intense sorrow usually associated with the death of something or someone

not restricted to a particular time or date

Understanding the poem 'Poppies'

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 final three poems: *Poppies*, *Catrin* and *Cousin Kate*..

In this unit, pupis read and analyse three poems from the 'Conflict' 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

to keep something under control and not let it come to the surface

concern more with the desires and needs of others rather than one’s own

Analysing the poem 'Poppies'

uselessness, pointlessness or ineffectiveness

lacking a strong basis, support, or clarity; weak or easily challenged

when something supports something else or makes it more effective

a story begins in the middle of the action without any exposition or introduction

A comparison of ‘Poppies’ by Jane Weir with other Edexcel 'Conflict' poems

related to or characteristic of a parent or parenthood

widespread or commonly occurring within a particular area or at a particular time

a medical device that provides a controlled environment to support the growth of (often) premature or ill babies

psychological struggle within a person, often involving contradictory emotions or desires

disagreement or clash between individuals due to differing opinions, needs, or interests

Understanding the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke

opposing or contrasting elements existing together, often symbolising balance or conflict

descriptive language that evokes ideas, emotions, or concepts rather than tangible objects or scenes

when a writer uses a concrete object to represent an abstract idea (e.g. hearts symbolise love)

how abstract ideas or emotions appear in the real world (through behaviours, actions etc.)

Analysing the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke

exploitative behaviour aimed at taking advantage of others

something or someone that affects others' behaviours, decisions, or beliefs

societal norms dictating appropriate behaviours for different genders

disagreements and struggles within a society

a social system dominated by men, with power centred around male authority

Understanding the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti

being unable or unwilling to believe something; disbelief

literature idealising rural life and nature, often contrasting with urban experiences

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences

a poem where a single character speaks to a silent audience, revealing their thoughts

a narrative poem, often set to music, using simple language, repetition, and a regular rhyme scheme

Analysing the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti

a social system in which men hold primary power and dominate roles in leadership

characteristics associated with being a mother, such as nurturing, caring and protective qualities

an individual's interpretation or understanding of a particular situation, object or event

showing selfless concern for the well-being of others, often putting their needs before one's own

discrimination embedded within organisations that disadvantage people based on their gender

Comparing women's conflict in the Edexcel 'Conflict' anthology

words that link and contrast ideas, like 'but', 'although', and 'whereas'

paired conjunctions like 'either/or' and 'neither/nor' that work together to join ideas

adjectives or adverbs expressing the highest degree, like 'best' or 'most important'

related to the central subject or underlying message of a literary work

not obvious; requiring careful attention to notice or understand

Making connections between poems in the Edexcel 'Conflict' cluster

weak or easily challenged; lacking strength, clarity or significance

opening paragraph of an analytical response where you state your overarching argument

opening sentence of an analysis paragraph where you introduce your argument

final summary of an analytical response that wraps up and reinforces main point

Planning an extended and developed response on Edexcel 'Conflict' poetry

less obvious; nuanced; complex or understated

words and phrases used to signpost similarities and differences

language which indicates a suggestion or idea (as opposed to a fact)

language used to signpost different parts of a text (e.g. in conclusion)

rewriting parts of your work to include missing elements or upgrade the quality of your response

Poetry anthology: continued study

Conflict poetry continued

Choose a lesson (11)

These lessons will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.