Starter quiz
- What do we mean when we refer to the context of a poem?
- an alternative version of a poem
- the reasons the poet gives for writing the poem
- the background information we know about the poet that may have inspired them ✓
- the key words in a poem
- the poet's message or key themes
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- What are rhyming words?
- words that start with the same sound
- words that end with the same sound ✓
- words that are spelt the same but sound different
- words that are spelt differently but sound the same
- words with multiple meanings
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- Which of these is the correct spelling?
- simile ✓
- similee
- similie
- simille
- similey
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- Which two words are adjectives?
- tedious ✓
- love
- day
- grey ✓
- riddles
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- Which of these is an ellipsis?
- !
- -
- ... ✓
- :
- @
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- Which of these sentences uses tentative language?
- The writer obviously used a simile to show the man was brave
- The use of alliteration makes the poem more interesting
- Arguably, the writer's use of a metaphor implies the man is dangerous ✓
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Exit quiz
- What rhyme scheme does Hardy use in 'Neutral Tones'?
- 'ABBA' ✓
- The tone of Hardy's poetry has often been characterised as ______.
- hopeless and pessimistic ✓
- optimistic and uplifting
- angry and tense
- morbid and tedious
- romantic and joyous
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- What is a quatrain?
- a stanza with 2 lines
- a stanza with 3 lines
- a stanza with 4 lines ✓
- a stanza with 5 lines
- a stanza with 6 lines
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- Starting with the first, put the events of 'Neutral Tones' in chronological order.
- 1⇔The speaker sets the scene and describes a desolate landscape
- 2⇔The partner's looks remind the speaker of the many arguments they've had
- 3⇔The partner's smile indicates they've fallen out of love with the speaker
- 4⇔The poem shifts forward in time and the memory still haunts the speaker
- Match up each stanza summary from 'Neutral Tones' to a relevant piece of supporting evidence.
- The speaker sets the scene⇔"We stood by the pond that winter day, / And the sun was white" ✓
- The couple argued a lot in the past⇔"Eyes that rove / Over tedious riddles of years ago" ✓
- The partner no longer loves the speaker⇔"The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing" ✓
- The speaker has lost faith in love⇔"Since then, keen lessons that loves deceives" ✓
- The last line of each stanza is ______ which slows down the pace and creates a melancholic tone.
- 'indented' ✓
Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Hardy recalls a devastating moment of separation in a romantic relationship.
- The desolate setting reflects the speakers despairing and hopeless emotions.
- The speaker's love for the subject seems to have been unrequited at the end of their relationship.
- At the end of the poem the speaker shifts to the present tense to reflect the enduring impact of the separation.
- The poem could reflect Hardy's unconventional and pessimistic view of romantic love.
Common misconception
The poem is set by a pond where a couple are walking.
The poem is set in the present day (for the speaker) and the speaker is looking back on the memory of walking around a pond with their ex-partner.
Keywords
Desolate - barren, deserted, devoid of life or hope
Hopeless - despairing, lacking optimism or positive expectations
Unrequited - unanswered, not reciprocated or one-sided
Quatrain - a four-line stanza in a poem
Melancholic - something or someone characterised by a deep sadness within
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