New
New
Year 11
AQA

Comparing unconventional relationships in the 'Love and Relationships' anthology

I can identify similarities and differences between 'Singh Song', 'The Farmer's Bride' and 'Porphyria's Lover'

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Comparing unconventional relationships in the 'Love and Relationships' anthology

I can identify similarities and differences between 'Singh Song', 'The Farmer's Bride' and 'Porphyria's Lover'

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Mew and Browning describe dysfunctional relationships whilst Nagra describes an unconventional yet loving relationship.
  2. Both Nagra and Browning describe female characters who are sexually liberated and defy societal expectations.
  3. Mew and Browning depict dramatic monologues where speakers have dangerously misogynistic mindsets.
  4. Mew and Browning both use natural imagery to represent the speaker's emotions.
  5. Nagra is the only poet who describes a genuinely romantic relationship.

Keywords

  • Dysfunctional - not operating properly or normally

  • Defy - to openly resist or challenge

  • Unconventional - not conforming to usual standards

  • Thesis - a central argument or statement put forward in writing

Common misconception

All of these poems present relationships which are dysfunctional in some way.

Although 'Porphyria's Lover' and 'The Farmer's Bride' appear to show abusive, controlling relationships, the relationship in 'Singh Song!' is presented as a much more conventionally loving one.

All of these poems are dramatic monologues - a good way in to study them could be by comparing the different narrators in each poem and drawing out similarities and differences between them.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the AQA 'Love and Relationships' poetry anthology.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the below are reasonable synonyms of 'unconventional'?
Correct answer: unusual
similar
Correct answer: unorthodox
common
Correct answer: controversial
Q2.
The poem 'Singh Song!' is written by Daljit ...
Correct Answer: Nagra
Q3.
Which of the below are major themes in the poem 'Porphyria's Lover'?
Correct answer: madness
Correct answer: power and control
Correct answer: love and obsession
identity
loneliness
Q4.
The poem 'The Farmer's Bride' is written from the perspective of ...
Correct answer: the farmer.
the bride.
both the farmer and the bride.
neither. It is written in third person limited.
Q5.
'Singh Song!', 'The Farmer's Bride' and 'Porphyria's Lover' are all examples of ...
ballads.
Correct answer: dramatic monologues.
epics.
sonnets.
haikus.
Q6.
Which of the following poems from the AQA Love and Relationships anthology portrays a genuinely romantic relationship?
Correct answer: 'Singh Song!'
'Porphyria's Lover'
'The Farmer's Bride'

6 Questions

Q1.
Both 'The Farmer's Bride' and 'Porphyria's Lover' explore __________ relationships.
Correct answer: dysfunctional
conventional
loving
harmonious
Q2.
Which poet from the list below is unique in showing a genuinely romantic relationship in their poem?
Robert Browning
Charlotte Mew
Correct answer: Daljit Nagra
Q3.
Which of the following best describes a thesis statement in a comparative response?
a summary of the entire poem
a detailed description of the poem's setting
Correct answer: a central argument or statement that outlines the overall argument
a list of the main characters in the poems
Q4.
What similarity do both Nagra and Browning highlight in their poems about female characters?
They depict female characters as submissive.
Correct answer: They portray female characters who are sexually liberated and defy expectations.
They show female characters in loving and harmonious relationships.
They describe female characters who are indifferent to their partners.
Q5.
Which statement best summarises the difference in how Browning and Mew depict abusive relationships in their poems?
Browning depicts emotional distance, while Mew depicts psychotic obsession.
Browning depicts a romantic relationship, while Mew depicts a controlling one.
Correct answer: Browning depicts psychotic obsession, while Mew depicts emotional distance.
Both depict loving relationships.
Q6.
Why is natural imagery used throughout the poem 'The Farmer's Bride'?
Correct answer: to portray the hunter/prey aspect of their relationship
to depict the love that is present between the farmer and his bride
to show the narrator's emotional state at the start of the poem
to show how loving this early stage of their relationship is