Comparing Wordsworth and Brontë's views on nature
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the similarities and differences in how Wordsworth and Brontë present nature in ‘Lines Written in Early Spring’ and ‘Shall earth no more inspire thee’.
Key learning points
- Both poets use language to display a reverence for nature and attribute omniscience to it.
- However, Brontë is more explicit in the suggestion that nature is specifically trying to soothe and comfort the reader.
- Both poets personify nature; however, Brontë gives nature a voice.
- Arguably, both poets are critiquing the societal shift brought about by the Industrial Revolution.
- Both poets display Romantic characteristics in their writing.
Keywords
Omniscience - the state of knowing everything
Reverence - deep respect for someone or something
Melancholia - a feeling of deep sadness
Romantic - a poetry movement from the late 18th and early 19th century, focused on emotions and nature
Lament - a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
Common misconception
Comparison answers should only focus on the differences between poems.
Comparisons should focus on both the similarities and differences between the poems to reveal the subtle unique intentions of the poets.
Teacher tip
You might want to start with re-reading the poems and re-familiarising the students with them if they haven't looked at them for a while.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA World and Lives anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The literary movement from the late 18th and early 19th century, focused on emotions and nature is called...
Q2.The speaker of Wordsworth's 'Lines Written in Early Spring' feels grief because...
Q3.The speaker of Brontë's 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' suggests that a return to nature will...
Q4.Match the poem with the structural choices
A largely consistent ABAB rhyme scheme with one half rhyme
A change in the rhythm of the final line of each stanza
An extra unstressed syllable in every other line
Largely ABAB rhyme scheme with final stanza AAAA
Q5.To show a deep respect for someone or something is called showing...
Q6.Match the spiritual quotation with the correct poem.
"holy"
"faith"
"heaven"
"idolatry"
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The words "lament" and "grief" suggest...
Q2.By attributing human characteristics to nature, ‘Shall earth no more inspire thee’ and 'Lines Written in Early Spring' nature.
Q3.The state of knowing everything is known as...
Q4.Which contextual fact may explain the arguably more pessimistic tone of Brontë's 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' in comparison to Wordsworth's 'Lines Written in Early Spring'?
Q5.The extra unstressed syllable on every other line of Brontë's 'Shall earth no more inspire thee' arguably suggests...
Q6.Both Wordsworth and Brontë arguably have Romantic sensibilities since they show...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Comparing Wordsworth and Brontë's views on nature, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Comparing Wordsworth and Brontë's views on nature, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the 'World and Lives' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.