Page 1: How to Read and Compare Unseen Poetry

This page outlines crucial strategies for approaching unseen poetry effectively, focusing on careful reading, annotation, and analysis techniques.

The guide emphasizes the importance of multiple close readings, underlining key words and images for analysis. It advises students to pay attention to introductory lines, titles, and endings of poems, as these often contain vital information about themes and tone.

Highlight: Always read the line introducing the poems as this will tell you what the poems may be about.

The page also covers assessment objectives, including critical response, textual analysis, and comparison skills. It provides a comprehensive list of poetic elements to consider, such as subject matter, narration style, and various literary devices.

Vocabulary: Key poetic terms introduced include simile, alliteration, personification, and enjambment.

A useful section on showing similarities and differences offers sentence starters and transition phrases to help students articulate their comparisons effectively.

Example: "Both poets chose to..." or "Unlike the first poem..." are suggested as ways to begin comparative statements.

The guide emphasizes the importance of personal response in poetry analysis, encouraging students to consider the emotional impact and relatability of the poems.

Quote: "In poetry there is no right or wrong answer. Be confident with your opinion and support it with reference to the poems."

This comprehensive approach equips students with the tools needed for effective unseen poetry analysis at various levels, including KS3, GCSE, and A-level.