New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Exploring titles in unseen poetry

I can explore the significance of titles in unseen poetry.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Exploring titles in unseen poetry

I can explore the significance of titles in unseen poetry.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The poem's title can be used to clarify the meaning of the poem in terms of themes and subject matter.
  2. You can analyse the title of the poem alongside your analysis of the quotes.
  3. A poem's title often gives an indication of the atmosphere and tone.

Keywords

  • Rendezvous - a meeting at an agreed time and place

  • Monosyllabic - (of a word or utterance) consisting of one syllable

  • Plosive - sounds articulated with an abrupt release of air like 'p', 'b', 'd', or 't'.

  • Sombre - having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness

  • Polysyllabic - (of a word) having more than one syllable

Common misconception

That titles shouldn't form a part of your analysis.

The title forms our first impression of the poem and therefore is a rich area for analysis.

It would be useful to have students share what they would use as the title for Seeger's poem to see the different ideas and how it might affect the meaning of the poem.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
The name of a book, composition, or other artistic work is the ...
Correct Answer: title
Q2.
How does the word 'The' before a noun differ from the word 'A' before a noun?
'The' implies something universal and unspecific.
Correct answer: 'The' implies something known and specific.
'The' implies something generalised.
Q3.
Light imagery such as "radiance" and "shining" implies ...
negativity
neutrality
Correct answer: positivity
Q4.
Which of the following is the definition of 'plosive' sounds?
repetition of the hissing sound 's' in nearby words
soothing or pleasing sounds such as 'm' or 'l'
Correct answer: sounds articulated with an abrupt release of air like 'p', 'b' or 't'
Q5.
How might we interpret plosive sounds?
They create a soothing tone.
Correct answer: They create an abrupt tone.
Correct answer: They create a harsh tone.
Q6.
Natural imagery such as "blossoms" and "flowers" implies ...
Correct answer: vitality
lethargy
futility

6 Questions

Q1.
Polysyllabic words are words with ...
one syllable.
two syllables.
Correct answer: more than one syllable.
Q2.
We might interpret monosyllabic words as showing a sense of ...
openness.
Correct answer: abruptness.
growth.
Correct answer: peace.
Q3.
Having a "rendezvous" with Death suggests you __________ your death.
dread
Correct answer: have accepted
have escaped
Q4.
'Having or conveying a feeling of deep seriousness and sadness' is the definition of ...
Correct Answer: sombre
Q5.
Brooke's use of "glory" and "radiance" in 'The Dead' imply ...
that we should fear death.
Correct answer: that we should see death as a worthy sacrifice.
that we should see death as futile and pointless.
Q6.
Overall, Brooke's 'The Dead' implies that death is a __________ experience.
sombre
Correct answer: peaceful
wretched

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