Hello, everyone.

Lovely to see you here today.

My name's Dr.

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

Today's lesson's called "Understanding Ideas of Dehumanisation and Apathy in Ghose's "Decomposition."" So we're going to think about how we respond to the poem, and also what Ghose might be saying about the nature of art through the poem.

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

So by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to understand how Ghose presents ideas of dehumanisation and apathy, in relation to art in "Decomposition".

So we have five words today we're going to be using as our keywords, they're identified in bold throughout the learning material, and I'll try to point out too as well, so you can see them being used in context.

So first keyword is dehumanisation, which means regarding, representing, or treating a person, or group, as less than human.

We're going to be thinking about how Ghose suggests that society dehumanises homeless people, so treats them as if they're less than human.

Our second keyword is apathy, which means behaviour that shows no interest or energy, and shows us someone's unwilling to take action.

We're going to be thinking about how Ghose suggests that society is apathetic towards homelessness, so it doesn't show any interest in taking action to solve it.

Our third key word is decomposition, which means the process of decaying or rotting; a breaking down or coming apart.

So the title of Ghose's poem relates to this idea of coming apart, and perhaps that homelessness causes people to be broken down.

So our fourth keyword is glibly, which means showing thoughtlessness.

And our final keyword is presumption, which means showing behaviour perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and going beyond what is thought of as appropriate.

We're going to be thinking about why Ghose might be describing art as showing thoughtlessness and disrespect towards its subjects.

So, I'll just give a moment to write down those key words, 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.

(mouse clicking) For our first learning cycle, we're going to think about how we respond to Ghose's "Decomposition", and what it suggests to us about the condition of being homeless, but also how society responds to homelessness.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to be thinking about the nature of art, and what the speaker was attempting to say through their art, but what they ultimately come to realise about their art, and the act of taking a photograph of the suffering of others.

So, let's start by thinking about the title, and what predictions we can make from the title.

I always think this is an important activity to do because the title's our first impression of the poem, it really helps to introduce us to the themes, and mood for the poem.

So title "Decomposition" means the process of decaying or rotting.

It can also mean the action of breaking, or breaking something, into smaller parts.

(mouse clicking) So, what I'd like you to think about is what predictions can you make about the content, or mood, of Ghose's "Decomposition" from the title? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

(mouse clicking) Now, one of our Oak pupils, Aisha, said, "I think it'll be a very pessimistic mood, the concept of decay and rot suggests something deeply unsettling and unpleasant.

Furthermore, the idea of breaking apart implies something coming undone." So what I'd like you to think about now is do you agree with Aisha? Why or why not? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now, I really want you to keep those images of decay, and something breaking apart, as we read through the poem.

And think about why Ghose might have chosen this title for this poem.

What is he saying about what homelessness can do to somebody? So what I'd like you to do now is read Ghose's "Decomposition." You'll find a copy of Ghose's "Decomposition" in the Eduqas 2025 Anthology.

So, pause the video, read the poem now.

Welcome back, everyone.

I really hope you enjoyed reading the poem.

(mouse clicking) Now, what I'd like you to do is just let the poem sit with you for a minute, and think about what your initial reaction to "Decomposition" is.

How does it make you feel? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now we're gonna spend some time responding to the ideas in the poem.

And what we think it's saying about homelessness, and society's reaction to the homeless.

So, let's begin by thinking about what Ghose might want us to understand about the condition of being homeless.

So I'd like you to think about the following words from the poem: dirty exhaustion, hunger, and solitude.

(mouse clicking) And what I'd like you to think about is what does Ghose want us to understand about the old man on the streets? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

(mouse clicking) You might have said, the ideas of hunger, being dirty, and being exhausted, might help us to understand the unpleasant, harsh conditions of being homeless.

And the word "solitude" might help us to understand the loneliness, and lack of human connection that comes with being homeless.

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 that Ghose's "Decomposition" implies that homelessness is connected to loneliness.

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

The correct answer is true.

(mouse clicking) (mouse clicking) Now I'd like you to tell me why it's true.

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

Welcome back, everyone.

(mouse clicking) You might have said the word "solitude" implies the man is alone, despite being surrounded by crowds of people every day.

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

So now I want us to think about what Ghose might be saying about homelessness and dehumanisation.

So within the poem, the old man is compared to a fossil and a stone.

Now a fossil is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once living thing from a past geological age.

So for example, bones or shells.

And what I'd like you to think about is what does this comparison suggest about the old man? How might it relate to ideas of dehumanisation? Now dehumanisation is one of our keywords, means regarding, representing, or treating a person or group as less than human.

So how does this comparison to a fossil suggest the old man is being seen as less than human? Pause the video.

Take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

You might have said, (mouse clicking) the comparison to a fossil implies the man is no longer seen as a living person, because a fossil is something that was once alive in a past age.

It's no longer alive.

We also might think of stone as an inanimate unfeeling object, and that's how the man is seen, as someone without feelings who's just become part of the pavement.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

So which of the following is the most relevant interpretation of comparing the old man to a fossil in "Decomposition"? Is it A, the comparison to a fossil implies that people can study and learn from the man, or B, the comparison to a fossil suggests the man is no longer considered human.

Pause the video.

Take a few moments to think about it.

The correct answer is B, (mouse clicking) the comparison to a fossil suggests the man is no longer considered human.

(mouse clicking) Now I'd like you to tell me why it's B.

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

Welcome back, everyone.

(mouse clicking) You might have said, the comparison suggests the old man is no longer seen as a living human being.

He's ignored, and seen as part of the pavement.

So, very well done if you got those right.

Now, we might suggest the crowd's reaction to the old man is apathetic.

Now, apathetic is one of our key words, means showing or feeling no interest.

(mouse clicking) So what I'd like you to do is think about which words from the poem could we use as evidence for this apathy.

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

Welcome back, everyone, some great ideas there.

(mouse clicking) Now you might have picked out the word indifferent, because being indifferent to something means you don't care about it.

It suggests the crowd are unsympathetic, and unconcerned about the man's suffering.

You also might have picked out the word common, because it suggests this is something the crowds see all the time, and therefore implies nothing is being done to solve the problem of homelessness.

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? The crowd is sympathetic to, and concerned about, the old man sleeping on the street.

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

The correct answer is false.

(mouse clicking) (mouse clicking) 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 the crowd are described as indifferent, which implies they have no interest in, or concern about, the old man's suffering.

So very well done if you got those right.

Amazing work, everyone.

Now the first task of the lesson.

So what I'd like you to do is write a summary of Ghose's decomposition.

A summary is a short, clear description, that gives the main facts, or ideas, about something.

I'd like you to include the words dehumanisation and apathy in your summary.

So pause the video, write your summary now.

Welcome back, everyone, some great work there.

So what I'd like you to do is think about Sofia's summary.

How does it compare to your summary? So Sofia said, "Ghose's "Decomposition" depicts an old homeless man sleeping on the streets of Bombay.

Arguably, the poem depicts how indifferent people are towards homelessness.

Furthermore, the poem represents how homeless people are not seen as living human beings anymore." So, pause the video, think about how well Sophia's summary compares to your summary.

Welcome back, everyone.

(mouse clicking) So what I'd like you to think about now is how can we rewrite Sophia's summary to include the words dehumanisation and apathy? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

(mouse clicking) You might have said, Ghose's "Decomposition" depicts an old homeless man sleeping on the streets of Bombay.

Arguably, the pun depicts how apathetic people are towards homelessness.

Furthermore, the poem represents the dehumanisation of homeless people.

Fantastic work, everyone.

We're now moving on to the second learning cycle.

We're going to think about what Ghose might be saying about the nature of art and human suffering.

So, the speaker calls their picture of the old man a composition.

So a composition is something a person has created, or written.

So for example, a piece of music or a piece of art.

(mouse clicking) When discussing their composition, the speaker says the picture of the old man on the streets represents something typical about India.

(mouse clicking) So what I'd like you to think about is what message do you think the speaker was trying to convey through their picture? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great ideas there.

Now, one of our Oak pupils, Laura, said, "I think the speaker was trying to convey that homelessness was a problem in India.

By referring to it as typical, the speaker implies there's a common occurrence that happens to many people." (mouse clicking) So, what I'd like you to think about is do 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 is something we see happening more and more in society, especially because it's so easy for anyone to take a video or a photograph of something.

We say it's a way of bringing awareness to issues, or a wrong in society.

We're going to spend the rest of this learning cycle thinking about what Ghose says about the nature of art, and whether it's right to take photographs of people suffering.

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? The speaker initially saw their photograph as a way of commenting on homelessness in India.

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

The correct answer is true.

(mouse clicking) Now I want you to tell me why it's true.

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

Welcome back, everyone.

(mouse clicking) You might have said the accompanying word "typical" to the photograph, implies the speaker initially saw their photograph as a way of showing how common and widespread homelessness was in India.

So very well done if you got those right.

So we might think the speaker initially thought they were doing something good for society by taking the photograph.

However, the speaker now refers to their decision to take the picture as "glib" and a "presumption".

Now, glibly means showing thoughtlessness, and presumption means behaviour perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and going beyond what is thought of as appropriate.

So what I'd like you to think about is why do you think the speaker has changed their mind about taking the picture and turning it into art? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some fantastic ideas there.

Now, one of our Oak pupils, Jacob, said, "I think the speaker's realised it was thoughtless and inappropriate to take a picture of someone else's misery, and turn it into something for other people to see.

By turning it into art, it implies that people are going to enjoy, judge, and react to the old man's suffering without his knowledge or his permission." So (mouse clicking) what I'd like to think about is do you agree with Jacob? Why or why not? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

It was great to see people reflecting on photographs they've seen, or photographs they've taken, and now this has changed their perspective, and whether we can truly make art out of someone's suffering, or whether it's an act of disrespect.

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? The speaker is happy with the decision to take a photograph of the old man.

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

The correct answer is false.

Now I want you to tell me (mouse clicking) why it's false.

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

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said by describing their actions as glib and a presumption, the speaker suggests that they now see their decision as thoughtless and inappropriate.

So very well done if you got those right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

And now the final task of the lesson.

Now we might interpret Ghose's "Decomposition" as suggesting that creating art out of human suffering contributes to the dehumanisation of those who are suffering.

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

Now, you might (mouse clicking) consider the following.

The speaker initially says their photograph is showing how typical homelessness is in India.

The speaker never interacts with the old man.

When titling their photograph, the speaker simply calls him "the man", rather than by a name.

So pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great work there.

What I'd like you to do is think about Alex's ideas.

Do you agree or disagree? So Alex said, "I completely agree with the interpretation.

By using the old man to represent how typical homelessness is, it implies the old man's become a symbol, rather than actual person.

Furthermore, by referring to him simply as "the man" it suggests that he no longer has an individual identity of his own.

We might even suggest the act of creating composition out of his suffering is an act of dehumanisation in itself, since it's turning him into an object to be consumed by others." So, pause the video, think about whether or not you agree with Alex.

Welcome back, everyone.

Hopefully this lesson's given you space to think about some of these ideas and issues.

I think that's what great literature does.

It forces us to think about ourselves, and society, in perhaps a different way than we had before.

You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

The speaker describes a picture of an old beggar in the streets.

They initially think of it as art.

At the end of the poem, the speaker reflects their presumption to create art out of suffering.

Arguably, the poem represents the dehumanisation of homeless people.

Furthermore, the poem represents the apathy that society feels towards homeless people.

Potentially, Ghose could be suggesting that creating art out of human suffering contributes to their dehumanisation.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson, everyone.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.