An excellent analytical response is clear, nuanced and concise.
A nuanced response acknowledges and explores the shades of meaning within the text.
Comparative connectives can be used to link ideas together and explore connections between poems.
Asking yourself 'why' can be a useful exercise when writing an analytical response.
You can use context to inform your comparison of the poets' perspectives.

Common misconception

Students often think that once they have written a response, it is the finished product.

The first draft is simply a first attempt - improvements can always be made and the second draft is always stronger.

Keywords

Nuanced - acknowledging the subtle shades of meaning within something
To reflect - thinking deeply or carefully
Clarity - the quality of being clear and easy to understand
Concise - using as few words as possible to express as much meaning as possible

You could model the annotation of the Oak pupil response in Learning Cycle 1 under a visualiser, simply using the resources as a prompt for discussion.

Teacher tip

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of upsetting 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.

Which poem in the Eduqas anthology was written by Ted Hughes?

'Living Space'

Correct answer: 'Hawk Roosting'

'London'

'A Wife in London'

'Mametz Wood'

Q2.

Which poem in the Eduqas anthology explores the mundanity in romantic relationships?

'She Walks in Beauty'

'Valentine'

Correct answer: 'Cozy Apologia'

'Sonnet 43'

Q3.

Which of the following poems in the Eduqas poetry anthology presents a romanticised portrayal of war?

'Mametz Wood'

'The Manhunt'

Correct answer: 'The Soldier'

'Ducle et Decorum Est'

Q4.

What is enjambment?

a pause or a break in a line of verse, often marked by punctuation

Correct answer: the continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line, stanza or couplet

expressing personal emotions or feelings in a poetic, musical way

words that imitate the natural sound associated with their meaning

Q5.

Which of the following poems were written about World War I?

'The Manhunt'

Correct answer: 'Dulce et Decorum Est'

Correct answer: 'Mametz Wood'

Correct answer: 'The Soldier'

'A Wife in London'

Q6.

Here is some context about one of the poets on the anthology. Which poet is it about? 'This poet served in World War I. He was sent home with shell-shock in 1917. He died 7 days before WWI ended.

Rupert Brooke

Ted Hughes

Philip Larkin

Correct answer: Wilfred Owen

Thomas Hardy

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Who wrote 'Ozymandias'?

Correct answer: Percy Bysshe Shelley

Ted Hughes

Wilfred Owen

Owen Sheers

Q2.

is the quality of being clear and easy to understand.

Correct Answer: Clarity

Q3.

What should a good thesis statement do?

introduce the poet and their life

Correct answer: introduce the main argument of the essay

introduce the key quotations you will be analysing

Q4.

What does nuanced mean?

explores unique and new perspectives

explores quotations in detail

Correct answer: explores and offers shades of meaning

Q5.

How can you ensure you write a nuanced, but concise response in a literature essay?

repeat the question word to explore layers of meaning

use antonyms for the question word to explore layers of meaning

Correct answer: use synonyms for the question word to explore layers of meaning

Q6.

Match the quotation up to the kind of power that is being explored in this moment of 'Ozymandias'.

Correct Answer:oppressive power,"The hand that mocked them"

"The hand that mocked them"

Correct Answer:the power of stories,"I met a traveller from an antique land"

"I met a traveller from an antique land"

Correct Answer:the power of nature,"Round the decay/ Of that colossal wreck"

"Round the decay/ Of that colossal wreck"

Correct Answer:the power of time,"Half-sunk, a shattered visage lies"

"Half-sunk, a shattered visage lies"