New
New
Year 5

Understanding the context of 'The Highwayman'

I can understand the geographical, historical, social and authorial context of ’The Highwayman’.

New
New
Year 5

Understanding the context of 'The Highwayman'

I can understand the geographical, historical, social and authorial context of ’The Highwayman’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'The Highwayman' is an example of a narrative poem.
  2. A narrative poem is a type of poem that tells a story.
  3. 'The Highwayman' was set in rural England during the 18th century.
  4. Alfred Noyes is the poet who wrote ’The Highwayman’.
  5. Highwaymen were robbers on horseback who attacked travellers.

Common misconception

Pupils may find it challenging to place the time period in which the poem is set.

Explicit discussion of features of the 18th Century and visual representations on a timeline will help pupils' understanding.

Keywords

  • Narrative poem - a type of poem which tells a story

  • Context - the factors outside a text that influence it, such as the historical period, setting and society at the time

  • 18th century - the historical time period from 1701-1800

  • Welfare state - government support for people, such as social care and health services

  • Synopsis - a summary of a text

Pupils may benefit from being set an additional research challenge to find out more about life in 18th-century England, undertaking independent research.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the definition of a poem.
a text type that informs the reader about a real-life event
Correct answer: a text type that uses language, rhythm and imagery to stir the reader's emotions
a text type that informs the reader about a subject or topic in a factual way
Q2.
A person who writes a poem is called a...
Correct answer: poet
journalist
author
playwright
Q3.
Select the types of fiction texts.
non-chronological report
Correct answer: story
journalistic report
Correct answer: poem
Q4.
What does 'rural' mean?
a city setting
a town setting
Correct answer: a countryside setting
Q5.
Select the time period known as the 18th Century.
1837-1901
Correct answer: 1701-1800
1939-1945
2000-2023
Q6.
'The Highwayman' can be described as a __________ narrative poem.
Correct answer: historical
modern
futuristic

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the key words to their definitions.
Correct Answer:narrative poem,a type of poem that tells a story

a type of poem that tells a story

Correct Answer:context,the factors outside a text that influence it

the factors outside a text that influence it

Correct Answer:18th Century,the historical time period from 1701-1800

the historical time period from 1701-1800

Correct Answer:welfare state,government support for people who need it

government support for people who need it

Correct Answer:synopsis,a summary of a text

a summary of a text

Q2.
Which of these events occurred during the 18th Century?
Correct answer: the Industrial Revolution
Correct answer: Queen Anne’s reign
the NHS was established
World War I
Correct answer: the formation of Great Britain
Q3.
Which factors contributed to high death rates amongst the poorest in society during the 18th Century?
Correct answer: lack of welfare state
obesity
Correct answer: poor sanitation
Correct answer: cramped living conditions
Correct answer: dirty water
Q4.
'The Highwayman' was set in __________ England.
urban
Correct answer: rural
fictional
Q5.
Select the definition of highwaymen from the list.
men who patrolled the highway to help stranded travellers
pickpockets who operated in busy city markets
Correct answer: robbers who often rode on horseback and robbed travellers on rural roads
Q6.
The main characters in the poem are the highwayman and...
Correct answer: Bess
Jess
Ness