Lesson video

Hello everyone, how are you today? I hope you're doing really well.

My name is Ms. Apatao and I'm so pleased to be here with you today because we are exploring some poetry, and that is one of my greatest loves in life, is poetry.

Today we're looking at poetry of Joseph Coelho.

For this lesson, you'll need a copy of the poetry collection, "Overheard in a Tower Block," by Joseph Coelho.

So pause video here while you go and get your copy of the poem and I'll be waiting for you.

Okay, you are back.

You've got your poem in hand.

What else have you got? Lots of ideas, of enthusiasm, up for collaboration and sharing ideas.

Great stuff, let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is "I can describe some of the key imagery used in a poem depicting a coastal setting." We have some key words in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

My turn, your turn.

Imagery, atmosphere, visual, oral, tactile.

Great stuff, I enjoyed hearing those.

Let's find out what these words mean.

Imagery is the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener.

Atmosphere is the feeling or mood created in a section or whole of the text.

Visual is relating to the sense of sight.

Oral, relating to the sense of hearing.

And tactile relating to the sense of touch.

These are our key words, let's be on the lookout for them, let's listen out for them, let's think carefully about these words.

Our lesson today is called Exploring Imagery in "Eastbourne" by Joseph Coelho.

First of all, we'll be looking at exploring imagery and then we'll be discussing imagery.

Let's begin.

"Eastbourne" was written by Joseph Coelho and released in 2017 as part of his poetry collection, "Overheard in a Tower Block." The accompanying illustration is by Kate Milner.

And we can see an image of Joseph Coelho looking very happy and pleased, and he is the Children's Laureate, so he should be pleased with himself.

Joseph is an award-winning performance poet, playwright and children's author.

He grew up in a tower block in Roehampton, South-West London, with his mother and sister.

He wrote his first poem in year eight and kept writing from then on.

Joseph Poetry is known for using engaging and emotive themes, such as identity, family, and friendship.

In 2022, he was appointed Children's Laureate.

To be a Children's Laureate is something very special, it's only given to someone that is very, very outstanding in their field, as Joseph Coelho clearly is.

Eastbourne is a Victorian resort town on England southeast coast.

And we can see where Eastbourne is on the map there.

It's known for its picturesque setting on the English channel and the nearby South Downs National Park, which features stunning landscapes, like Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain.

And there we can see the sea front at Eastbourne.

Oh, that looks fun being on that beach.

And wow, look, Beachy Head, really, really stunning.

Having discovered a little bit about Eastbourne, what do you think the poem might be about? Pause the video and tell someone nearby, what do you think this poem might be about? Well, I wonder what you came up with.

And now, I'm wondering, do you think Coelho will describe the town in a positive or negative way? To pause the video and share this with the person next to you.

Okay, I'm wondering what do you think, is it gonna be some positive or negative? Let's hear from Sam.

"I think the poem might be about a trip that the poet took to Eastbourne.

Depending on the weather, it might be described as a place of excitement and wonder in the sunshine, or perhaps quite sad and dreary in the rain." Yeah, great answer there, Sam.

It's true, isn't it? I wonder if you've ever noticed that about how you can feel different depending upon the weather.

And was this response similar or different to your own? Check for understanding.

Which of the following are true about Eastbourne? Beachy Head is situated near Eastbourne.

Eastbourne is located in the southwest of England.

Eastbourne is a Victorian resort town.

Pause video while you decide which of these statements are true about Eastbourne.

Well done, if you selected the first and the last statement.

Beachy Head is indeed situated near Eastbourne and Eastbourne is a Victorian resort town.

And it's actually in the southeast of England, not the South-West.

And a resort town refers to a holiday destination that developed during the Victorian era.

The poem "Eastbourne" contains some language which may be unfamiliar to us.

Ebbing, this is when the tide is moving away from the shore.

Fossils, remains or impressions of plants or animals that are preserved in rock, and we can see a fossil in the sandstone there in that image.

Pregnant, means it's filled with, or full of.

Amulets, objects believed to bring good luck, or protection.

Synced, happening at the same time.

Silhouettes, dark shape seen against a lighter background.

So these words will be occurring, so we will come across these words in the poem.

It's good to know a little bit more about them.

And now it's time to read the poem.

I'd like you to refer to pages 71 to 72.

To begin, read the poem silently in your head, then read out loud, alternating each verse with a partner.

So pause the video while you have a go at reading this poem twice.

Once silently, the second time out loud.

Enjoy your first readings of this poem.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed reading and now I'm very curious, what were your first impressions of the poem? What did you like about it? Pause the video and share with someone nearby your first impressions and what you liked.

Okay, let's hear from Jacob, "I liked how Joseph Coelho describes the sights and sounds of the beach.

He focuses on small objects, such as pebbles and colours to bring the scene to life." Yeah, thanks for sharing that, Jacob.

You focused in on Joseph Coelho focusing in on the small things, and I hope you enjoyed sharing your first impressions as well.

Check for understanding true or false.

The poet describes Eastbourne using negative imagery.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

Now, I'd like you to justify your answer.

Choose from the following statements, Joseph Colo writes about sunsets and objects which sparkle.

Eastboure is on the English Channel.

Pause the video while you decide which of these statements justifies your earlier answer.

Well done if you selected the first statement, this one indeed justifies your earlier answer about the use of imagery.

Eastbourne is a free verse poem.

It can be described as having six main verses, also known as stanzas, with three lines of dialogue.

When exploring poetry about a specific place, we can focus on the imagery that the poet uses to tell the readers about the location.

Imagery is the writer's use of highly descriptive and vivid language that appeals to the senses to paint a picture.

It includes metaphors, similes and personification.

By making specific language choices, poets can enhance meaning in their poems and create a specific impression.

Let's look at some of the imagery used in Eastboure.

The poem begins by the speaker describing a time when he was walking along the beach with his mother.

The sun is setting and the water recedes, goes back.

Verse two, the speaker describes the pebbles as colourful and winking and the texture of the sandstone rock is gritty.

Glass is compared to amulets, those objects believed to bring good luck or protection.

I've got a bit of an amulet here myself that I love to wear.

This stone is called rose quartz.

Let's look at some more of the imagery used in Eastboure.

Verse three, the speaker captures the sound and feel of walking on pebbles.

The poet uses auditory imagery to describe the soothing sounds of the waves.

Oh, some of my favourite sounds.

Verse four, sunlight merges with the clouds and vibrant colours describe the rock pools and sunset.

And in verse five, the poet describes the difference in age between his sister and grandmother using a simile.

The poet describes the future as predictable, as sure as the tides.

And in verse six, the poet reflects on the question posed at the start of the poem using abstract imagery.

What a lot of amazing imagery used in this poem, you can see why Joseph Coelho is the Children's Laureate.

Check for understanding.

How would you describe the mood of the poem? Pause the video and share with someone nearby.

Here's Sophia, "I think the mood of the poem is calm and peaceful because the imagery of the beach and sunset and sea creates a sense of beauty and tranquillity." Yes, I feel you there, Sophia, I feel that too.

And June, "I think the mood of the poem is thoughtful because the speaker reflects on a memory while considering a question about their future." Yeah, there's a lot of time travelling going on there, isn't there, in different directions? Yeah, I love that you've noticed that, thanks June.

And now it's time for your task.

I would like you to read the poem aloud.

Use that exploration of the language and imagery in the poem to help emphasise the atmosphere and mood as you read.

Think about your use of volume, tone and facial expressions to keep the audience engaged.

So pause the video here and have a go at this task.

Read the poem aloud.

Enjoy your reading.

Okay.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on? I'm wondering, did you create a suitable atmosphere? Did you use your volume, tone and facial expressions to keep the audience engaged? I hope so, and I hope you enjoyed it.

And now we are onto the next part of our lesson, discussing imagery.

Joseph Coelho uses vivid imagery throughout the poem, "Eastbourne," to create a strong impression of what the coastal town is like for the reader and listener.

Oh my goodness, look at that image of Eastbourne pier at sunset.

Don't you just want to be there? His specific language choices help to create an impression of his Eastboure that is peaceful and beautiful.

His writing appeals to our senses to create a vivid picture, including oral, that's relating to the sense of hearing, visual relating to the sense of sight, and tactile, relating to the sense of touch.

Descriptions.

Oral, visual, and tactile.

Check for understanding.

Refer to the poem for support.

Are the following nouns in the poem described using oral, visual, or tactile descriptions.

They have the sunset, sandstone and melody.

Pause the video while you decide if these nouns are described using oral, visual, or tactile descriptions.

The sunset was described using a visual description.

Sandstone, tactile description.

And melody, an oral description.

Well done if you made these connections.

Discussing the language choices and imagery that Joseph Coelho uses in the poem "Eastbourne" helps us to understand the poem better and also helps us to explain how the poet has been successful.

When discussing the language and imagery, we can choose the words or phrases that we think are important, explain what they mean or what they show, describe the effect of the language or the impression it creates.

Our ideas and discussions will all be different because we are all unique, we all come to poetry with our own unique identities and experiences.

Let's discuss some of this language.

My turn, your turn.

So let me begin.

I will discuss some language from verses one and two.

The poet uses metaphor to compare the glass on a beach to amulets.

This emphasises the shiny reflective quality of the glass pieces and makes them appear precious and intriguing.

Over to you.

I'd like you now to discuss some language from verses one and two.

You can choose the same or a different example.

Remember to choose the words or phrases that you think are important.

Explain what they mean or what they show, and describe the effect of the language or the impression it creates.

So pause the video while you do this.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed that discussion.

I wonder what example you chose.

Let's hear from Lucas, "The use of colour, oranges and pinks by the poet, immediately sets a warm, peaceful tone.

By describing the sun setting, I think the poet/speaker is reflecting on the day's events." Yeah, thanks for giving us that example, Lucas, and also your reflection on what you think it might mean.

I'll now discuss some language from the verses three and four.

The poet uses personification to describe the sea singing with the pebbles.

The soothing melody might represent the poet/speaker's own feelings and emotions about the memory.

And over to you.

I'd like to discuss some language from verses three and four.

You can choose the same or a different example.

And remember to choose the words or phrases that you think are important, explain what they mean or what they show, and describe the effect of the language or the impression it creates.

So pause the video while you have a go at this.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed sharing.

Let's hear from Alex, "The use of oral description, pebbles being crushed underfoot, creates an auditory experience for the reader or listener who might have experienced familiar sounds themselves." I can definitely relate to that sound of the pebbles being crushed underfoot at the beach.

And finally, let's move on to discussing language from verses five and six.

Let me begin.

The poet describes the difference in time between the younger sister and grandmother using a simile.

Perhaps the ghosts of the waves emphasise that the years have already gone by for the grandmother.

There's no right or wrong answer of poetry as it can be interpreted in different ways.

And over to you.

I'd like you to discuss some language from verses five and six.

You know what to do.

You could choose the same or a different example.

And remember to choose the words or phrases that you think are important, explain what they mean or what they show, and describe the effect of the language or the impression it creates.

Pause the video while you discuss the language, verses five and six.

Okay, thank you for joining in with that.

Let's hear from Aisha, "The description of the poet/speaker's younger sister toddling next to their grandmother, creates a heartwarming image.

The accompanying illustration also depicts this tender and loving connection." Oh, thank you, Aisha.

There's something lovely about that little one toddling around, I agree.

And now it's time for your next task.

Which example of imagery do you think is the most powerful and why? When explaining your choice, you can refer to the following, sensory engagement, how does the imagery appeal to the senses? Emotional impact, what emotions and feelings does the imagery evoke? Personal connection, does this particular imagery resonate with you personally? There are many other aspects that you can refer to when describing imagery, these are just a few examples.

So pause the video while you have a go at this task and share which example of imagery is the most powerful for you and why.

Okay, I am really curious, I wonder which example of imagery you chose as being the most powerful.

Let's hear from Andy, "I think the description of the sunburst is most effective.

It gave me a sense of wonder and appreciation of the natural beauty of Eastbourne." Oh, here, here.

That's just really wonderful and inspiring, aw inspiring.

Here's Laura, "I think the description of the silhouettes is most powerful.

The use of whisper suggests a quiet sound, creating a contrast between the brightness of the light and the softness of the sound." Thank you for sharing that, Laura, really interesting.

Our ideas will be different because we are all unique, that's what makes us so incredible.

Oh, love our uniqueness, hope you love your uniqueness.

In our lesson today, exploring imagery in "Eastbourne" by Joseph Coelho, we have covered the following.

"Eastbourne" was written by Joseph Coelho and released in 2017 as part of his poetry collection, "Overheard in a Tower Block." Eastbourne is a Victorian resort town on England's southeast coast.

Imagery refers to the use of language that evokes vivid mental pictures in the reader's mind.

In the poem, Coelho uses sensory language to paint a vivid image.

The use of positive imagery creates a peaceful and serene atmosphere as the poet/speaker reflects on their day.

I would like to reflect on your engagement in this lesson.

I love that you joined in so actively in this lesson today and shared your most powerful example of imagery and what you liked about this poem.

And I'm really looking forward to exploring some more poetry with you soon.

Bye for now.