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      How Simon Armitage writes about human connection in 'All Right?' and 'Give'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can respond to how Armitage writes about human connection in ‘Give’ and ‘All Right?’.

      Key learning points

      1. Armitage was commissioned to write ‘All Right?’ for a campaign that aimed to encourage people to watch out for others.
      2. Armitage suggests that having an accompanying film meant that he didn’t have to create a whole backdrop for the poem.
      3. Armitage says that ‘Give’ is a poem about not being loved.
      4. One idea for how to create a poem is to take a narrative and manipulate it into a poem.

      Keywords

      • Commission - a formal request to do a special piece of work

      • Campaign - an organised course of action to achieve a goal

      • Narrative - a story or a description of a series of events

      • Manipulate - to handle something skilfully, like the way a sculptor manipulates clay

      Common misconception

      A poem is completely separate from a narrative story.

      Fundamentally, a poem is about the manipulation of language - so you can manipulate a narrative story into a poem.

      Teacher tip

      If possible, it would be useful to show students the animated film that accompanies 'All Right?' after Task A so that they can compare their ideas with the actual film and see how they compare.

      Equipment

      There are copies of Armitage's 'All Right?' and 'Give' in the additional materials.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Simon Armitage is the laureate.

      Correct Answer: poet, poetry, Poet

      Q2.
      'The act of doing or saying something again' is the definition of which word beginning with 'r'?

      Correct Answer: repetition, repeat, repetitive, Repetition

      Q3.
      'A story or a description of a series of events' is the definition of which of the following?

      Correct answer: narrative
      furtive
      emotive
      innovative

      Q4.
      'An organised course of action to achieve a goal' is the definition of which of the following?

      community
      spontaneous
      Correct answer: campaign

      Q5.
      'The running-over of a sentence or phrase from one poetic line to the next' is the definition of which of the following?

      Correct answer: enjambment
      caesura
      juxtaposition

      Q6.
      To reassure someone means to do which of the following?

      to make someone uncomfortable
      Correct answer: to comfort someone
      to discourage someone

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Armitage suggests that 'Give' is a poem about which of the following?

      anger
      Correct answer: love
      jealousy
      fear

      Q2.
      Armitage's 'All Right?' was commissioned as part of a campaign to do which of the following?

      raise awareness of homelessness
      Correct answer: encourage people to watch out for others
      encourage people to take care of themselves

      Q3.
      'To handle something skilfully' is the definition of which of the following?

      fumble
      caress
      Correct answer: manipulate

      Q4.
      Armitage suggests that when writing a poem he is thinking about __________.

      the words only
      Correct answer: the music, dialogue etc.
      the accompanying images

      Q5.
      'A formal request to do a special piece of work' is the definition of which word beginning with 'c'?

      Correct Answer: commission, Commission

      Q6.
      Armitage suggests that he tries to __________ people of where they are and what's happening throughout his poetry.

      convince
      relieve
      Correct answer: reassure

      To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: How Simon Armitage writes about human connection in 'All Right?' and 'Give', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...