Exploring themes of hate and anger in 'The Wall' | English

Starter quiz

What is the title of Valerie Bloom's poetry collection which contain the poems 'I Opened the Door' and 'My Heart is a Volcano'?
- Stars with Flaming Tails ✓
- Planets with Sparkling Tales
- Shooting Stars
Which of the following describe a fixed verse poem?
- a form of poetry that has a specific structure, rhyme and meter. ✓
- a form of poetry consisting of three lines with a specific syllable pattern
- a form of poetry that expresses admiration for a specific person, object or idea
Select the rhyming words from the following words.
- delight
- rage ✓
- joy
- cage ✓
- bliss
True or False? A summary tells the reader the most important parts of a text.
- True ✓
- False
What is a suitable definition of a theme?
- having the ability to create vivid mental images of things that may not exist
- a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text ✓
- phrases of two words that replace a noun and are often used in poetry
Which words below can be associated with anger and hate?
- rage ✓
- delighted
- bitter ✓
- hostile ✓
- contented

Match the following keywords to their definitions.
- symbolism
  
  ⇔
  
  the use of objects, actions or ideas to represent deeper meaning ✓
- interpretation
  
  ⇔
  
  the process of understanding and assigning meaning to a poem ✓
- personal response
  
  ⇔
  
  reflections that we make about a poem after reading or listening to it ✓
Match the following common symbols to their meaning.
- rainbow
  
  ⇔
  
  hope ✓
- rose
  
  ⇔
  
  love ✓
- tree
  
  ⇔
  
  growth, strength ✓
- star
  
  ⇔
  
  wishes ✓
True or False? The speaker in the poem is angry at someone.
- True ✓
- False
What themes are present in the poem, 'The Wall'?
- isolation ✓
- joy
- anger ✓
- happiness
In the poem 'The Wall', which action gives the impression that the speaker may eventually want to speak to the subject again?
- The speaker builds the wall in silence.
- The speaker does not make any physical or eye contact with the subject.
- The speaker leaves space for a gate. ✓
Sequence the following parts of a personal response to a poem.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Introduce the poem and poet
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Personal reflection
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Aspect of the poem you liked
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Interpretation (themes, take-away ideas)
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Summary (final reflection)

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'The Wall' uses symbolism - the use of objects, images, or actions that represent ideas beyond their literal meaning.
The wall in the poem can represent a physical isolation as well as an emotional one.
A poem can have multiple meanings and interpretations; each person’s response can be different and unique to them.
We can respond to a poem by writing a personal response to it.

Not all pupils may be familiar with symbolism, especially common symbols.

To support pupils, adults could model the associations that could be made about the objects out loud.

Symbolism - the use of objects, actions or ideas to represent deeper meanings or concepts
Interpretation - the process of understanding and assigning meaning to a poem
Personal response - reflections that we make about a poem after reading or listening to it