Analysing 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers
I can explore how Sheers uses nature to symbolise the couple's relationship.
Analysing 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers
I can explore how Sheers uses nature to symbolise the couple's relationship.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Sheers uses personification of the surroundings to present a fractured emotional landscape.
- Sheers uses pathetic fallacy to subtly imply that the couple are facing trouble in their relationship.
- Sheers uses a contrast in colour imagery to signify the hope that emerges from despair.
- Sheers uses a simile in the resolution of the poem to convey how the couple are reunified.
- Sheers uses the symbolism of the swans to mark a turning point in the tone of the poem - from despair to hope.
Keywords
Personification - giving human traits to non-human entities
Symbolism - representing abstract ideas using concrete objects or actions
Contrast - differences between two or more things used to draw attention to them
Simile - using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to compare two things with shared qualities
Resolution - the conclusion or final outcome of a story or conflict
Common misconception
Sheers tells us that the couple have been arguing before heading out for their walk.
Sheers doesn't explicitly tell us that the couple have been arguing but subtly implies this using personification and pathetic fallacy in the first two stanzas. He describes how the couple are "silent and apart" to show their fragmented relationship.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Analysing 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Analysing 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers, 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
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 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers. 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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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
giving human traits to non-human entities
representing abstract ideas using concrete objects or actions
differences between two or more things used to draw attention to them
using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to compare two things with shared qualities
the conclusion or final outcome of a story or conflict