Exploring connections to ‘I Opened the Door’ | English

Starter quiz

Select the poems written by Valerie Bloom.
- ‘My Heart is a Volcano’ ✓
- 'The Magic Box'
- ‘You Are’ ✓
- 'Cosmc Disco'
True or false? Valerie Bloom was born in London.
- True
- False ✓
What is a fixed verse poem?
- poetry with a specific structure, rhyme and meter ✓
- a form of poetry that doesn't follow any set rules of rhyme or structure
Match the words to the correct definitions.
- imagery
  
  ⇔
  
  the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience ✓
- atmosphere
  
  ⇔
  
  the mood created in a section or whole of a text ✓
- metaphor
  
  ⇔
  
  describing and comparing something by saying that it is something else ✓
Which of the following should we try to do when reading a poem aloud?
- Use facial expressions. ✓
- Look at the floor.
- Read with an expressive voice. ✓
- Maintain the same tone all the way through.
Which of the following should we try to do when reading a poem aloud?
- Vary our pace. ✓
- Use gestures to communicate meaning. ✓
- Do not pause at all when reading.
- Show no emotion.

What is an 'after' poem?
- a type of poem that tells a story
- a type of poem that is inspired by nature
- a type of poem that is written in response to or inspired by another poem ✓
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
- inspiration
  
  ⇔
  
  the creative spark or source of ideas that motivates a poet to write ✓
- compare
  
  ⇔
  
  identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas or texts ✓
- contrast
  
  ⇔
  
  identifying differences between two or more things, ideas or texts ✓
What form of poem is ‘I Opened the Door’?
- free verse
- cinquain
- fixed verse ✓
- pantoum
Sequence the following events from ‘I Opened the Door’ in chronological order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Someone opens the doors to their heart.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Their enemy walks through the door not realising the trap.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  The person that walks out of the door is a friend.
Which poet wrote ‘A Poison Tree’?
- Valerie Bloom
- William Blake ✓
- John Foster
True or false? ‘I Opened the Door’ and ‘A Poison Tree’ use very similar language.
- True
- False ✓

Loading worksheet ...

Loading presentation ...

‘I Opened the Door’ is inspired by another poem.
When a poem is heavily influenced by another poem, it's acknowledged with the word 'after' and the original poet's name.
The poem that inspired ‘I Opened the Door’ is called ‘A Poison Tree’, which was written by William Blake.
We can compare and contrast poems based on many different aspects.

Pupils may find understanding the symbolism in both poems challenging.

Pupils may benefit from additional images to support understanding and help with representation of emotions.

'after' poem - a type of poem that is written in response to or inspired by another poem, often continuing its themes, ideas or imagery
Inspiration - the creative spark or source of ideas that motivates a poet to write
Compare - involves identifying similarities between two or more things, ideas, concepts or texts
Contrast - involves identifying differences between two or more things, ideas, concepts or texts