New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Analysing how Wordsworth presents nature in 'To My Sister'

I can explain how Wordsworth uses language and structure to present an idyllic view of nature and arguably suggest that mankind belongs in nature in ‘To My Sister’.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Analysing how Wordsworth presents nature in 'To My Sister'

I can explain how Wordsworth uses language and structure to present an idyllic view of nature and arguably suggest that mankind belongs in nature in ‘To My Sister’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Arguably, Wordsworth uses sibilance, assonance, and euphony to contribute to the idea that nature is idyllic.
  2. Wordsworth may use asyndetic listing to show nature as enveloping.
  3. Wordsworth arguably implies that nature appeals to our rational "minds" as well as our emotions.
  4. The regularity of the rhyme scheme could also contribute to the image of nature as idyllic.

Common misconception

That the use of sibilance creates a harsh, sinister atmosphere.

While the hissing sound of sibilance can create a harsh atmosphere, we can also interpret it as a shushing sound that creates a calm atmosphere.

Keywords

  • Idyllic - extremely pleasant, beautiful or peaceful

  • Asyndetic listing - listing connected with a comma instead of a conjunction/connective

  • Sibilance - repetition of the hissing sound "s" in nearby words

  • Euphony - the combining of words to create a pleasing sound

  • Assonance - the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other in a sentence or phrase

It would be useful to recap Wordsworth's 'To My Sister' before this lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the Edexcel Belonging anthology for this lesson.

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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6 Questions

Q1.
Which season do we typically think of as representing new beginnings?
Correct answer: spring
summer
autumn
winter
Q2.
'Attribution of human characteristics to non-human things' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: personification, personifying
Q3.
'Repetition of the hissing sound "s" in nearby words' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: sibilance
Q4.
Match the rhyming pairs.
Correct Answer:March,larch

larch

Correct Answer:before,door

door

Correct Answer:mine,resign

resign

Correct Answer:birth,earth

earth

Q5.
Which part of the body do we associate with rationality?
the heart
Correct answer: the mind
the eyes
Q6.
Idyllic means something ...
discordant.
Correct answer: pleasant.
monotonous.

6 Questions

Q1.
Arguably, Wordsworth's 'To My Sister' creates the impression that nature is ...
discordant.
Correct answer: idyllic.
distant.
Q2.
Wordsworth's 'To My Sister' employs a regular rhyme scheme which adds to the impression that nature is ...
in control.
Correct answer: harmonious.
chaotic.
Q3.
'The combining of words to create a pleasing sound' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: euphony, euphonic, euphonic sounds
Q4.
'The repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other in a sentence or phrase' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: assonance
Q5.
'Listing connected with a comma instead of a conjunction/connective' is the definition of listing.
Correct Answer: asyndetic
Q6.
The quote "our minds shall drink at every pore" from Wordsworth's 'To My Sister' suggests that nature will fulfil their __________ side.
emotional
spiritual
Correct answer: rational