Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 11
AQA

Analysing ideas of nature and heritage in Nichols' 'Like an Heiress'

I can explain how Nichols uses language, form and structure to express ideas of nature and heritage in 'Like an Heiress'.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
New
New
Year 11
AQA

Analysing ideas of nature and heritage in Nichols' 'Like an Heiress'

I can explain how Nichols uses language, form and structure to express ideas of nature and heritage in 'Like an Heiress'.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Nichols’ personification of nature may be to heighten the unjust treatment of nature by humanity.
  2. The link to the sonnet form through the length may be to show the love that the speaker has for nature and her heritage.
  3. However, the lack of adherence to the sonnet form may show that humanity itself doesn’t love nature.
  4. It may also be representative of the disconnect the speaker feels towards her home.
  5. The irregularity of the poem may be indicative of the uncertainty towards the planet’s future.

Keywords

  • Ironic - an ironic situation in which something has the opposite effect of the one intended.

  • Anthropogenic - relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature.

  • Sonnet - a poetic form consisting of 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter, typically on the topic of love.

  • Lament - a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.

  • Volta - the turn of thought or argument in the sonnet form.

Common misconception

If a poet doesn't conform to a poetic form then they are rejecting it.

By not using a particular poetic form, or subverting a poetic form, a poet may be critiquing a certain expectation or making a certain comment on society.

It might be useful to show the students examples of sonnets to show them how Nichols is not adhering to the sonnet form.
Teacher tip

Equipment

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

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
“Burning” might connect to ...
feelings of sorrow.
Correct answer: feelings of anger.
feelings of apathy.
Q2.
Attribution of human characteristics to non-human things is called .
Correct Answer: personification
Q3.
The sonnet form has ...
14 lines and an irregular rhyme and rhythm.
Correct answer: 14 lines and a regular rhyme and rhythm.
15 lines and a regular rhyme and rhythm.
Q4.
Lament means...
a passionate declaration of love.
a passionate declaration of hatred.
Correct answer: a passionate declaration of sorrow.
Q5.
Grace Nichols’ personal context is that ...
she has lived in Guyana her whole life.
Correct answer: she emigrated to Britain from Guyana.
she has lived in Britain her whole life.
Q6.
A volta is ...
Correct answer: the turn of thought or argument in the sonnet form.
a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together.
a reflective poem that laments the loss of someone.
repetition of words or phrases in the first part of successive clauses.

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
An irregular form in poetry could arguably indicate ...
Correct answer: feelings of anger
feelings of calm
feelings of control
Correct answer: feelings of uncertainty
Q2.
In 'Like an Heiress', Nichols refers to nature’s emotions as ...
“volatile”
Correct answer: “moodswings”
“apathetic”
Q3.
In 'Like an Heiress', Nichols links to the sonnet form through ...
the use of a regular rhyme and rhythm.
Correct answer: the use of 14 lines in the poem.
Correct answer: the use of a volta.
Q4.
In 'Like an Heiress', the contrast between “burning” and “air-conditioned” is ironic because ...
Correct answer: it suggests humanity has to create solutions to problems it caused.
it suggests that the reader knows something the speaker does not.
“Burning” and the concept of cold are opposites.
Q5.
In 'Like an Heiress', the volta in line 4 signals ...
a shift away from a focus on nature.
Correct answer: a shift to a focus on the destruction of nature.
a shift to focus on the speaker’s heritage.
Q6.
Relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature is called .
Correct Answer: anthropogenic