Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy
I can explore how Hardy uses imagery to present a foreboding interaction during the breakdown of the relationship.
Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy
I can explore how Hardy uses imagery to present a foreboding interaction during the breakdown of the relationship.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Hardy uses colour imagery to create a bleak and barren emotional landscape.
- Hardy uses an oxymoron to convey the hostile and hopeless nature of the relationship.
- Hardy uses personification to suggest how he feels misled by love.
- Hardy uses ominous imagery to show how the relationship was ill-fated.
- Analytical paragraphs should consider a writer’s meaning, use of language and purpose.
Keywords
Ominous - foreboding; suggests something bad will happen.
Hostile - unfriendly or unwelcoming.
Oxymoron - a language technique which combines two opposite ideas.
Colour imagery - vivid descriptions of colours to evoke emotions or ideas.
Common misconception
You need to include a reference to the wider context in every analytical paragraph.
The best analytical responses only include relevant pieces of context and weave it subtly throughout. It is important to include context in your answer but it isn't necessary to include it in every paragraph.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the 'Love and Relationships' unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to the poem 'Neutral Tones' by Thomas Hardy. This can be found in the AQA Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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