being distrustful of people - believing the worst about their intentions and their integrity

how the writer conveys their attitude towards their subject matter

giving the sense that something bad is going to happen

Analysing ideas of time and loss of innocence in Larkin's 'Afternoons'

English

Exploring the Eduqas poetry anthology

Understanding ideas of patriotism and optimism in Brooke's 'The Soldier'

Analysing Brooke's presentation of England and patriotism in 'The Soldier'

Considering the context of Sheers' 'Mametz Wood' and the futility of war

Analysing how Sheers presents the brutality and legacy of war in 'Mametz Wood'

Understanding how Armitage presents the effects of war in 'The Manhunt'

Analysing how Armitage presents the effects of war in 'The Manhunt'

Developing interpretations of ‘The Manhunt’ with Simon Armitage

Understanding how Hardy presents the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London'

Analysing Hardy's presentation of the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London'

Understanding the realities of war in Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est'

Analysing how Owen presents the realities of war in 'Dulce et Decorum Est'

Understanding the connections between Romanticism and Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

Analysing the concept of power in Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

Understanding ideas of power and corruption in Blake's 'London'

Analysing ideas of power and conflict in Blake's 'London'

Critical attitudes to powerful institutions in 'London' and 'Ozymandias'

Understanding ideas of community and resilience in Dharker's 'Living Space'

Analysing ideas of community and faith in Dharker's 'Living Space'

Understanding how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting'

Analysing how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting'

Understanding the presentation of love in Browning's 'Sonnet 43'

Analysing how Browning presents love in 'Sonnet 43'

Understanding how the woman is presented in Byron's 'She Walks in Beauty'

Analysing how Byron presents the woman in 'She Walks in Beauty'

Understanding ideas of time, family, and pessimism in Larkin's 'Afternoons'

Understanding 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove

Analysing 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove

Understanding 'Valentine' by Carol Ann Duffy

Analysing 'Valentine' by Carol Ann Duffy

Comparing how poets explore the experience of war in the Eduqas anthology

Comparing how poets explore relationships in the Eduqas anthology

Analysing model answers on poetry from the Eduqas anthology

Planning a written response on poetry from the Eduqas anthology

Writing excellent comparative essays on poetry from the Eduqas anthology

In 'Poetry anthology', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems. In 'Poetry anthology continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In 'A World at War: Poetry', pupils explore how poets presents the atrocities of World War One through their poetry. In 'Poetry anthology', pupils analyse how a variety of different wars have been presented through poetry.

In this unit, pupis explore 14 of the 18 poems from the Eduqas poetry anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis.  Pupils study the poems in a thematically linked order so they can complete comparative and thematic lessons during the unit.

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

What is the first word in the poem 'Afternoons'?

How does Larkin present the domestic duties the mothers have to undertake in the poem 'Afternoons'?

A scene of young mothers taking their children to the park is set.

We are given an insight into the domestic lives of the couples.

We hear how much obligation and responsibility the young mothers have.

Starting with the first, put the events of the poem 'Afternoons' in chronological order.

As well as having a child, what else does Larkin suggest threatens a mother's autonomy in 'Afternoons'?

 the lack of autonomy of the young mothers

the emotional distance between the couples

the transition to using new technology in relationships

the idea that the couples no longer rely on conversation for entertainment

What might the fact that the wedding album is "lying" next to the TV in 'Afternoons' represent?

Match the vocabulary up to its definition.

Which words give us the impression of youth in the first stanza of 'Afternoons'?

Which is the missing season: summer, spring, {{ }} and winter?

Which is the final word in the poem 'Afternoons'?

repetition of words or phrases in the first part of successive clauses

expressing personal emotions or feelings in a poetic, musical way 

intentionally repeating words, lines, stanzas

an invented perspective or speaker used by a writer

Larkin might be suggesting this loss of autonomy is happening to many people.

It might be the time of day at which Larkin is observing these families.

It could be the metaphorical afternoon of a person’s life.

It could be the time at which the poem is being read.

Which of the following is not an explanation for the title 'Afternoons'?

Starter Quiz

Who wrote the poem 'Afternoons'?