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      Comparing ideas of place in 'In a London Drawingroom' and 'A Wider View'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain the similarities and differences in how Eliot and Seneviratne present ideas of place and identity.

      Key learning points

      1. Both Eliot and Seneviratne present the negative impact of industrialisation on the environment and people.
      2. Arguably, Seneviratne’s poem is more optimistic since it shows there is a future for the city and its people.
      3. Both Eliot and Seneviratne show the impact of place on human connections.
      4. Eliot depicts the connections between people through a sense of disconnection and loss of individuality.
      5. Seneviratne depicts the bond between people through the impact ancestors have on their descendants.

      Keywords

      • Subtle - not very obvious or easy to notice but important

      • Nuance - a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response

      • Overarching - encompassing or linking all that is within its scope, range

      • Oppression - prolonged cruel or unjust treatment

      Common misconception

      That you should focus entirely on similarities or differences when writing a comparative response.

      When writing a comparative response, you should consider the overarching similarities and then consider the subtle differences within the similarities to create a nuanced response.

      Teacher tip

      When looking at the three introductions, you could ask students to think about which one is most similar to the typical introduction that they write before you talk through the feedback to the task.

      Equipment

      You will need a copy of the AQA Worlds and Lives anthology for this lesson.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.
      What is meant by industrialisation?

      Correct answer: the production of goods which moves towards mass production
      the production of goods which moves away from mass production
      the production of goods which are made specifically to benefit the upper classes

      Q2.
      What is 'In a London Drawingroom' by George Eliot about?

      Correct answer: it's about the industrialisation of the city
      it's about the benefits of the Industrial Revolution on nature
      it's a commentary on the lives of the middle classes

      Q3.
      What is 'A Wider View' by Seni Seneviratne about?

      it considers the beauty of nature
      Correct answer: it considers the bonds of identity and heritage
      Correct answer: it considers the impacts of industrialisation

      Q4.
      What does the word 'oppressive' mean?

      encompassing or linking all that is within its scope, range
      Correct answer: prolonged cruel or unjust treatment
      not very obvious or easy to notice but important

      Q5.
      A subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning or response is known as .

      Correct Answer: nuance, nuanced, being nuanced

      Q6.
      Is the statement true or false? The quotation "All hurry on & look upon the ground" can be found in the poem 'In a London Drawingroom'.

      Correct Answer: True, t

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the keywords with their definitions.

      Correct Answer:subtle,not very obvious or easy to notice but important

      not very obvious or easy to notice but important

      Correct Answer:overarching,encompassing or linking all that is within its scope, range

      encompassing or linking all that is within its scope, range

      Correct Answer:oppression,prolonged cruel or unjust treatment

      prolonged cruel or unjust treatment

      Q2.
      Which quotation from 'In a London Drawingroom' best shows the industrialisation of the city?

      "far as the eye can stretch"
      Correct answer: "The sky is cloudy, yellowed by the smoke."
      "For view there are the houses opposite"

      Q3.
      Complete the sentence: arguably, Seneviratne’s 'A Wider View' is more than 'In a London Drawingroom' since it shows there is a future for the city and its people.

      Correct Answer: optimistic, positive

      Q4.
      As well as industrialisation, both 'In a London Drawingroom' and 'A Wider View' consider the...

      beauty of nature
      heritage
      Correct answer: human connection

      Q5.
      Starting with the first, put the elements of a comparative introduction in the order you'd expect to to see them in a paragraph.

      1 - a sentence about both poems/poets exploring overarching similarity
      2 - a sentence about the similarities in both poems in relation to big ideas
      3 - a sentence about a nuanced difference between the poems

      To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Comparing ideas of place in 'In a London Drawingroom' and 'A Wider View', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...