The poets initially use barren and inhospitable settings to reflect despairing and hopeless emotions.
The poets initially show fragmented relationships but these progress in different ways throughout each poem.
Sheers is the only poet to shift to a more hopeful tone when the couple are eventually unified.
Comparison questions require you to focus firstly on key ideas and then explore how the writers convey these ideas.
A single paragraph outline is an effective way to structure a comparative analysis paragraph.

Common misconception

All three poems convey a negative view of romantic relationships.

All three poems begin by conveying a negative view of romantic relationships. This continues throughout 'Neutral Tones' and 'When We Two Parted' however 'Winter Swans' undergoes a shift to a hopeful tone by the end as the couple are unified.

Keywords

Bleak - desolate, harsh, and without hope or cheer
Inhospitable - unwelcoming and unfavourable, providing little or no comfort
Ill-fated - destined to end in failure, tragedy, or misfortune
Fragmented - broken into parts or pieces; lacking unity, cohesion, or continuity
Unified - joined or integrated, creating a cohesive and harmonious whole

When attempting Task C, consider printing out the model answer used in the feedback (found in Additional Materials) and encouraging students to annotate where each element of the single paragraph is included before using the feedback slide to discuss this as a group.

Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to the poems 'Winter Swans' (Sheers), 'Neutral Tones' (Hardy) and 'When We Two Parted' (Byron). They can be found in the AQA Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology.

Content guidance

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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Which of the following poems is about an illicit extramarital affair?

'Winter Swans'

Correct answer: 'When We Two Parted'

'Neutral Tones'

Q2.

Which of these poems are set in a natural landscape?

Correct answer: 'Winter Swans'

'When We Two Parted'

Correct answer: 'Neutral Tones'

Q3.

Which of these are examples of comparative language?

Correct answer: whereas

likely

Correct answer: both

therefore

Correct answer: similarly

Q4.

We would use the word 'however' to show the __________ between two things.

similarities

Correct answer: differences

similarities and differences

Q5.

Match up each of these key quotations to the correct poem.

Correct Answer:'Winter Swans',"our hands, that had, somehow / swum the distance between us"

"our hands, that had, somehow / swum the distance between us"

Correct Answer:'Neutral Tones',"The smile on your face was the deadest thing"

"The smile on your face was the deadest thing"

Correct Answer:'When We Two Parted',"I hear thy name spoken and share in its shame"

"I hear thy name spoken and share in its shame"

Q6.

Match each poem to the correct piece of contextual information.

Correct Answer:'Winter Swans',It is part of a collection that deals with fragmented relationships

It is part of a collection that deals with fragmented relationships

Correct Answer:'Neutral Tones',The poem's pessimistic tone is characteristic of the this poet's work

The poem's pessimistic tone is characteristic of the this poet's work

Correct Answer:'When We Two Parted',The poet was known for having many illicit extramarital affairs

The poet was known for having many illicit extramarital affairs

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

'Winter Swans', 'Neutral Tones' and 'When We Two Parted' all describe fragmented relationships. Which of these poems ends with a hopeful portrayal of romantic love.

Correct answer: 'Winter Swans'

'Neutral Tones'

'When We Two Parted'

Q2.

Which of these poems focus on how someone's perceptions of their partner can change after a relationship has ended?

'Winter Swans'

Correct answer: 'Neutral Tones'

Correct answer: 'When We Two Parted'

Q3.

An effective way to plan and structure an analytical paragraph is to use a single paragraph .

Correct Answer: outline

Q4.

A topic sentence...

introduces a quote

identifies the writer's methods

Correct answer: explains the specific focus of the analytical paragraph

sums up everything the paragraph has discussed

shows that you know what happens in the poem

Q5.

Put the below steps in chronological order to show how you would answer a comparative analysis question.

1 - Read through the question and identify the question focus.

2 - Choose another poem to compare with the one in the question.

3 - Identify the key ideas in each poem and explore how they compare to each other.

4 - Analyse how the writers use language, form and structure to convey the key ideas

Q6.

Match each of these quotations to the correct analytical statement.

Correct Answer:Neutral Tones: "tedious riddles",Oxymoron implies the partner's perception of their lover has changed

Oxymoron implies the partner's perception of their lover has changed

Correct Answer:Winter Swans: "two days of rain",Pathetic fallacy symbolises the fragmented relationship

Pathetic fallacy symbolises the fragmented relationship

Correct Answer:WWTP: "A shudder comes o'er me",Visceral verb suggests the speaker now feels shame and regret

Visceral verb suggests the speaker now feels shame and regret

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