New
New
Year 11
AQA

Effective context: Victorian poems in the 'Love and Relationships' anthology

I can effectively evaluate context when writing about the Victorian poems in the anthology.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Effective context: Victorian poems in the 'Love and Relationships' anthology

I can effectively evaluate context when writing about the Victorian poems in the anthology.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Context must be precise and avoid generalisations.
  2. Victorian society disempowered women but many disagreed with their subordinate position in society (e.g. the Brownings).
  3. Contextual references should be judiciously chosen and rooted in our argument about the text.
  4. An understanding of specific Victorian context deepens our interpretation of Victorian poetry.

Keywords

  • Judicious - well-thought out or carefully chosen

  • Context - the circumstances or background surrounding a text

  • Patriarchal - a society or system where men hold power

  • Objectification - treating someone as an object rather than a person

  • Autonomy - the ability to make decisions and act independently

Common misconception

All Victorian poets held the same views and attitudes towards societal issues.

Victorian poets had diverse views. Some challenged norms, others reinforced them. Consider each poem's own unique perspective.

If students have previously studied 'A Christmas Carol' or 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' lean in to any existing Victorian context. Some of this is equally applicable to the study of these poems (e.g. morality and social propriety).
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the AQA 'Love and Relationships' anthology when completing this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • 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

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is being described here: 'the circumstances or background surrounding a text'?
Correct Answer: context, the context, contextual information
Q2.
Who wrote the poem 'Porphyria's Lover'?
Correct Answer: Robert Browning, Browning
Q3.
Which of the following poems from the AQA 'Love and Relationships' anthology can be considered 'Victorian'?
Correct answer: 'Sonnet 29'
Correct answer: 'Porphyria's Lover'
Correct answer: 'Neutral Tones'
'Love's Philosophy'
'When We Two Parted'
Q4.
If something is 'well-thought out or carefully chosen' then it is ...
Correct answer: judicious.
evaluative.
restrained.
in-depth.
Q5.
Which of the below are reasonable synonyms of the word 'autonomy'?
Correct answer: independence
Correct answer: freedom
restriction
dominance
Q6.
A system where men hold power is known as a system.
Correct Answer: patriarchal

6 Questions

Q1.
Complete this quotation from the poem 'Porphyria's Lover': "That moment she was mine, mine, , / Perfectly pure and good''
Correct Answer: fair
Q2.
How can you effectively use context to develop inferences in your written responses?
by providing isolated historical facts
by avoiding specific quotations from the text
Correct answer: by interweaving context with analysis
by focusing solely on the writer's intention
Q3.
How does Browning use possessive language in 'Porphyria's Lover' to highlight power dynamics?
to emphasise the speaker's affection for Porphyria
Correct answer: to symbolise the objectification and entitlement of patriarchal views
to demonstrate Porphyria's agency and autonomy
to showcase the destructive consequences of male supremacy
Q4.
Why is it important for contextual points to be anchored to the text in analytical essays?
to demonstrate your knowledge of historical facts
Correct answer: to support the overarching argument of the essay
to provide background information about the author
to avoid making generalisations about societal norms
Q5.
What is the significance of discussing the form of 'Porphyria's Lover' (a dramatic monologue) in contextual analysis?
it emphasises the importance of rhyme and meter in the poem
it highlights the popularity of dramatic monologues in the Victorian era
Correct answer: it amplifies the thematic exploration of power dynamics in Victorian society
it underscores the influence of modernist literary movements
Q6.
Which of the following is not a relevant contextual factor for analysing 'Porphyria's Lover'?
gender roles in Victorian society
Victorian attitudes towards marriage
Correct answer: The Industrial Revolution and the urban poor
Victorian Patriarchy
Romanticism