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.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The structure of a poem affects our journey, as the reader, through the poem.
  2. The structure gives us our first and last impression of the poem and therefore affects the tone.
  3. You can make inferences based on the length of the stanza or the length of each line in a poem.
  4. Enjambment and caesuras affect the pace of the poem.
  5. A break in the rhyme scheme can affect the meaning of the poem.

Common misconception

That structural choices happen accidentally.

Structural choices are consciously made by the poet in order to influence 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

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
An analysis of structure might include an analysis of ...
Correct answer: the number of stanzas.
Correct answer: the length of the lines.
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 ...
Correct Answer: enjambment
Q3.
The __________ of a poem expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience.
Correct answer: tone
mood
atmosphere
Q4.
'A pause or a break in a line of verse, often marked by punctuation' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: caesura
Q5.
To form a concept or idea of (something) is to it.
Correct Answer: conceptualise
Q6.
A break in the rhyme scheme of a poem might indicate ...
a return to order and control.
Correct answer: the beginning of chaos.
Correct answer: a change in the speaker.

6 Questions

Q1.
'A small part broken off or separated from something' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: fragment, a fragment
Q2.
'Combine or cause to combine to form a single entity' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: merge, to merge
Q3.
Match the structural technique with the possible interpretation.
Correct Answer:enjambment,sense of continuation or progression

sense of continuation or progression

Correct Answer:caesura,moment for reflection

moment for reflection

Correct Answer:half-rhyme,break in the pattern

break in the pattern

Q4.
'Break or cause to break' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: fracture, to fracture
Q5.
Freeman's choice to open with "thy" and "mine" in 'Nearness' could indicate ...
the selfishness of the speaker.
Correct answer: the separation of the individuals.
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.
Correct answer: There are three stanzas of equal length.

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