New
New
Year 11
AQA
Structural analysis of unseen poetry
I can explore the impact of structural choices within unseen poetry.
New
New
Year 11
AQA
Structural analysis of unseen poetry
I can explore the impact of structural choices within unseen poetry.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The structure of a poem affects our journey, as the reader, through the poem.
- The structure gives us our first and last impression of the poem and therefore affects the tone.
- You can make inferences based on the length of the stanza or the length of each line in a poem.
- Enjambment and caesuras affect the pace of the poem.
- A break in the rhyme scheme can affect the meaning of the poem.
Keywords
Conceptualise - form a concept or idea of (something)
Fragment - a small part broken off or separated from something
Merge - combine or cause to combine to form a single entity
Fracture - break or cause to break
Common misconception
That structural choices happen accidentally.
Structural choices are consciously made by the poet in order to influence the meaning of the poem.
It may be useful for the students to compare their notes on which structural choices they would make for a poem about love in Learning Cycle 1 to help them see how we might interpret it differently.
Teacher tip
Equipment
A copy of John Freeman's 'Nearness' is in the additional materials.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
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.
An analysis of structure might include an analysis of ...
the use of personification.
the use of onomatopoeia.
Q2.
'The continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line, stanza or couplet' is the definition of ...
Q3.
The __________ of a poem expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience.
mood
atmosphere
Q4.
'A pause or a break in a line of verse, often marked by punctuation' is the definition of ...
Q5.
To form a concept or idea of (something) is to it.
Q6.
A break in the rhyme scheme of a poem might indicate ...
a return to order and control.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
'A small part broken off or separated from something' is the definition of ...
Q2.
'Combine or cause to combine to form a single entity' is the definition of ...
Q3.
Match the structural technique with the possible interpretation.
sense of continuation or progression
moment for reflection
break in the pattern
Q4.
'Break or cause to break' is the definition of ...
Q5.
Freeman's choice to open with "thy" and "mine" in 'Nearness' could indicate ...
the selfishness of the speaker.
the unity of the individuals.
Q6.
Which of the following statements is true of the structure of Freeman's 'Nearness'?
There are two stanzas of equal length.
There is one stanza.
Additional material
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