Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore how Hardy uses imagery to present a foreboding interaction during the breakdown of the relationship.
Key learning points
- Hardy uses colour imagery to create a bleak and barren emotional landscape.
- Hardy uses an oxymoron to convey the hostile and hopeless nature of the relationship.
- Hardy uses personification to suggest how he feels misled by love.
- Hardy uses ominous imagery to show how the relationship was ill-fated.
- Analytical paragraphs should consider a writer’s meaning, use of language and purpose.
Keywords
Ominous - foreboding; suggests something bad will happen.
Hostile - unfriendly or unwelcoming.
Oxymoron - a language technique which combines two opposite ideas.
Colour imagery - vivid descriptions of colours to evoke emotions or ideas.
Common misconception
You need to include a reference to the wider context in every analytical paragraph.
The best analytical responses only include relevant pieces of context and weave it subtly throughout. It is important to include context in your answer but it isn't necessary to include it in every paragraph.
Teacher tip
After exploring Izzy's model analytical paragraph, you could pause here and write a 'WE DO' analytical paragraph on the whiteboard as a class. This could help students bridge the gap between a model answer and their own response.
Equipment
You will need access to the poem 'Neutral Tones' by Thomas Hardy. This can be found in the AQA Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'Neutral Tones', the quotation "starving sod" is an example of which language technique?
Q2.'Neutral Tones' was written during the era.
Q3.Which of the following words completes this quote from 'Neutral Tones': "We stood by a pond that day"?
Q4.Which two of these quotes from 'Neutral Tones' contain a simile?
Q5.Hardy mentions two colours in 'Neutral Tones'. What are they?
Q6.How many lines does 'Neutral Tones' have?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these techniques means 'attributing human characteristics to non-human entities for effect'?
Q2.What is an oxymoron?
Q3.Which of the following quotes from 'Neutral Tones' is an example of an oxymoron?
Q4.In 'Neutral Tones', Hardy suggests that the speaker blames __________ for the breakdown of their relationship.
Q5.Complete this sentence: Hardy's use of pathetic fallacy, __________ and __________ in stanza 1 of 'Neutral Tones' creates a pessimistic tone.
Q6.Why might you use square brackets ([]) in your analytical paragraph?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘Neutral Tones’ by Thomas Hardy, 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 'Love and Relationships' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.