Lesson video

Hello, everyone, it's lovely to see you here today.

My name's Dr.

Clayton, and I'm here to guide you through your learning journey today.

So today's lesson is called "Comparing belonging in 'I wandered lonely as a cloud,' and 'I Shall Return.

'" So we're gonna be thinking about how we can compare ideas of belonging in general, but then also how we might compare ideas of belonging in nature.

So if you're ready, grab your pen, laptop, whatever you need for this lesson and let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to compare how Wordsworth and McKay present ideas of belonging and nature.

So we have five words today we're going to be using as our keywords.

They'll been identified in bold throughout the learning material, and I'll try to point out to them to you as well so you can see them being used in context.

So our first keyword is belonging, which means the feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group, or in a particular place.

We're going to be them about how we can compare these ideas within Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a cloud," and McKay's "I Shall Return." Our second keyword is nuanced, which means it has subtle details that make it complex and interesting.

When we compare poems, we're looking for overall similarities, but also nuanced differences within those similarities.

Our third keyword is Romanticism, which was an 18th and 19th century artistic and literary movement that celebrated nature, emotion, and individuality.

Now, Wordsworth's a leading Romantic poet, and McKay was influenced by the Romantic conventions.

Our fourth keyword is sublime, which is the Romantic idea that we should feel awe towards nature, it's a mixture of both fear and respect.

We're gonna be thinking about whether we see this idea of the sublime in both poems. And our final keyword heritage, which means the history, traditions, practises of a particular country, society that continue to be important.

We're going to be thinking about how McKay arguably connects ideas of heritage to ideas of belonging.

So I'll just give you a moment to write down those keywords and their definitions.

So pause the video, write them down now.

Fantastic.

Let's get started with the lesson.

So we have two learning cycles in our lesson today.

For our first learning cycle, we're going to be comparing ideas of belonging in Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a cloud," and McKay's "I Shall Return." And thinking about overall similarities we can see, but also what the nuanced differences are.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to be comparing ideas of nature and whether we see the ideas of a Romantic sublime reflected in both poems. Now, when comparing poets, it might be useful to think of them as in conversation with each other.

Arguably both Wordsworth and McKay consider ideas of belonging in "I wandered lonely as a cloud," and "I Shall Return." So what I'd like you to start off by thinking about is what overall big idea about belonging might Wordsworth and McKay both agree on? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

And you might have said, "An overall similarities that both poets agree that a sense of belongings accompanied by joy and happiness.

So, now let's think about what overall similarities we can see within that big idea.

So what I'd like you to think about are the following quotations.

So we have, "When all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils," from Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a cloud." And from McKay's "I Shall Return," we have, "I shall return to hear the fiddle and fife of village dances, dear delicious tunes." And what I'd like you to think about is what similarities can you see about the idea of where a sense of belonging comes from? What might the significance of this be? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now one of our Oak pupils Aisha said, "I think they both suggest a sense of belonging is something that's found from an outside source.

They both imply belonging comes from an external place, created by something other than yourself.

Wordsworth's speaker finds it in nature while McKay's speaker finds it when they're in their home." So what I'd like to think about is whether or not you agree with Aisha, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now this is a nuanced similarity within the overall big idea.

We've said they both agree that belonging brings a sense of joy and satisfaction, and now we're saying that joy and satisfaction comes from something external to you.

It's not something you can create by yourself.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false that Wordsworth and McKay associate the same emotions with a sense of belonging? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Now the correct answer is true.

Now I like you to tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said, both Wordsworth and McKay associate joy and happiness with a sense of belonging.

So very well done if you got those right.

So, our overall similarities might be, both poets suggest a sense of belonging brings happiness and joy.

Both poets suggest a sense of belonging comes from an external rather than internal source.

Now we're going to think about what nuanced differences we can see within those overall similarities.

Now nuanced, one of our keywords, means how subtle details that make it complex and interesting.

So we're thinking about the subtle differences that add complexity and interest to our argument.

Now arguably both poets suggest a sense of belonging can be found in nature and simple rural places.

So what I'd like you to do is think about the following quotations.

So we have "When all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils," from Wordsworth's, "I wandered lonely as a cloud." And "Of village dances dear delicious tunes, that stir the hidden depths of native life," from McKay's "I Shall Return." And what I'd like you to think about is what differences can you see between how the poets present ideas of belonging? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Well come back everyone, some great ideas there.

Now one of our Oak pupils, Jacob said, "While both poets suggests that nature accompanies a sense of belonging, McKay specifically connects ideas of heritage to a sense of belonging, while Wordsworth does not.

McKay's ideas of native life suggest that for speaker they need to feel connected to their heritage in order to feel as if they belong." So what I'd like you to do is say whether or not you agree with Jacob, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now I think this is a really important distinction here.

Wordsworth doesn't mention ideas of humanity or society at all in the poem.

The speaker's happiness comes from nature alone.

But McKay's speaker does reference humanity, and how he needs that connected to his heritage and his past to feel joy.

So now for a quick check for understanding, what I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

So is it true or false, both Wordsworth and McKay imply a connection to one's heritage is part of belonging.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is false.

Now I'd like to tell me why it's false.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said, while McKay suggests a sense of heritage is part of belonging, Wordsworth associates belonging with nature rather than heritage.

So very well done if you've got those right.

Now, arguably both poets suggest that the speakers feel pain and loneliness when they're separated from their place of belonging.

So what I'd like to think about are the following quotations.

We have, "They flash upon the inward eye, which is the bliss of solitude.

And then my heart with pleasure fills," from Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a cloud." And "I shall return, I shall return again to ease my mind of long, long years of pain," from McKay's "I Shall Return." And what I'd like to think about is what differences can you see between how the poets present ideas of belonging? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

One of our Oak pupils, Laura said, "By talking about an inward eye, I think Wordsworth's suggesting the speaker can feel pleasure and joy simply by thinking about the daffodils.

They don't have to physically be there.

On the other hand, McKay suggests that the speaker needs to physically return home in order to ease their pain, which implies that thinking of their home alone is not enough." So what I'd like you to think about is whether or not you agree with Laura, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now I think this the most important difference between the two poems in terms of belonging.

It's the idea that Wordsworth is saying you can soothe yourself just by thinking about where you belong.

And McKay is saying you have to physically be there in order to do so.

I think it's a really nuanced way of thinking about how we gain this happiness and joy from feeling as if we belong.

So, now for a quick check for understanding.

So what I'd like you to do is tell me which the following statements is true.

Is it A, both Wordsworth and McKay suggest you have to physically be in a place to feel a sense of belonging.

B, McKay implies you can simply imagine being in a place to feel a sense of belonging.

Or C, Wordsworth implies you can simply imagine being in a place to feel a sense of belonging.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now McKay suggests you have to physically be in a place to feel a sense of belonging, or Wordsworth suggests you can simply imagine it.

So the correct answer is C, Wordsworth implies you can simply imagine being in a place to feel a sense of belonging.

So very well done if you got that right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

Now for the first task of the lesson.

So what I'd like you to do is write a comparative introduction to the question, "How do Wordsworth and McKay present ideas of belonging in, "I wandered lonely as a cloud," and "I Shall Return." Now remember, a comparative introduction should explain your overarching argument about the poems in response to the question.

Reveal what you think the similarities and differences are between the poems in response to the question.

Now, an effective introduction might move from the general to the specific.

So you might start with a sentence about both poems and poets exploring the overarching similarity between them.

Then you might narrow down on the similarities in both poems in relation to big ideas.

And then you might explain your specific thesis, so the nuanced differences within that similarity.

So pause the video, write your comparative introduction now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some amazing work there.

What I'd like you to do is think about Izzy's introduction, and whether or not you agree.

So Izzy said, "Both Wordsworth and McKay express the idea that feeling a sense of belonging brings emotions of joy and happiness.

More specifically both poets suggest this sense of belonging comes from a connection to an external source rather than being something intrinsic to us.

However, Wordsworth implies it's enough merely to imagine you're connected to that external source to feel joy, while McKay suggests you have to physically be within that place in order to feel as though you belong.

So pause the video, think about whether or not you agree with Izzy.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now we're moving on to the second learning cycle.

We're going to think about how we might compare ideas of nature and the sublime.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now on to the second learning cycle.

We're going to compare how Wordsworth and McKay present ideas of nature and the Romantic sublime.

So arguably, both Wordsworth and McKay suggest that nature's connected to ideas of belonging.

So what I'd like you to think about is the following quotations.

So we have, "A host of golden daffodils beside the lake, beneath the trees fluttering and dancing in the breeze," from Wordsworth's "I wandered lonely as a cloud." And, "I shall return to loiter by the streams, that bathe the brown blades of the bending grasses," from McKay's, "I Shall Return." And what I'd like you to think about is what similarities can you see in how Wordsworth and McKay present ideas of belonging and nature.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now one of our Oak pupils, Sofia said, "Here, we see both Wordsworth and McKay personifying nature, which I think creates an emotional connection between humanity and nature because it suggests that nature shares physical and emotional attributes with humanity.

Furthermore, there's a sense of harmony in nature through the idea of a "host of daffodils dancing together," and "the streams bathe in the grass," which creates a sense of contentment and joy.

So what I'd like you to think about is do you agree with Sofia, why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now I think this personification of nature is key because it shows nature coming together and working to create harmony and joy.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false, that both Wordsworth and McKay imply there's an emotional connection between nature and humanity.

Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Now the correct answer is true.

Now I'd tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said, both Wordsworth and McKay personify nature which creates an emotional connection because it suggests that nature shares physical and emotional characteristics with humanity.

So very well done if you got those right.

Now, as well as ideas of beauty and harmony being associated with nature, we also arguably might see ideas of the Romantic sublime within Wordsworth, "I wandered lonely as a cloud," through the comparison of the daffodils to stars, and the irregular moments in the rhythm.

Now the sublime is the idea we should feel awe towards nature, a mixture both fear and respect.

Thus Romantic artists and poets depicted nature to be not only beautiful but powerful, unpredictable, and destructive.

So what I'd like you to do is think about the following quotation from McKay's "I Shall Return." "At golden noon the forest fires burn wafting their blue-black smoke to sapphire skies." And I'd like to think about whether or not you think we see ideas of the Romantic sublime here.

Why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

Now one of our Oak pupils, Lucas said, "I'm not sure we do see ideas of the Romantic sublime here.

I think the reference to forest fires could point to the power and danger of nature.

But I don't get the sense that the speaker feels awe towards it.

The image of wafting smoke creates the idea of something gentle rather than something fearful.

I think they see nature as beautiful and harmonious, rather than feeling fear towards it.

So what I'd like you to think about is whether or not you agree with Lucas.

Why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, there's no right answer to this question.

It's entirely up to your interpretation of the poem and how you see the imagery of nature.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false, McKay definitely creates ideas of the Romantic sublime in "I Shall Return." Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Now the correct answer is false.

Now I'd like you to tell me why it's false.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said, though we might see McKay as referencing the potentially destructive power of nature, we do not get a definitive sense of fear towards nature.

So very well done if you got those right.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're on the final task of the lesson.

Now, Wordsworth was a leading Romantic poet and some of the conventions of Romanticism are, an emphasis on emotion and individuality, a glorification of the past and of nature, a celebration of the imagination and solitude, an emphasis on creativity and moving away from tradition.

Now, McKay was writing after the Romantic period.

However, we might see him adhering to Romantic conventions.

To what extent do you agree with that statement? I'd like to use evidence from the text to support your answer.

So pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back, everyone, some great work there.

So what I'd like you to do is think about Alex's ideas and whether or not you agree.

So Alex said, "I agree we can see McKay adhering to Romantic conventions.

I think we see a celebration of nature in the poem through the harmonious image of the streams bathe in the grass.

I don't necessarily see the Romantic sublime in 'I Shall Return,' but I don't think that diminishes the celebration of nature in the poem.

Furthermore, I think we can see a celebration of the past through the speaker's association of their heritage with their sense of belonging.

Moreover, I think the speaker acknowledges their emotional sensitivity by suggesting that returning home will 'ease my mind of long, long years of pain.

'" So pause the video, think about whether or not you agree with Alex.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, this is one way you might compare ideas of context when you're comparing poets.

Think about the conventions and how both poets are rather conforming or subverting those conventions, and what the purpose behind those choices might have been.

You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

Both Wordsworth and McKay arguably suggest a sense of belonging comes from an external source.

While both poets associate nature with belonging, McKay also arguably suggests a connection with one's heritage is necessary.

We might suggest that Wordsworth implies you just have to imagine the external source to feel happiness.

However, McKay arguably suggests you have to physically be in the space to feel belonging.

We might see both poets as adhering to Romantic conventions.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson, everyone.

I hope see you from another lesson soon.

Goodbye.