New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Understanding the poem 'Sunday Dip'

I can explain how Clare presents the experience of spending time in nature.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Understanding the poem 'Sunday Dip'

I can explain how Clare presents the experience of spending time in nature.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Like other Romantics, Clare highlights the beauty of nature in his poem.
  2. The tone of 'Sunday Dip' is idyllic.
  3. ‘Sunday Dip' is a poem which which reflects the joy of spending time in nature.
  4. As well as the beauty of nature, Clare also reflects the simplicity of rural living in ‘Sunday Dip’.

Common misconception

That simple poetry is not as good as complex poetry.

Arguably, good poetry creates an emotional response in the reader and evokes a particular image or impression.

Keywords

  • Idyllic - a place or experience which is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful

  • Simplicity - the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do

  • Thronged - to be or go somewhere in very large numbers

  • Romanticism - an artistic movement from the late 18th and early 19th century, focused on emotions and nature

It would be useful for the pupils to try and read the poem aloud so that they can feel how the words sound and how that might relate to the sense of excitement and eagerness in the poem.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the 'Edexcel Belonging' anthology for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Many poets writing in the 1800s were __________ poets.
Shakspearean
Correct answer: Romantic
Modernist
Q2.
The Romantic movement often wrote about nature as ...
Correct answer: idyllic.
chaotic.
unnecessary.
Q3.
Opening a poem with an image of light generally creates __________ tone.
Correct answer: an optimistic
a pessimistic
an apathetic
Q4.
Which of the following words creates a sense of peace and relaxation?
laugh
dance
Correct answer: float
Q5.
Which day do we generally associate with rest?
Monday
Wednesday
Correct answer: Sunday
Q6.
Which of the following words are a synonym for 'happy'?
Correct answer: merry
Correct answer: joy
discontent
miserable

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is a summary of Clare's 'Sunday Dip'?
The poem is about boys sailing in a boat.
Correct answer: The poem is about boys playing in water.
The poem is about boys building a fort.
Q2.
Clare's 'Sunday Dip' opens with the image of ...
the sun
Correct answer: the morning
the moon
Q3.
'To be or go somewhere in very large numbers' is the definition of .
Correct Answer: thronged, throng
Q4.
'The quality or condition of being easy to understand or do' is the definition of .
Correct Answer: simplicity, simple
Q5.
John Clare was a poet.
Correct Answer: Romantic
Q6.
'A place or experience which is extremely pleasant, beautiful, or peaceful' is the definition of .
Correct Answer: idyllic