sentimental longing for the past, often idealised

meaning is unclear or open to interpretation

causing fear or apprehension, often due to perceived power or authority

lack of clarity or precision, characterised by an absence of specific details

exaggerated portrayal of someone that emphasises distinctive features or traits

Understanding the poem ‘Eden Rock’ by Charles Causley

English

Understanding 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers

Analysing 'Winter Swans' by Owen Sheers

Understanding the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy

Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy

Understanding the poem 'When We Two Parted' by Lord Byron

Analysing the poem  ‘When We Two Parted’ by Lord Byron

Identifying how poets convey heartbreak in natural settings

Analysing how poets convey heartbreak in natural settings

Understanding the poem ‘Sonnet 29’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Analysing the poem 'Sonnet 29' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Understanding the poem ‘Love’s Philosophy’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Analysing the poem 'Love's Philosophy' by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Understanding the poem ‘Letters from Yorkshire’ by Maura Dooley

Analysing the poem ‘Letters from Yorkshire’ by Maura Dooley

Identifying how poets reflect desire in natural settings

Analysing how poets reflect desire in natural settings

Analysing the poem 'Eden Rock' by Charles Causley

Understanding the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse

Analysing the poem 'Climbing My Grandfather' by Andrew Waterhouse

Understanding the poem 'Before You Were Mine' by Carol Ann Duffy

Analysing the poem 'Before You Were Mine' by Carol Ann Duffy

Identifying how poets reminisce and remember loved ones

Analysing how poets reminisce and remember loved ones

Understanding the poem ‘Mother, any distance’ by Simon Armitage

Analysing the poem 'Mother, any distance' by Simon Armitage

Developing interpretations of ‘Mother, any distance’ with Simon Armitage

Understanding the poem ‘Walking Away’ by Cecil Day-Lewis

Analysing the poem ‘Walking Away’ by Cecil Day-Lewis

Understanding the poem 'Follower' by Seamus Heaney

Analysing the poem 'Follower' by Seamus Heaney

Identifying how poets present relationships that change over time

Analysing how poets present relationships that change over time

In 'AQA Love and Relationships Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of love and relationships. In 'AQA Love and Relationships Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils explore how Angelou uses her poetry to present strong relationships to people and place. In 'AQA Love and Relationships Poetry', pupils analyse how a variety of different relationships have been presented across time.

In this unit, pupis explore 12 of the 15 poems from the 'Love and Relationships' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in four groups, and they pause after each group to compare how those poems present common themes.

Poetry anthology: first study

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

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

a person in a poem, story or other type of literary text

a memory from your childhood that evokes a particular emotion

an exaggerated portrayal of someone that emphasises their distinctive features 

two contrasting words or ideas that appear near to or next to each other

Which of these words is a synonym for 'vague'?

In 'Eden Rock', the "light" shining through the mother's hair presents her as kind and gentle because it could symbolise that she has...

Which of the quotes below from 'Eden Rock' suggests the speaker views his father as an intimidating person?

the speaker's impression of how his future children will view their parents

a depiction of childhood in the style of a children's book

the speaker's memories of their own childhood 

The hazy, dream-like mood of the poem means it can be interpreted as...

Which of these words is a synonym for 'traditional'?

'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare

'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett

'Sonnet 29' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

The Garden of Eden is a place found in which famous text?

If someone believes in traditional gender roles, they could be said to have __________ views.

It can help us to interpret a writer's influences and intentions.

It means you don't have to use as many quotations from the text.

It enables our analysis of a poem to be more nuanced and detailed.

It helps us to decide whether we like a poem or not.

Why is it important to consider the wider context of a poem?

Which of these words is a synonym for 'nostalgia'?

Which of these words is an example of tentative language?

Starter Quiz

Which of these words is a synonym for 'traditional'?