Perspective in war poetry

Overview

During these lessons, students will explore Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem 'The Charge of the Light Brigade.' Students will understand the way language is used to shape and make meaning according to purpose, audience and context. The approach taken will help students to discover the personal enrichment to be gained from a love of English, literature and learning.

Perspective is a lens through which we learn to see the world; it shapes what we see and the way we see it. In a text these values are expressed and/or implied through the composer’s choice of language form, features and structure. These choices shape meaning and position the responder (the audience) to reflect, react, engage, or think about a topic, issue or idea in a particular way. This challenges the responder to reflect on the way the perspective presented confirms or challenges their view and understanding of the world.

Lesson one provides students with an introduction to the term perspective and the poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’. Students will utilise literacy strategies to build their understanding of new vocabulary. This orientation to the poem will help build enjoyment of the story presented by the persona within the poem. It will help students to begin developing their understanding of the form, features and structure of the narrative poem.

Learning intentions

Students will:

• Define terminology using the Frayer Model

• Understand the perspective shaping a text

• Identify language used to create tone or atmosphere.

Outcome

The following teaching and learning strategy will assist in covering elements of the following outcome: 

• EN5 1A: responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, imaginative expression and pleasure  

Outcome content  

• S502DA1 interpret, analyse and evaluate how different perspectives of issue, event, situation, individuals or groups are constructed to serve specific purposes in texts (ACELY2742) 

Lesson two provides students with the opportunity to engage with the content and details of the poem. Using the ‘I see…I think…I wonder’ strategy will help students explore the poem's structure, language and meaning. This learning will help students engage in comprehension questions and summary tasks.

Learning intentions

Students will:

• analyse the language devices poets use to position responders

• evaluate the style of a text.

Outcome

The following teaching and learning strategy will assist in covering elements of the following outcome: 

• EN5 1A: responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, imaginative expression and pleasure  

Outcome content  

• S502DA1 interpret, analyse and evaluate how different perspectives of issue, event, situation, individuals or groups are constructed to serve specific purposes in texts (ACELY2742) 

Lesson three asks students to summarise their understanding of the poem. They will write in the form of a letter written from the perspective of a surviving soldier. They will revise and then demonstrate their understanding of the codes and conventions of letter writing from this time period.

Learning Intentions

Students will:

• construct an extended summary of a complex text, outlining events and perspectives of the poet

• construct a letter using appropriate structure and language rules/conventions.

Outcome

The following teaching and learning strategy will assist in covering elements of the following outcome: 

• EN5 1A: responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, imaginative expression and pleasure  

Outcome content  

• S502DA1 interpret, analyse and evaluate how different perspectives of issue, event, situation, individuals or groups are constructed to serve specific purposes in texts (ACELY2742) 

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