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Year 11
AQA

Analysing ideas of identity and heritage in Robinson's 'A Portable Paradise'

I can explain how Robinson uses language and structure to present daily life, paradise, and voice in order to express ideas of identity and heritage in 'A Portable Paradise'.

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Year 11
AQA

Analysing ideas of identity and heritage in Robinson's 'A Portable Paradise'

I can explain how Robinson uses language and structure to present daily life, paradise, and voice in order to express ideas of identity and heritage in 'A Portable Paradise'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Robinson uses sibilant and plosive sounds to reflect the seemingly inescapable adversity the speaker faces.
  2. The colour and sensory imagery around the speaker’s “paradise” implies that it brings hope and peace to the speaker.
  3. The voice of the grandmother arguably reflects the impact of family on identity.
  4. The structure of the poem reflects the continual presence of the speaker’s heritage.

Keywords

  • Optimistic - hoping or believing that good things will happen in the future

  • Adversity - a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune

  • Anthem - a rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause

  • Uplifting - inspiring happiness, optimism, or hope

Common misconception

That descriptions of colours are only there to provide a visual aid.

Colour symbolism is deeply important to the meaning of the poem as well.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Analysing ideas of identity and heritage in Robinson's 'A Portable Paradise', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It might be helpful to talk through the extended metaphor of a "portable paradise" if the pupils haven't previously read the poem.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the AQA World and Lives anthology for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Having an optimistic attitude means ...
Correct answer: feeling positive.
feeling negative.
feeling ambivalent.
feeling apathetic.
Q2.
Which of the following is an accurate summary of the use of extended metaphor in Robinson's 'A Portable Paradise'?
Correct answer: The extended metaphor reflects the continual presence of our heritage.
The extended metaphor reflects the damage humanity has done to the environment.
The extended metaphor reflects the oppressive nature of authority.
Q3.
In terms of colour imagery, white might represent ...
Correct answer: purity
creativity
Correct answer: emptiness
nurture
Q4.
Enjambment is the ...
repetition of sounds at the start of close together words.
use of words or figurative language to create vivid pictures.
Correct answer: continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line of poetry.
turn of thought or argument in the sonnet form.
Q5.
A hovel is a ...
Correct answer: small, wretched, and often dirty house.
small, organised, and generally minimalist house.
small, clean house often used as a showroom.
Q6.
Which poems from the Worlds and Lives poetry anthology consider the themes family and identity?
Correct answer: 'A Wider View'
'A Century Later'
Correct answer: 'Homing'
'Shall earth no more inspire thee'

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following words does Robinson use to describe “paradise” in ‘A Portable Paradise’?
Correct answer: "fresh"
Correct answer: "white"
"pure"
"heaven"
Q2.
Something inspiring happiness, optimism, or hope can be described as ...
Correct Answer: uplifting, up lifting, up-listing
Q3.
A rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause is an ...
Correct Answer: anthem
Q4.
Which structural device does Robinson use in ‘A Portable Paradise’ to create the sense of continuation?
caesura
Correct answer: enjambment
repetition
end-stopping
Q5.
In ‘A Portable Paradise’, by using words such as “trace” and “smell”, the grandmother is using ...
Correct Answer: commands, imperatives
Q6.
Line 11 of ‘A Portable Paradise’ uses __________ sounds in order to perhaps reflect the seemingly inescapable struggle of life.
plosive
euphonic
Correct answer: sibilant
mellifluous