Exploring William Carlos Williams’s poem ‘Landscape with the fall of Icarus’

English

In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils explore how they can alter traditional stories to convey modern ideas and morals. In 'Animal Farm: the Pigs and Power', pupils learn about Orwell's allegory and understand how he uses an apparently simple fairy story to convey a political message. 

In 'Step Into the Unknown', pupils look at the ways in which famous children's writers create convincing settings, particularly through descriptions of windows and doors. In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils take inspiration from the ways in which writers and poets use powerful imagery and symbolism, to inspire their own writing. 

Myths, legends and stories that inspire

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

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Pieter Bruegel's painting 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'

William Carlos Williams’s poem 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at three pieces of art about the same set of characters: Daedalus and Icarus. Starting with the first, put them in chronological order.

A pupil argued, 'Pieter Bruegel's painting and William Carlos Williams's poem present Icarus’s death as trivial.' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') What does trivial mean?

In Williams's poem 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire'), the poet uses no {{ }} throughout. This increases the pace we have to read the poem.

In Williams's poem 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire'), there is no punctuation at the end of any of the lines. What is this technique called?

Match the first six stanzas of Williams's poem 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') to its focus.

Williams's poem 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') is an {{ }} poem, which means a poem which describes a piece of art, and is inspired by it.

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. What type of story was this inspired by?

Daedalus and Icarus have been imprisoned by King Minos.

Daedalus creates wings from wax and feathers so they can fly away.

Daedalus tells his son not to fly too close to the sun.

Icarus flies higher and higher, enjoying the feeling of flying.

The wax begins to melt as Icarus flies close to the sun.

Daedalus offers his wings to the god, Apollo, and swears never to fly again.

Starting with the first, put these plot points from the myth 'The Fall of Icarus' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') in chronological order.

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. Who is the smallest figure (person) in this painting?

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. Who is the largest figure (person) in this painting?

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. Which of these people or things are captured in the picture?

In the unit 'Myths and Legends', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. Which of these people or things are not captured in the picture?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

Introduction

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Worksheet