Comparing belonging in 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' and 'I Shall Return'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can compare how Wordsworth and McKay present ideas of belonging and nature.
Key learning points
- Both Wordsworth and McKay arguably suggest that a sense of belonging comes from an external source.
- While both poets associate nature with belonging, McKay may also suggest a connection to one’s heritage is necessary.
- We might suggest that Wordsworth implies that you just have to imagine the external source to feel happiness.
- However, McKay arguably suggests that you have to physically be in that space to feel belonging.
- We might see both poets as adhering to Romantic conventions.
Keywords
Belonging - a feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group or in a particular place
Nuanced - has subtle details that make it complex and interesting
Romanticism - 18th and 19th century artistic and literary movement that celebrated nature, emotion and individuality
Sublime - Romantic idea that we should feel awe towards nature - a mixture of both fear and respect
Heritage - the history, traditions, practices, etc. of a particular country, society that continue to be important
Common misconception
You have to be writing in the C18th to use Romantic conventions in your writing.
While Romanticism was a predominant movement in the C18th and C19th, more modern poets can also adhere to Romantic conventions and present a Romantic view of the world.
Teacher tip
If pupils are unsure how Wordsworth's 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' connects to ideas of the sublime, you might discuss the comparison of the daffodils to stars and how that creates a sense of awe.
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Wordsworth's 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' and McKay's 'I Shall Return' for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is an accurate summary of Wordsworth's 'I wandered lonely as a cloud'?
Q2.Which of the following is an accurate summary of McKay's 'I Shall Return'?
Q3.'Giving human feelings and actions to objects or ideas' is the definition of .
Q4.'A feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group or in a particular place' is the definition of which word beginning with 'b'?
Q5.Which of the following is the definition of harmony?
Q6.Which of the following are Romantic conventions?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Place the elements of a comparative introduction in chronological order.
Q2.Is this statement true or false: Both Wordsworth and McKay suggest that a sense of belonging can be created by ourselves alone.
Q3.The image of something 'wafting' creates which of the following connotations?
Q4.The sublime is the Romantic idea that we should feel towards nature - a mixture of both fear and respect.
Q5.'The history, traditions, practices, etc. of a particular country, society that continue to be important' is the definition of which word beginning with 'h'?
Q6.'Has subtle details that make it complex and interesting' is the definition of which word beginning with 'n'?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Comparing belonging in 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' and 'I Shall Return', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Comparing belonging in 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' and 'I Shall Return', 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Poetry anthology (Assessment from summer 2027) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.