Understanding the poem 'On an Afternoon Train from Purley to Victoria, 1955'
I can understand how Berry presents ideas of connection and difference.
Understanding the poem 'On an Afternoon Train from Purley to Victoria, 1955'
I can understand how Berry presents ideas of connection and difference.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The image of the train in the title could symbolise ideas of journeys, growth, and progress.
- The specific use of a Quaker to make an ignorant mistake could be Berry’s way of saying we all make mistakes.
- Potentially, the title could symbolise how we are all ultimately journeying around the same place: Earth.
- Berry’s work often explores the experiences of Caribbean migrants.
Common misconception
That a journey is always a physical undertaking.
While many journeys are physical undertakings, you can also take a personal or spiritual journey towards improvement and growth.
Keywords
Migrant - a person who moves from one place to another, predominantly to find work or better living conditions
Ignorance - lack of knowledge or information
Quaker - a member of the Religious Society of Friends and devoted to peaceful principles
Symbolism - the use of a symbol, which can be a word or an image, to communicate a distinct idea
Inference - a guess that you make or an opinion that you form based on the information that you have
Equipment
You will need a copy of the AQA Worlds and Lives anthology for GCSE.
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).
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