Starter quiz
- Who is the author of the poem 'Eden Rock'?
- Charles Dickens
- Charles Causley ✓
- Daljit Nagra
- William Wordsworth
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- Who is the author of the poem 'Singh Song!'?
- Daljit Nagra ✓
- Robert Browning
- Thomas Hardy
- Carol Ann Duffy
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- Which themes are central to 'Singh Song!'?
- family, loss, reunion
- love, romance, immigration ✓
- nature, solitude, introspection
- conflict, power, corruption
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- What are the central themes of 'Eden Rock'?
- family, loss, reunion ✓
- love, romance, immigration
- nature, solitude, introspection
- conflict, power, corruption
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- What is the definition of 'context' in literary analysis?
- the chronological order of events in a story
- the geographical setting of a poem
- the circumstances surrounding the creation and reception of a text ✓
- the central conflict of a narrative
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- Why is it important to consider the wider context of a poem?
- It can help us to interpret a writer's influences and intentions. ✓
- It means you don't have to use as many quotations from the text.
- It is great way to compare two poems.
- It enables our analysis of a poem to be more nuanced and detailed. ✓
- It helps us to decide whether we like a poem or not.
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Exit quiz
- What is context in literature?
- setting of the story
- circumstances around the text's creation ✓
- main themes of the text
- writer's biography
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- What are the four types of context we often associate with the study of English?
- historical, literary, social, biographical ✓
- cultural, linguistic, historical, social
- political, literary, social, personal
- historical, cultural, personal, economic
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- Which aspect of context is linked to what was happening when the poem was written?
- historical ✓
- social
- biographical
- literary
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- Daljit Nagra uses a type of language in 'Singh Song!' that is a blend of English and Punjabi. What is it called?
- 'Punglish' ✓
- Charles Causley was influenced by his Cornish background and used typical styles and folk tales of this area in his work. As such this is an example of __________ context.
- literary ✓
- historical
- social
- biographical
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- What event likely influenced Charles Causley's poem 'Eden Rock' and the inclusion of his father?
- World War II
- The Great Depression
- World War I ✓
- The Vietnam War
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Context can be interpreted in historical, social, biographical, and literary ways.
- Incorporating meaningful context deepens our analysis of modern poems in the anthology.
- An author's personal experiences can significantly influence their work.
- Contextual points should be seamlessly included in our overall analysis and not 'bolted on' at the end.
Common misconception
Students may think context should be mentioned separately at the end of their paragraphs, rather than integrated throughout their analysis.
Context should be woven into your analysis to enrich your interpretation e.g. 'Nagra's depiction of family duties versus personal desires draws from his British-Indian experience, showcasing challenges faced by second-generation immigrants.'
Keywords
Context - circumstances or background surrounding a text
Multigenerational - involving or affecting multiple generations in a family or community
Punglish - a blend of English and Punjabi
Literary tradition - written works, styles and conventions passed down through generations.
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