Analysing the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Chingonyi uses language, form and structure to express his viewpoint.
Key learning points
- The river in the poem could symbolise rebirth and the loss of childhood innocence.
- The story of looking after his ill mother becomes the coming of age initiation he missed out on by moving to the UK.
- In the final stanza, Chingonyi reflects on what his life would have been like if he had not left Zambia.
- In the final stanza, the idea of language is used to underline his lack of belonging.
- Enjambment is used in the poem which could also link to the river, arguably symbolising separation and distance.
Keywords
Emphasise - highlight or stress the importance of something
Enjambment - continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line of poetry
Significant - having great importance or meaning
Symbolism - using concrete objects or actions to represent deeper meanings or abstract ideas
Common misconception
The speaker feels as though he doesn't belong in either 'home' (Zambia or the UK).
The speaker seems to identify more with his African culture, reflecting on how his identity is "unfinished" which implies it isn't lost completely.
Teacher tip
When exploring connections for the second learning cycle, it may be more useful to annotate the text directly at this point, drawing arrows or colour-coding to show where each connection can be identified.
Equipment
You will need a copy of the Edexcel GCSE Poetry Anthology ('Belonging' cluster).
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.What is cultural identity?
Q2.What does it mean to 'emigrate'?
Q3.Where is Zambia?
Q4.Which of these are examples of a poem's structure?
Q5.Why do poets use stanzas?
Q6.What is a metaphor?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is enjambment?
Q2.What is symbolism?
Q3.Match each of these words to the correct definition.
Q4.Arguably, the river in Chingonyi's 'Kumukanda' could symbolise ...
Q5.In stanza 2 and 3 of 'Kumukanda', Chingonyi repeats an adjective to consider how different cultures view each other as 'alien'. Which word does he repeat?
Q6.What is the connection between the father figures in the last two stanzas of Chingonyi's 'Kumukanda'?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘Kumukanda’ by Kayo Chingonyi, 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 Belonging poetry continued unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.