Comparing attitudes to identity and longing in the Edexcel Belonging anthology
I can explain similarities and differences between poets' viewpoints.
Comparing attitudes to identity and longing in the Edexcel Belonging anthology
I can explain similarities and differences between poets' viewpoints.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Chingonyi, Dharker and Kunial's poetry all appear to show a yearning for a sense of belonging.
- They also explore the links between belonging, dislocation and individual identity.
- Dharker's speaker yearns to escape her current life by becoming someone else who is more confident and 'cool'.
- Chingonyi's poem feels more reflective, considering how different life may have been if the speaker had not left Zambia.
- Kunial takes a philosophical approach to thinking about identity and belonging, exploring the fine line between them.
Keywords
Tenuous - weak, slight, not strong or substantial
Intercultural identity - identity influenced by multiple cultures or ethnic backgrounds
Thematically - relating to the central ideas or messages in a poem
Yearning - deep longing or desire, often with an emotional intensity
Attitudes - beliefs or opinions towards something, typically influencing behaviour or decisions
Common misconception
All three poems explore conflict and belonging related to cultural identity because all three poets have an intercultural identity.
All three poets have an intercultural identity and this is reflected in many of their poems. However here, only 'Kumukanda' explores these ideas directly. Dharker focuses on identity and growing up; Kunial explores belonging in a more abstract way.
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Comparing attitudes to identity and longing in the Edexcel Belonging anthology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Comparing attitudes to identity and longing in the Edexcel Belonging anthology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Belonging poetry continued unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need a copy of 'Us' (Kunial), 'Kumukanda' (Chingonyi) and 'In Wales, wanting to be Italian' (Dharker) - all of which can be found in the Edexcel GCSE Poetry Anthology (Belonging cluster).
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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