Hello and welcome to today's lesson.

My name is Ms. Watson, and I'm really looking forward to teaching you today.

We're going to be analysing that fantastic poem, "Living Space." Before we start, you will need to get hold of a copy of your Eduqas GCSE Poetry Anthology.

When you've got that, we can start.

So the outcome of today's lesson is that you will be able to analyse how Dharker uses language, form and structure to celebrate human ingenuity.

As ever, we will begin with the keywords.

They are: unifying, to juxtapose, inhabitant, to marvel, and ingenuity.

Let's look at what they mean.

So, if you unify something, you bring it together.

To juxtapose means to contrast two ideas by placing them next to one another.

And inhabitant of a place is someone who lives there in a particular area or place.

And if you marvel at something, you admire it or you appreciate it.

And if you possess ingenuity, you are skilled at working out how to do things, or how to invent things.

And if you would like a little bit more time to familiarise yourself with the keywords, please pause the video, do that, and then join us when you're ready.

So, in today's lesson, there will be two learning cycles.

We're going to start by looking at the power of faith in the poem, and then we're going to look at miraculous structures in the poem.

So, let's get started.

So, please look at this picture of an egg, and I want you to tell me how does that image link to the poem, "Living Space"? This is your starter recap question.

So off you go and have a think about that.

So did you say something like this? That, "The poet describes a basket of eggs in the poem that have been hung outside one of the homes in the slum." Excellent, let's move on.

Now, I want you to think about what eggs might symbolise or represent, and I suggest that you pause the video while you do that.

Now, if you are working on your own, and you don't have anyone to discuss this with, just have a think and jot your ideas down.

So, there's the egg.

Off you go and think about what it might symbolise or represent.

So, welcome back.

Let me share some ideas with you.

You might have said that it represents new life, because a little chicken is gonna come out of that egg.

And, because it's new life, that might also represent hope.

And there is also the possibility that it could represent fragility, because the shell of an egg is easily broken, and because of the new life aspect, it could also represent potential.

Now, your next discussion is to think about those four ideas, and where do you see them in the poem? So again, pause the video, have your discussion, and then join us and share ideas.

So, welcome back.

I know you've got some amazing ideas about the possible symbolism of the eggs.

I'm gonna share some with you.

So, new life, you might have said this: that people migrate from all over India to the slums of Mumbai in hope of a better life, so the egg could represent the opportunities the slums provide for desperate people.

And, hope: in the poem, we see the community's faith.

They build structures for themselves in the hope and faith that these will give them shelter.

And we also see the unifying quality of hope.

Hope brings them together.

And then, fragility: We see the physical fragility of the structures, which are not built with enough precision to be safe.

And, potential: We see human beings' incredible potential and their ability to survive even in the most challenging of circumstances.

Some fantastic ideas there, well done.

Let's move on.

Now, I've always thought that the image of the eggs hanging in the basket in this poem is very memorable and very poignant.

By poignant, I mean sort of touching and moving.

And, one of our Oak pupils, Jacob said, "That the eggs are so fragile, and yet they've been hung off a very unstable and sloping roof." Now, what I would like you to discuss is what do you think Dharker was trying to show about the community and their living circumstances by creating this image? So, pause the video, have your discussion, make your notes.

Once again, a great discussion.

And here's an idea I'd like to share with you, that perhaps Dharker is showing us the risks these communities have to take to survive.

They have to risk their lives and their safety to survive in these slums. That's the reality they are faced with.

That's a great idea, well done.

Let's move on.

Now, we're still talking about the hanging eggs, and she describes the curves of the eggs and sets them against the slanted roof.

I'd like you to think about why she juxtaposes these shapes here, and what might that be trying to suggest about human life? So again, pause the video, make your notes, have a think.

Let me share this idea with you, that, "In juxtaposing the curves of the eggshell with the crooked and jagged lines of the slum's landscape, Dharker presents the eggs as beautiful and precious." Now, we're going to think about if the eggs represent life.

So, if they do, what might Dharker be trying to show us about human life? Once again, pause the video, make your notes.

Really looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

Off you go.

Fantastic discussion.

Let me share an idea with you.

Dharker might be trying to show us that human life, particularly when it exists in such challenging circumstances, is beautiful and valuable.

Brilliant thinking.

Let's move on.

Now, I want you to look very closely at line 22 in the poem.

Now, if we were to read the eggs as a metaphor for faith, what might Dharker be trying to say about faith? You can pause the video while you make your notes and have your discussion.

Off you go.

So, here's some ideas I'd like to share with you.

Dharker described the eggs as collecting light and faith and storing it within themselves.

And she describes the shells of these eggs as thin.

And therefore, she may be using the eggs to represent the people living in the slums with all their stored faith and hope, but showing us that their faith and hope can be very easily destroyed.

Faith is very fragile, like human life can be very fragile.

Fantastic idea there.

Let's move on.

We're going to have a check on understanding.

Is it true or false to say that Dharker expresses sympathy for the communities who live in the slums? True or false? It's false.

Let's look at why it's false.

Is it A, Dharker admires the communities who live in the slums and celebrates their resourcefulness? Or is it B, Dharker celebrates the communities who live in the slums for managing to create a safe and clean environment? Have a think, make your choice.

Did you say, A? That's right, she admires them.

She marvels at their ingenuity.

Very well done, let's move on.

Now is your opportunity to show your understanding in a little bit more detail.

I would like you to choose one of the ideas and explore it in response to this question.

How does Dharker use the symbol of the eggs in the poem? And you should consider: what the eggs could represent, and what Dharker's attitude towards the inhabitants of the slums is.

And remember to use a quotation to justify your ideas.

You'll need to pause the video while you do that, so gather your ideas together and off you go.

So, welcome back, just one piece of feedback.

I want you to think about how you chose your evidence.

So, did you, as Jacob said, "Pick the first quotation you came across that supported your idea?" Or, "Consider a few relevant quotations and pick the one you felt best supported your idea?" Now, which approach to selecting evidence do you think is better and why? Have a think.

Think particularly hard about the why? Okay, now I'm sure you said that it is Jun's idea, that you consider a few that are relevant and pick the best one.

It's very easy when you're writing a response to a question to panic a bit and think you've gotta rush it, and you pick the first quotation.

You have time.

If you have discussed and read well and thought hard, you have time to make sure you pick the best quotation.

Let's move on.

So we're making fantastic progress in today's lesson.

Let's look back at the lesson outline.

We've looked at the power of faith, really homing in on that image of the eggs.

And now we are going to look at miraculous structures in the poem.

So look at these two shapes, and I want you to think about which structure best represents the shape of the poem.

And then, to explain your selection.

Have a think.

So, I'm sure you said A, and I want to know why you said A.

Here's some ideas that you might have come up with.

That structure A, best reflects the shape of "Living Space," because it has no fixed rhyme scheme or rhythm.

The lines are all different lengths, and the stanzas have a different number of lines in each.

But what we need to do now is think about why.

What might the poem's structure reflect? Again, pause the video, have a discussion.

If you're working on your own, just have a think and make some notes.

So, well done, welcome back.

Here's an idea I'd like to share with you.

Jacob said that "The poem's irregular structure might reflect the slum itself, because the slum is a collection of mismatched resources put together to create a whole.

It could also reflect the idea that there is no consistency in the appearance or shape of the houses within the slums." Was your answer similar to Jacob's? Did you have the same sort of thoughts? Now, Dharker describes the structures as miraculous, and miraculous is a fabulous world filled with meaning.

And I think we could say that the structures are miraculous both literally and metaphorically.

So I would like you to discuss that.

What is miraculous about the structures literally, in actual fact, and metaphorically, what is miraculous about the slums? Again, pause the video while you have your discussion, and if you're working alone, make your notes.

So that was a great discussion.

I want to share some ideas with you, that, literally, the structures are miraculous, because they look as if they do not have enough support to underpin them.

However, the word miraculous could show us how much Dharker admires and marvels at the achievements of this community's resourcefulness.

She finds the architectures of these structures enthralling and inspiring, and she is marvelling at human ingenuity.

Now, I want you to focus in on line three and the word, problem.

So let's have a think about that word.

There are many problems in the slums: overcrowding, poor sanitation, poverty, and lack of access to amenities, like toilets.

However, the communities who live in the slums find solutions to many of these problems. And I would like you now to find evidence in the poem that shows the community finding solutions to problems that they face.

So, pause the video, go back to the poem, and think about what is the best evidence you can find for the community showing ingenuity and finding solutions.

So, off you go.

Well done, I loved your focus there, the way you kept leaning into the poem, the way you underlined the evidence that you wanted to discuss.

I'm gonna share some ideas with you, and see if they match what you found and what you are thinking.

So the words, squeezed, balance, dared, and clutch all show that the community are finding solutions to problems. These are not ideal circumstances, but the communities are creating their own amenities using the resources they have available.

Fantastic summary of the evidence and analysis of the evidence that you found.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is an example of human ingenuity in the slums. Is it A, building houses one on top of the other to save space? Is it B, using the slums as a dumping ground for the factories and businesses in Mumbai? Or is it C, the mass migration of people to the slums to pursue a better life? Have a think, make your choice.

It's A, they do what they can with the space they have.

They show great ingenuity when they do that.

Well done, let's move on.

Now, having read and considered the poem, Jun had this to say: He said, "The poem is a love poem to the slums of Mumbai." Now, that is a fascinating interpretation, and I want you to think about to what extent you agree with Jun's interpretation.

You can see here there is what we call an opinion spectrum with agree, 100% agree over here at the left, and 100% disagree on the right.

And I want you to think about where you would put yourself on that opinion spectrum.

And, of course, you have to justify your position using evidence from the text, that means the quotations, and any relevant contextual detail, which means, what do you know about Mumbai and what do you know about the poet? So please, pause the video while you do that.

I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

Off you go.

Now, you're going to share your position on the opinion spectrum with a peer.

And I would like you to use as many of the keywords as possible to articulate your ideas.

So I'm gonna give you an example.

You might say something like this: "I personally think that the poem is a love poem to the slums of Mumbai, as through the poem, Dharker seems to marvel at the ingenuity of the people inhabiting these slums. Dharker seems to recognise the beauty in the irregular structures in the slum and the beauty of the people's faith, which unites them as a community.

I think Dharker's admiration for the communities living in the slums is so great that it can in fact be considered a love poem to this unique and extraordinary way of living." What a great response and brilliant use of the keywords.

So, you do that, you share your position on the spectrum with a peer, and make sure that you use as many of the keywords as possible.

Remember, they are, unifying, to juxtapose, to marvel, inhabitant, and ingenuity.

So, off you go while you do that, and then return to the lesson.

Before we say goodbye, I'd like to summarise what you have been learning today.

Now, in the poem, Dharker shows us the unifying qualities of faith and hope.

Dharker juxtaposes the curves of the eggshell with the crooked lines of the structures, arguably to reflect the fragility and beauty of human life.

The fragility of the eggs arguably reflects the fragility of the people's hope and faith.

The poem's irregular structure might reflect the slum itself.

Dharker marvels at the way in which the slum communities find solutions to problems. Through her celebration of the people's resourcefulness, Dharker marvels at human ingenuity.

I'd just like to say thank you for coming to the lesson today, for your hard work and focus and your fantastic discussions.

I wish you a very good rest of the day, and I look forward to seeing you in another lesson very soon.

So, bye for now.