a struggle within oneself between opposing desires, beliefs or emotions

simultaneously identifying with two different cultural backgrounds or traditions

deep sorrow caused by the loss of someone or something important

people who have been dispersed from their homeland, maintaining cultural connections to their origins

to express grief or feel sorrow over a loss or death

Comparing Chingonyi’s ‘Kumukanda’ to other Edexcel 'Belonging' poems

English

In 'Edexcel Belonging Poetry continued', pupils used a range of reading skills to aid the supported decoding of challenging poems. In 'Unseen Poetry', pupils use these reading skills to decode texts with independence.

In 'Edexcel Belonging Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of culture and belonging. In 'Edexcel Belonging Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons, focusing on the three final poems: *Kumukanda*, *In Wales, wanting to be Italian* and *Us*.

In this unit, pupis read and analyse three poems from the 'Belonging' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. At the end of the unit, pupils analyse themes from across the anthology and practise crafting a sophisticated comparative essay,

Poetry anthology: continued study

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

'The speaker reflects on whether an alternate version of himself who had never left the homeland would recognise or accept him now.' Which poem is being described here?

Which of the following poems could be compared to 'Kumukanda' to explore themes of cultural identity and separation?

the dispersion of people from their homeland to different parts of the world

a literary technique used in novels to depict historical events

a government in which power is divided between national and regional authorities

people often worry they aren't fully accepted in each of their cultures

people know they have to choose one cultural identity over the other

How can having a dual identity link to inner conflict?

Mourning is a way to process grief by trying to forget about someone's death.

Mourning means trying to contact someone's spirit in order to process grief.

People who are mourning the loss of someone will also feel grief at this loss.

Mourning and grief aren't linked - this is a common misconception.

How is the verb 'mourning' linked to the idea of 'grief'?

both include an alternate version of the speaker in the final stanza

both focus on memories of the past, comparing it to a disappointing present

both poems focus on how someone's cultural identity suffers when they emigrate

both poems focus on the past and how life is so much better now

How do 'Kumukanda' and 'I Remember, I Remember' both explore ideas of loss and grief?

a plot twist that occurs in more than one poem

a message or key idea shared by two poems

two poems written in the same period of history

What is a thematic connection between two poems?

unique traits and practices that define a specific profession

the biological characteristics inherited from one's parents

the personal hobbies and interests that one enjoys in their free time

a person's sense of belonging to a particular group of people

a type of dance move in traditional folk music

a character's inner thoughts and feelings

a repeated line or group of lines in a poem

a technique used to describe scenery in poetry

a nostalgic reflection on childhood in a rural village

a critique of modern technology and its impact on society

an epic poem about mythical creatures and magical lands

a political commentary on current global issues

Which of these describes the poem 'I Remember, I Remember'?

 a celebration of Jamaican cuisine and traditional music

a critique of colonial history and its impact on Jamaica

a fantasy poem set in a blend of Jamaican and British cultures

a reflection on the experiences and identity of being Jamaican and British

Which of these describes the poem 'Jamaican British'?

a celebration of urban life and its vibrancy

a nostalgic look at childhood memories and longing for a homeland

Which of these best describes the poem 'The Émigrée'?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Comparing Chingonyi’s ‘Kumukanda’ to other Edexcel 'Belonging' poems

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.