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Year 10
AQA

Understanding the poem ‘Letters from Yorkshire’ by Maura Dooley

I can explain how Maura Dooley presents the multifaceted effects of a long distance relationship.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Understanding the poem ‘Letters from Yorkshire’ by Maura Dooley

I can explain how Maura Dooley presents the multifaceted effects of a long distance relationship.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The speaker is enriched and comforted by her long-distance correspondence with a friend.
  2. Although their relationship is distanced, the speaker treasures it and looks forward to the man's letters.
  3. Dooley spent time living in the countryside so this could be a reflection of her longing to return to a natural setting.
  4. Dooley seems to depict an ambiguous relationship which could be platonic, romantic or familial.
  5. The speaker's admiration for her friend/relative causes her to question her own life choices.

Common misconception

The poem is about a long-distance romantic relationship.

The relationship between the speaker and the man who sends her letters is ambiguous; it could be platonic, romantic or familial.

Keywords

  • Sentimental - emotional attachment or value often associated with memories.

  • Ambiguous - having an unclear meaning or one that has multiple interpretations.

  • Platonic - intimate friendship devoid of romantic or sexual involvement.

  • Moral value - beliefs governing right and wrong conduct, guiding ethical decisions and actions.

  • Kindred - sharing similar qualities, interests, or origins.

For the final task, display a range of different key ideas/interpretations from the poem on A3 paper and encourage students to go around the room, annotating each key idea with supporting evidence, context or a justification. Students can also respond to answers from their peers.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to the poem 'Letters from Yorkshire' by Maura Dooley. This can be found in the AQA Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology.

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.
What does the word 'nostalgia' mean?
feeling of discontent or resentment aroused by another's possessions
lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern towards something
showing compassion or understanding towards another's emotions or situation
understanding and sharing another's feelings, perspectives, and experiences
Correct answer: emotional longing for past experiences or moments, accompanied by fond memories
Q2.
If the meaning of something is uncertain and it is open to multiple interpretations, we could describe it as...
Correct Answer: ambiguous
Q3.
Words such as 'perhaps', 'possibly', 'may', 'suggests', that offer a response rather than stating it as a concrete fact are examples of __________ language.
inventive
alternative
Correct answer: tentative
exhaustive
ablative
Q4.
Match up each of these words to the correct meaning.
Correct Answer:rural,relating to countryside areas, villages or farming communities

relating to countryside areas, villages or farming communities

Correct Answer:urban,relating to cities or densely populated areas; modern and diverse

relating to cities or densely populated areas; modern and diverse

Correct Answer:media,channels of communication, such as newspapers, TV, and the internet

channels of communication, such as newspapers, TV, and the internet

Correct Answer:agricultural,relating to farming or cultivation of crops/livestock for food

relating to farming or cultivation of crops/livestock for food

Correct Answer:wholesome,embodying purity, goodness, and moral integrity

embodying purity, goodness, and moral integrity

Correct Answer:yearning,deep longing or intense desire for something

deep longing or intense desire for something

Q5.
What is symbolism?
repeating words at the beginning of successive clauses or phrases for emphasis
series of items in a sentence without conjunctions, creating a sense of urgency
attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities, animals, or objects
Correct answer: signifying ideas, emotions or concepts through concrete objects or actions
repetition of hissing "s" or "sh" sounds in speech or writing for effect
Q6.
Analysis should be led by __________ and supported by evidence from the text.
identification of writer's methods
key quotations
Correct answer: key ideas/inferences
wider contextual knowledge
facts about the text

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is 'moral value'?
belief in something without proof, often associated with religion
Correct answer: beliefs governing right and wrong conduct, guiding ethical decisions and actions
confidential information kept hidden or undisclosed
stimulus sparking creativity, motivation, or profound emotions
convincing someone to adopt a belief through reasoning or manipulation
Q2.
Match each relationship type to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:platonic,intimate friendship without romantic or sexual involvement

intimate friendship without romantic or sexual involvement

Correct Answer:romantic,often involving passion, intimacy, and emotional connection

often involving passion, intimacy, and emotional connection

Correct Answer:familial,characterised by blood ties, kinship, or close emotional bonds

characterised by blood ties, kinship, or close emotional bonds

Q3.
How does line 5 from 'Letters from Yorkshire' imply that the speaker may have unrequited romantic feelings for the man from Yorkshire?
She is being ironic when she says that it's "not" a romantic relationship.
The second half of the line implies the speaker hopes the situation will change
Correct answer: The phrasing sounds like a sound-bite, as if she may be repeating his words.
The line mentions "romance" which is love associated with passion and intimacy.
"Simply" reveals the speaker is willing to rise to challenge of wooing this man.
Q4.
Which of these key ideas would you not associate with 'Letters from Yorkshire'?
distance
nostalgia
friendship
Correct answer: bereavement
longing
Q5.
Many have argued that 'Letters from Yorkshire' is about platonic friends whereas others have argued there is a familial connection, suggesting that Dooley based the male character on her...
brother
Correct answer: father
uncle
grandfather
husband
Q6.
In 'Letters from Yorkshire' Dooley seems to depict an ambiguous relationship which could be __________, romantic or familial.
platonic
sentimental
kindred