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Year 11
Edexcel

Analysing the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke

I can explain how Clarke uses language, form and structure to express her viewpoint.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Analysing the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke

I can explain how Clarke uses language, form and structure to express her viewpoint.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Clarke uses the semantic field of motherhood to explore the duality of parental relationships.
  2. The semantic field of conflict is used to represent motherhood as a battle.
  3. The change in tense between stanzas reflects how this conflict is an ongoing one.
  4. Repetition of the first line implies this is an authentic account of a personal conflict.
  5. The use of abstract imagery in lines 9-16 can interpreted both physically and emotionally symbolic

Common misconception

Lines 9-16 of the poem use abstract imagery to convey the moment of the birth in the hospital room.

While this is one way of interpreting these lines, others have argued the abstract images could reflect society's unfair expectations of mothers and the nature of the developing maternal relationship.

Keywords

  • Duality - opposing or contrasting elements existing together, often symbolising balance or conflict

  • Semantic field - a set of words grouped by a common theme

  • Abstract imagery - descriptive language that evokes ideas, emotions, or concepts rather than tangible objects or scenes

  • Symbolise - when a writer uses a concrete object to represent an abstract idea (e.g. hearts symbolise love)

  • Manifestation - how abstract ideas or emotions appear in the real world (through behaviours, actions etc.)

During this lesson, we explore Clarke's use of two different semantic fields. It would be a good idea to use different colours to annotate copies of the poem so students have a visual representation of the frequency of each semantic field.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of ‘Catrin’ by Gillian Clarke for this lesson. You can find this in the Edexcel Poetry Anthology (we will be using the ‘Conflict’ cluster).

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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why types of conflict can we identify in Gillian Clarke's poem 'Catrin'?
Correct answer: inner conflict
environmental conflict
Correct answer: interpersonal conflict
societal conflict
racial conflict
Q2.
Which two of the following themes best link to Gillian Clarke's poem 'Catrin'?
grief
Correct answer: independence
loneliness
worry
Correct answer: connection
Q3.
How are single paragraph outlines useful when writing an analytical paragraph?
they show you know how to plan
they stop you from making silly mistakes
Correct answer: they ensure you include a topic sentence and concluding sentence that are linked
they provide space for you to include a link to context in every paragraph
they enable you to analyse the supporting evidence in detail
Q4.
Which of the following are from the semantic field of childhood?
Correct answer: nursery rhyme
small
noisy
Correct answer: doll
energetic
Q5.
Which of the following words would you use to describe a mother-daughter relationship?
paternal
Correct answer: maternal
neonatal
Correct answer: parental
Q6.
Which of the following words are personal pronouns?
Correct answer: I
girl
Correct answer: we
mother
daughter

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does 'duality' mean?
the same or consistent throughout
open to multiple interpretations; unclear meaning
Correct answer: opposing or contrasting elements existing together
alike or having common characteristics
Q2.
Match each method to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:semantic field,a set of words grouped by a common theme

a set of words grouped by a common theme

Correct Answer:abstract imagery,descriptive language that evokes ideas, emotions or concepts

descriptive language that evokes ideas, emotions or concepts

Correct Answer:symbolism,using concrete objects/actions to represent abstract ideas

using concrete objects/actions to represent abstract ideas

Q3.
Which of the following are manifestations (actions) we associate with conflict?
red
furious
Correct answer: shouting
wild
Correct answer: fighting
Q4.
In lines 9-16 of 'Catrin', Clarke uses a series of shapes and symbols to reflect on the speaker's first meeting with her daughter after the birth. We could call this method ...
a simile.
Correct answer: abstract imagery.
words from the semantic field of conflict.
onomatopoeia.
Q5.
In the second half of 'Catrin', Clarke shifts to the present tense. Arguably, this implies that ...
the maternal relationship is something she is looking back on.
Correct answer: the maternal conflict is still ongoing.
the entire poem is a memory.
Clarke wanted to vary the pace and rhythm.
Q6.
Complete the missing word in this sentence: 'The best analysis paragraphs begin with a clear, comparative sentence that is linked to the question.'
Correct Answer: topic