a large piece of farming equipment that is used to plant seeds and turn over soil

a poem which describes a piece of art, and is inspired by it

showing little interest or feeling in response to something

any person who is regarded as a skilled painter who worked in Europe before 1800

death or suffering of someone because of their religious beliefs

Exploring W.H. Auden's poem 'Musée des Beaux Arts'

English

In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils explore how they can alter traditional stories to convey modern ideas and morals. In 'Animal Farm: the Pigs and Power', pupils learn about Orwell's allegory and understand how he uses an apparently simple fairy story to convey a political message. 

In 'Step Into the Unknown', pupils look at the ways in which famous children's writers create convincing settings, particularly through descriptions of windows and doors. In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils take inspiration from the ways in which writers and poets use powerful imagery and symbolism, to inspire their own writing. 

Myths, legends and stories that inspire

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction of scary, confusing or unsettling events or characters placed in danger, including creation of a scary atmosphere through the use of music and sound.

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Pieter Breugel's painting 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'

W.H. Auden’s poem 'Musée des Beaux Arts'

William Carlos Williams’s poem 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at four pieces of art about the same set of characters: Daedalus and Icarus. Starting with the first, put them in chronological order.

In 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we focus on a poem by W.H. Auden called 'Musée des Beaux Arts'. What feeling does Auden explore in this poem?

In 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', W.H. Auden's poem 'Musée des Beaux Arts' is an ekphrastic poem because …?

In W.H. Auden’s poem 'Musée des Beaux Arts' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire'), who does Auden present as apathetic to the death of Icarus?

The play was apathetic so no-one liked it.

The audience apathetically applauded and demanded more.

The play was shocking and everyone was upset and apathetic.

The play failed to shock; instead, the audience was apathetic.

In W.H. Auden's poem 'Musée des Beaux Arts' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire'), Auden explores the idea of apathy. Which sentence uses the word apathy correctly?

Working together, the shepherd and ploughman pulled Icarus to safety.

The ploughman worked back and forth methodically through the field.

Since then, the ploughman knew, without doubt, he should have done something.

The ploughman saw the wings and feet, but he was glad Icarus was in the water.

Which sentence is best inspired by Auden's interpretation of Pieter Bruegel's ploughman in 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'? ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire').

the god Apollo his wings, saying he will never fly again.

Match each sentence stem to its ending, showing your knowledge of 'The Fall of Icarus' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire').

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. What was Bruegel's painting inspired by?

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. How might we describe Icarus's death?

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. What do we see if Icarus in this painting?

In the unit 'Myths and Legends', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' by Pieter Bruegel. Focus on the figures apart from Icarus. What words most accurately describe them?

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at an ekphrastic poem by Williams Carlos Williams. What is an ekphrastic poem?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of upsetting content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Exploring W.H. Auden's poem 'Musée des Beaux Arts'

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.