a feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group or particular place

the history, traditions, practices, etc. of a particular country or society that continue to be important

stand or wait around without apparent purpose

associated with the place or circumstances of a person's birth

to think of or represent someone or something as perfect

Understanding ideas of belonging in McKay’s ‘I Shall Return’

English

Understanding the poem 'War Photographer'

Analysing the poem 'War Photographer'

Understanding ideas of dehumanisation and apathy in Ghose’s ‘Decomposition’

Analysing ideas of dehumanisation and apathy in Ghose’s ‘Decomposition’

Comparing ideas of art in Duffy's 'War Photographer' and Ghose's 'Decomposition'

Analysing ideas of belonging and heritage in McKay’s ‘I shall return’

Understanding ideas of belonging in Wordsworth's 'I wandered lonely as a cloud'

Analysing ideas of belonging in Wordsworth's 'I wandered lonely as a cloud'

Comparing belonging in 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' and 'I Shall Return'

Planning an extended written response on the Eduqas 2025 poetry anthology

Writing an extended written response on the Eduqas 2025 poetry anthology

In 'AQA Power and Conflict 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 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of power and conflict. In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In this unit, pupis read and analyse four poems from the Eduqas poetry 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

Is the following statement true or false: 'In 'I Shall Return', McKay presents the speaker's home as joyous and special.'

The speaker is anticipating leaving their home.

The speaker is longing to return to New York.

Which of the following is an accurate summary of McKay's 'I Shall Return'?

'Stand or wait around without apparent purpose' is the definition of which of the following?

They have been able to embrace it outside of their home.

They have not been able to be open about their heritage outside of their home.

The speaker has felt a sense of freedom from their heritage.

The speaker of McKay's 'I Shall Return' implies which of the following about their heritage?

'To think of or represent someone or something as perfect' is the definition of which of the following?

Is this statement true or false: 'In 'I Shall Return', McKay presents an idealised view of rural, peasant life.'

The words 'golden' and 'sapphire' have connotations of which of the following?

'A feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group or particular place' is the definition of which word beginning with 'b'?

Which of the following is the definition of the word 'wonder'?

'Free from anxiety or responsibility' is the definition of which of the following?

'Shall' is a modal verb that indicates which of the following?

'The history, traditions, practices, etc. of a particular country or society that continue to be important' is the definition of which word beginning with 'h'?

Understanding ideas of belonging in McKay’s ‘I Shall Return’

Lesson outcome

Content guidance