Analysing ideas of community and faith in Dharker's 'Living Space'
I can analyse how Dharker uses language, form and structure to celebrate human ingenuity.
Analysing ideas of community and faith in Dharker's 'Living Space'
I can analyse how Dharker uses language, form and structure to celebrate human ingenuity.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- In the poem, Dharker shows us the unifying qualities of faith and hope.
- Dharker juxtaposes shapes in the poem, arguably to reflect the fragility and beauty of human life.
- The fragility of the eggs arguably reflects the fragility of the people’s hope and faith.
- The poem’s irregular structure might reflect the irregular structure of the slum itself.
- Dharker marvels at the way in which the slum communities find solutions to “problems” - she celebrates human ingenuity.
Keywords
Unifying - to bring together
To juxtapose - to contrast two ideas by placing them next to another another
Inhabitant - someone who lives in a particular area or place
To marvel - to admire/ to appreciate
Ingenuity - skilled at working out how to do things or how to invent things
Common misconception
Students think that Dharker is critical of the structures in the slums.
Though Dharker portrays how dangerous these buildings are, she also shows great admiration of the slum community's resourcefulness in building these structures - she celebrates their fortitude and resilience in the face of adversity.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.
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).
Lesson video
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