhaps Seneviratne is saying that time is not linear.

So time doesn't just move in a straight line from the past to the present, but it rather flows around places such the Granary Wharf that both the speaker and ancestor are looking at, and it therefore connects them both together.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

So what I'd like you to tell me is whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false? Through words are just flux and axis, Seneviratne creates the impression that time is static and doesn't move.

So pause the video and make a selection now.

Correct answer is false.

Now I'd like to justify that answer.

So it's A, that the combination of flux and the repetition of back suggests that time is moving backwards, or B, the concept of time being in flux implies that time is constantly flowing and changing.

So pause the video and make a selection now.

Correct answer is B.

The concept of time being a flux implies that time is constantly flowing and changing.

So very well done if you got that right.

Now let's think about some of the other imagery and how this contributes to our understanding.

So within the final stanza, Seneviratne used the image of an anchor and you have a visual here to help you see what that looks like.

Seneviratne implies the anchor in the poem is the fact the speaker and the ancestor are both looking at the Wharf.

Now what I'd like to think about is what do you think the image of an anchor might represent within the context of ideas around time and identity within the poem? So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Now we usually think of an anchor as keeping us steady in one place because an anchor is used to moor a ship and hold in position.

So perhaps never Seneviratne suggesting that though time is constantly changing and moving, our connections to places keep us grounded and connected.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

So which of the Oak pupil's interpretation of the image of an anchor is most relevant to the poem? So Laura said, "Perhaps the image of the anchor implies that, though time is constantly moving, our connections to place keep us grounded and centred." And Izzy said, "Perhaps the image of the anchor implies the speaker feels as if her life is stagnant and she isn't moving forward." So pause the video and think about which one do you think is the most relevant to the poem.

Now, since an anchor is literally used to moor a ship in position, we could interpret the image of an anchor as creating a sense of stagnation.

However, the tone and the other imagery of the poem doesn't fit this interpretation.

It's more likely that, as Laura said, "The image of the anchor implies that though time is constantly moving, our connections to place keep us grounded and centred." So very well done if you got that right.

Now, as well as the image of an anchor, Seneviratne also uses the image of a ventilation shaft in the final stanza.

So a ventilation shaft is a small vertical space in a mine or building that provides fresh air.

So the shaft runs from the bottom of the building to the top.

It provides fresh air going between them.

Now what might this ventilation shaft represent? So think about the idea but running through the whole length of the building, but also how it provides fresh air to keep people alive.

How might we see that as conceptually connecting to ideas about time and identity? So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Now they do have something constantly running from the past to the present, perhaps represents a connection between the generations.

The concept of it bringing fresh air to people, perhaps suggests we must maintain this connection between the generations in order to exist because we need air to survive.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

So what I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false that the image of the ventilation shaft creates the idea of connection? So pause the video and make a selection now.

The correct answer is true, it does create the day of connection.

Now I'd like you to justify that answer.

So is it A, that the image of the ventilation shaft implies we need to break the generational connection in order to progress? Or B, the image of the ventilation shaft implies we need the generational connection in order to exist? So pause the video and make a selection now.

The correct answer is B, the image of the ventilation shaft arguably implies we need the generational connection in order to exist.

So very well done if you got that right.

Now Seneviratne links the ventilation shaft to the work of Giotto.

Now, I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole while researching this and I think it's one of the most interesting references in the poem, and there's so much depth and so much we can take from it.

So Giotto was an Italian painter who was specifically known for creating perfect geometric shapes, such as being able to draw a perfect circle without the use of a compass.

The story goes, he wants to impressed the Pope by drawing a perfect circle, and that's actually very hard to do without the use of equipment.

So what I'd like to think about is what might the image of a circle represent in terms of time? So pause the video, take a few moments to consider.

Some great ideas there.

Now perhaps you might have thought that the circular aspect could relate to the idea of time existing in a cyclical fashion.

Now, cyclical is one of our key words.

It means occurring in cycles and being recurrent.

So time doesn't just move from the past to the present.

It occurs in cycles and therefore that implies the past affects the present, since it shows the past doesn't simply cease to exist, but rather it continually keeps coming back around again.

Now as well as being able to draw a perfect circle, Giotto was also over creating three dimensional paintings through ideas of lines and perspective.

So you might like to think about how we can extend ideas about time being a circle to time being a sphere.

So to me that means that rather than being two dimensional, time is three dimensional and that means it has depth to it.

So potentially this idea of time being spherical creates a sort of multiverse idea where a different branch of time existing at the same time.

So the past is not only affecting the present, it also exists at the same time as the present and therefore it never truly leaves us.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

So what might the reference to Giotto's work imply about time? Is it A, that time exists in a linear line? B, that time doesn't exist? or C, that time exists in a cyclical motion? So pause the video and make a selection now.

The correct answer is C, that time exists in a cyclical motion.

So very well done if you got that right.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now to the final task of the lesson, where we're going to bring all of these metaphysical images together to discuss the question, how does Seneviratne use metaphysical language to present the concept of time? So think about all the imagery of time being a flux, on an axis, time being an anchor, time being a ventilation shaft, and time being a circle.

What do all of those suggest about time? Now I'd like to use the phrase in a discussion grid to develop your ideas.

Sometimes when we're having a discussion, it can be easy to be sidetracked or not to fully develop your ideas.

So you might use phrases such as, more specifically, more precisely, it is as if, and in particular, in order to enhance your ideas and really make someone understand them.

Now, if you're working with someone else, you can have this discussion together.

If you're working by yourself, you might just think about how you could extend your thoughts.

So pause the video and consider how Seneviratne uses metaphysical language to present the concept of time? Fantastic work, everyone.

These are really complex ideas about the nature of our existence.

It was great to see people really considering how we can relate them to ideas of time.

Now I'd like us to consider Izzy and Laura's discussion and think about how they could develop their ideas using discussion grid phrases.

So Laura started off the discussion by saying, "I think Seneviratne uses metaphysical language to suggest time is cyclical.

And Izzy responded, "Yes, I also think she's suggesting that time's moving constantly." Now these are valid ideas, but they don't develop their ideas.

Think about what the effect of this is.

What does this tell us about the nature of time and how it impacts us? So pause the video and think about how they could develop their ideas.

Great work, everyone.

It was great to see people looking back at the discussion grid to think about which phrases they might use to extend their discussions.

So Laura might extend a discussion by saying, "I think Seneviratne uses metaphysical language to suggest time is cyclical; more specifically, it suggests that past affects the present." So now Laura's told us what the effect is of time being considered cyclical and how it might impact us.

We might then extend easy discussion to, "Yes, I also think she's suggesting that time is constantly moving; in particular, words such as flux imply flow and movement." So now Izzys developed her ideas by using evidence from the text to support her ideas.

Fantastic work today, everyone, on some really complex and challenging ideas.

So here's a summary of what we covered.

The structure of the poem arguably represents the journey of a concept or idea through the poem.

The structure of the poem could represent the connection between the speaker's identity and the ancestors life.

Seneviratne uses metaphysical language to consider the nature of time.

And arguably Seneviratne represents time existing in a constant cyclical motion.

I really hope you enjoyed the lessons day everyone.

As I said earlier, I think these concepts about time that Seneviratne explores in the poem are so detailed and interesting and I really hope the poems provoke some ideas and thoughts for you about time and our existence because ultimately that's why we read literature.

It helps us to understand and question our place in the world.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.