New
New
Year 11
AQA
Explaining comparative imagery in unseen poetry
I can understand and explain the use of comparative imagery in a poem.
New
New
Year 11
AQA
Explaining comparative imagery in unseen poetry
I can understand and explain the use of comparative imagery in a poem.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Analysing comparative imagery can offer a rich textual analysis.
- Arguably, similes and metaphors are conceptually different.
- The comparative imagery throughout ‘Mother, Diving’ could show how the mother has found freedom.
- The comparative imagery could also represent the mother subverting maternal stereotypes.
Keywords
Conceptualise - form a concept or idea of (something)
Vulnerable - able to be easily hurt, influenced, or attacked
Conquer - to overcome (an obstacle, feeling, desire, etc)
Transformation - a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone
Common misconception
That similes and metaphors are interchangeable.
Similes and metaphors are conceptually different since, in a simile, one thing does not become another while in a metaphor they do become each other.
It may be useful for pupils to share which comparative image they would choose to show the idea of conscious construction behind a poem.
Teacher tip
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Andrew Forster's 'Mother, Diving'. It's available in the additional materials.
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).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
'A figure of speech that involves comparing two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as' ' is the definition of a ...
Q2.
'A guess that you make or an opinion that you form based on the information that you have' is the definition of an ...
Q3.
'A figure of speech that involves comparing two things using the verb 'to be' ' is the definition of a ...
Q4.
Birds in literature generally represent ...
pleasure.
death.
Q5.
To 'taunt' someone means to ...
intentionally try to cheer someone up.
intentionally try to distract someone.
Q6.
Stereotypically, we associate mothers with ideas of ...
adventure.
spontaneity.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
'Form a concept or idea of (something)' is the definition of .
Q2.
'Able to be easily hurt, influenced, or attacked' is the definition of being .
Q3.
Which of the following is a fair summary of Forster's 'Mother, Diving'?
The mother is paralysed by her fear of swimming and diving.
The poem celebrates the mother's love of swimming and the freedom it gives her.
Q4.
Which comparative image in Forster's 'Mother, Diving' could suggest the subversion of maternal stereotypes?
"dolphin"
"guillemot"
Q5.
'To overcome (an obstacle, feeling, desire, etc)' is the definition of .
Q6.
Forster's choice to use a metaphor as the final comparative image in 'Mother, Diving' could suggest ...
that the mother hasn't changed.
that the mother may have changed but not fundamentally.
Additional material
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