Exploring what home means through the poem ‘Filter’

English

In 'Poetry about Place and Home', pupils create their own poetry to explore their relationship with their home. In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils analyse the poetry of Angelou, exploring how she uses her work to describe relationships between people and places.

In 'Poetry of Place', pupils explore the language, form and structure of poetry written about place. In 'Poetry of Place and Home', pupils apply these analytical skills to more complex poems and write their own poetry about home.

Poetry about place and home

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

it will tell you exactly what the poem will be about

it will help you predict the themes and tone of the poem

an analysis of the title can help you consider the form

Why is the title important when reading a poem?

In her poem 'Filter', what does Suma Subramaniam reveal to the reader about her identity through her home?

We are hiding parts of ourselves at home.

If we are able to shed our filter when we are at home, what does it suggest?

What does Suma Subramaniam invite the reader to do in her poem 'Filter'?

What emotion does Suma Subramaniam seem to have towards her authentic self in 'Filter'?

to encourage the reader to be more accepting of different cultures

to encourage the reader to be their true self

Why might Suma Subramaniam have used direct address in 'Filter'?

they may be hiding some of their true feelings

What might it mean if someone has a filter on when interacting with you?

If something is called 'authentic', what does it mean?

when the writer refers to themselves in the first person plural 'we, us, our'

when the writer talks to the reader using second person 'you, your'

to make the reader reflect on how the content relates to them

to make themselves feel more important than the reader

to show the reader a sentence has finished

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

Introduction

What will you need for this lesson?

Are you ready to learn?

Equipment

Content guidance

Supervision

Worksheet