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Year 10
Edexcel

Analysing 'The Class Game'

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

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Analysing 'The Class Game'

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

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The poem is written in a deliberately colloquial manner to reflect the pride in Casey's roots.
  2. Rhetorical questions are used to force the reader to challenge their own prejudices.
  3. Contrasting images are used throughout the poem to contrast the differences between the social classes.
  4. The rhyming couplets used create a teasing tone and Casey does not take herself too seriously.
  5. Humour is used to soften the sense of conflict.

Common misconception

Casey's playful tone makes light of class conflict.

While Casey uses a playful tone which does lighten the mood of the poem, her use of repeated rhetorical questions foregrounds her more serious message about class prejudice.

Keywords

  • Caricatures - exaggerated or distorted representations of people or things, often used for humour

  • Prejudice - preconceived opinions or attitudes towards a person or group, often based on stereotypes

  • Compelling - persuasive, convincing

  • Colloquial - language commonly used in everyday speech, often specific to a particular region or social group

  • Rhyming couplets - a pair of successive lines of verse, typically rhyming and of the same length

You could encourage students to write their own poem, exploring the colloquialisms used by people in their local area.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Edexcel GCSE Poetry Anthology ('Conflict' cluster')

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a rhetorical question?
a question that seeks information or clarification
a question that invites a detailed response, allowing for varied opinions
Correct answer: a question posed used to make a point, not expecting an answer
a question that typically elicits a yes or no, limiting the range of responses
Q2.
What is slang?
words or expressions that are considered socially inappropriate or offensive
Correct answer: informal words or phrases not Standard English but commonly used in speech
standard, grammatically correct language used in professional writing
specialised terminology or jargon specific to a particular field or discipline
Q3.
Match up each of the social classes to the most appropriate definition.
Correct Answer:working class,unskilled or low-wage workers, least access to life opportunities

unskilled or low-wage workers, least access to life opportunities

Correct Answer:lower middle class,moderate income, 'white-collar jobs', some financial insecurity

moderate income, 'white-collar jobs', some financial insecurity

Correct Answer:upper middle class,substantial income and career, access to prestigious education

substantial income and career, access to prestigious education

Correct Answer:upper class,wealthy (usually inherited or business), lavish lifestyle, high status

wealthy (usually inherited or business), lavish lifestyle, high status

Q4.
'The Class Game' was written at the same time which UK Prime Minister assumed power?
Winston Churchill
Correct answer: Margaret Thatcher
Tony Blair
Rishi Sunak
Q5.
What is a sociolect?
variations in language influenced by age or generation
Correct answer: variations in language influenced by social factors like class or education
variations in language influenced by gender
variations in language influenced by where in the world you were born
Q6.
How does the speaker of 'The Class Game' feel about their working class roots?
ashamed
Correct answer: proud
frustrated
confused

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a caricature?
conceptual depiction of something, often conveying ideas or emotions
Correct answer: exaggerated or distorted representations of people or things, used for humour
figure of speech that draws a comparison between two unrelated things
simplified or exaggerated belief about a particular group of people
Q2.
Which of these quotations from 'A Class Game' is an example of colloquial language?
"second-hand"
"gullet"
"Wirral"
Correct answer: "corpy"
Q3.
When using a single paragraph outline, what should you include in your concluding sentence?
an introduction to your overall argument
Correct answer: a brief description of the main points of your argument in the pargraph
supporting evidence from the poem
links to the wider context of the poem, if it's relevant to do so
Q4.
Which of the following is a synonym for the word compelling?
Correct answer: persuasive, convincing
detailed, complex
creative, imaginative
well-written, concise
Q5.
Which poetic method is being described here? 'A pair of successive lines of verse, typically rhyming and of the same length.'
iambic pentameter
anaphora
repetition
Correct answer: rhyming couplets
Q6.
Complete this sentence: 'When writing analytical responses, it is important to explore ...'
one main interpretation of the poem in detail
Correct answer: multiple interpretations of the poem from different perspectives
as many quotes as possible
either language or structure (not both)