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Year 11
Edexcel

Explaining comparative imagery in unseen poetry

I can understand and explain the use of comparative imagery in a poem.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Explaining comparative imagery in unseen poetry

I can understand and explain the use of comparative imagery in a poem.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Analysing comparative imagery can offer a rich textual analysis.
  2. Arguably, similes and metaphors are conceptually different.
  3. The comparative imagery throughout ‘Mother, Diving’ could show how the mother has found freedom.
  4. The comparative imagery could also represent the mother subverting maternal stereotypes.

Common misconception

That similes and metaphors are interchangeable.

Similes and metaphors are conceptually different since, in a simile, one thing does not become another while in a metaphor they do become each other.

Keywords

  • Conceptualise - form a concept or idea of (something)

  • Vulnerable - able to be easily hurt, influenced, or attacked

  • Conquer - to overcome (an obstacle, feeling, desire, etc)

  • Transformation - a complete change in the appearance or character of something or someone

It may be useful for pupils to share which comparative image they would choose to show the idea of conscious construction behind a poem.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of Andrew Forster's 'Mother, Diving'. It's available in the additional materials.

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.
'A figure of speech that involves comparing two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as' ' is the definition of a ...
Correct Answer: simile
Q2.
'A guess that you make or an opinion that you form based on the information that you have' is the definition of an ...
Correct Answer: inference
Q3.
'A figure of speech that involves comparing two things using the verb 'to be' ' is the definition of a ...
Correct Answer: metaphor
Q4.
Birds in literature generally represent ...
pleasure.
Correct answer: freedom.
death.
Q5.
To 'taunt' someone means to ...
intentionally try to cheer someone up.
Correct answer: intentionally try to upset someone.
intentionally try to distract someone.
Q6.
Stereotypically, we associate mothers with ideas of ...
adventure.
Correct answer: predictability.
spontaneity.
Correct answer: stability.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
'Form a concept or idea of (something)' is the definition of .
Correct Answer: conceptualise
Q2.
'Able to be easily hurt, influenced, or attacked' is the definition of being .
Correct Answer: vulnerable
Q3.
Which of the following is a fair summary of Forster's 'Mother, Diving'?
The mother is paralysed by her fear of swimming and diving.
Correct answer: The mother overcomes her fear of diving from the high board.
The poem celebrates the mother's love of swimming and the freedom it gives her.
Q4.
Which comparative image in Forster's 'Mother, Diving' could suggest the subversion of maternal stereotypes?
"dolphin"
"guillemot"
Correct answer: "Johnny Weissmuller"
Q5.
'To overcome (an obstacle, feeling, desire, etc)' is the definition of .
Correct Answer: conquer, conquering, to conquer
Q6.
Forster's choice to use a metaphor as the final comparative image in 'Mother, Diving' could suggest ...
that the mother hasn't changed.
Correct answer: that the mother is completely transformed.
that the mother may have changed but not fundamentally.

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