Eat Me, The Lammas Hireling and Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass - 3 Lessons

PPT for 3 lessons on 3 poems in the Edexcel A Level English Literature modern poetry component.

Please note that possible answers to almost all of the shorter style questions that are asked can be found in the notes section at the bottom of the PPT screen. Also, the lessons on all 3 poems are sequenced on the same PPT file, starting with Eat Me, moving on to The Lammas Hireling and finishing with Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass. Homework tasks are included in the PPT.

1] Eat Me by Patience Agbabi - The lesson involves the following:
- starter considering the title
- 9 quick questions (for example, locating the use of certain methods in the text, such as assonance)
- small group writing, continuing on from topic sentences that have been provided for students
- an example of model writing
- slide that sets homework on preparatory work forThe Lammas Hireling
- slide prompting disucssion on the post-colonial interpretation of Eat Me

2] The Lammas Hireling by Ian Duhig
- reviewing the homework that was set
- task investigating students' basic comprehension of the poem's narrative
- discussion including an investigation into the blurring of lines between opposing ideas and concepts, such as the real and the supernatural
- task requiring students to review the importance of using topic sentences and then, using an examination style question, requiring students to come up with 3 suitable topic sentences that reference the methods of the poet
- slide that sets homework on preparatory work for Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass

3] Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass by Simon Armitage
- reviewing the homework that was set
- discussion leading to short written task aimed at developing the depth of response students produce. Students look at a range of quotations in which personification is used, prompting them to broaden their analysis through consideration of nuances of meaning
- task requiring students to identify the use of a range of poetic methods and make notes on the effects of those methods. Completion of this task to be set for homework

I am a qualified English teacher working within the UK state school system.