New
New
Year 10
AQA

Understanding the poem ‘Eden Rock’ by Charles Causley

I can explain how Causley presents an uncanny reunion between the speaker and their parents

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Understanding the poem ‘Eden Rock’ by Charles Causley

I can explain how Causley presents an uncanny reunion between the speaker and their parents

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The speaker meets his parents in an ambiguous ‘dream-like’ location.
  2. The speaker describes his parents, particularly his mother, in intricate detail.
  3. The speaker also describes the picnic in intricate detail, suggesting he is recalling a memory.
  4. The speaker is separated from his parents by a stream which they encourage him to cross
  5. Causley grew up in Cornwall and has suggested that the fictional 'Eden Rock' is based on the Cornish landscape.

Common misconception

Eden Rock is a real place.

Eden Rock is a fictional place, devised by the poet Charles Causley. Causley confirms this but does suggest that he based the location on the Cornish landscape where he grew up.

Keywords

  • Nostalgia - sentimental longing for the past, often idealised

  • Ambiguous - meaning is unclear or open to interpretation

  • Intimidating - causing fear or apprehension, often due to perceived power or authority

  • Vague - lack of clarity or precision, characterised by an absence of specific details

  • Caricature - exaggerated portrayal of someone that emphasises distinctive features or traits

When working through the key quotations in the second learning cycle, consider encouraging students to annotate the quotes in their copies of the AQA anthology.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to the poem 'Eden Rock' by Charles Causley. 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

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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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these words is a synonym for 'traditional'?
correct
ancient
religious
Correct answer: old-fashioned
modern
Q2.
The Garden of Eden is a place found in which famous text?
'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare
Correct answer: The Bible
'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett
'Sonnet 29' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Q3.
If someone believes in traditional gender roles, they could be said to have __________ views.
hierarchical
matriarchal
oligarcal
Correct answer: partriarchal
episcopal
Q4.
Why is it important to consider the wider context of a poem?
Correct answer: It can help us to interpret a writer's influences and intentions.
It means you don't have to use as many quotations from the text.
It is great way to compare two poems.
Correct answer: It enables our analysis of a poem to be more nuanced and detailed.
It helps us to decide whether we like a poem or not.
Q5.
Which of these words is a synonym for 'nostalgia'?
repression
transcendence
resurrection
Correct answer: reminiscence
abstraction
Q6.
Which of these words is an example of tentative language?
Correct answer: implies
evident
must
obviously
Correct answer: plausible

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a 'caricature'?
a person in a poem, story or other type of literary text
a poetic reference to a religious text
a memory from your childhood that evokes a particular emotion
Correct answer: an exaggerated portrayal of someone that emphasises their distinctive features
two contrasting words or ideas that appear near to or next to each other
Q2.
Which of these words is a synonym for 'vague'?
Correct answer: unclear
stereotypical
explicit
specific
abstract
Q3.
In 'Eden Rock', the "light" shining through the mother's hair presents her as kind and gentle because it could symbolise that she has...
a light within her
positive thoughts about her family
happiness in her heart
Correct answer: an angelic glow surrounding her
hope for her child
Q4.
Which of the quotes below from 'Eden Rock' suggests the speaker views his father as an intimidating person?
"drifted"
Correct answer: "trembling"
"Genuine"
"sprigged"
"leisurely"
Q5.
Charles Causley grew up in...
London
France
Bristol
Yorkshire
Correct answer: Cornwall
Q6.
The hazy, dream-like mood of the poem means it can be interpreted as...
the speaker's impression of how his future children will view their parents
a dream the speaker had one night
a depiction of childhood in the style of a children's book
Correct answer: the speaker's memories of their own childhood
an idealised view of someone's childhood