Analysing a poem in detail in the Eduqas anthology
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand how to analyse a single poem in detail.
Key learning points
- Analysing a poem in detail means looking at how the poem has been put together.
- This may include examining the poem’s structure, as well as the poet’s layering of methods.
- It may be useful to consider what the poet establishes, builds on and ends with.
- It might be useful to analyse the poem chronologically, to help you analyse structure.
Keywords
Chronology - the placement of events in the order in which they occurred
To establish - setting the foundations of something
To excavate - to uncover hidden objects - used in this lesson metaphorically
Common misconception
Students often avoid analysing structure because they sometimes struggle to understand what it actually is and means.
The structure of a text is just how the poem has been put together - what comes where and why. Using the words 'establishes' 'builds on' and 'ends' will encourage students to talk about structure more confidently.
Teacher tip
You could ask students to write a full response for home learning, using the ideas from the lesson.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which poem in the Eduqas poetry anthology was written by Wilfred Owen?
Q2.Which themes are explored in the poem 'Ozymandias'?
Q3.Which of the following poems taken from the Eduqas poetry anthology uses the image of an onion to represent relationships?
Q4.Which poem taken from the Eduqas poetry anthology is the following quotation from?: "One shade the more, one ray the less"?
Q5.Which poem taken from the Eduqas poetry anthology is the following quotation from: "If I should die, think only this of me"?
Q6.Complete the quotation from Shelley's 'Ozymandias': "The and level sands stretch far away."
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Starting with the first, put these dates into chronological order:
Q2.Which of the following would be considered a method?
Q3.It can be useful to think of structure using these three terms. Fill in the missing word for the first term: The poet /The poet builds on / The poet ends with...
Q4.What method does Wordsworth use in the quotation taken from 'The Prelude': "tinkled like iron"?
Q5.What is the effect of the word "distant" in Wordsworth's 'The Prelude'?
Q6.What is the effect of the word "tinkled" taken from Wordsworth's 'The Prelude'?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Analysing a poem in detail in the Eduqas anthology, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Analysing a poem in detail in the Eduqas anthology, 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 Poetry anthology (Assessment until summer 2026) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.