Year 11 - English
Analysing ideas of nature and heritage in Nichols' 'Like an Heiress'
World and lives poetry continued
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupis read and analyse three poems from the 'World and Lives' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. At the end of the unit, pupils analyse themes from the anthology, compare specific poems and craft a full analytical response.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how Nichols uses language, form and structure to express ideas of nature and heritage in 'Like an Heiress'.
Key Notes
- Nichols' personification of nature may be to heighten the unjust treatment of nature by humanity.
- The link to the sonnet form through the length may be to show the love that the speaker has for nature and her heritage.
- However, the lack of adherence to the sonnet form may show that humanity itself doesn't love nature.
- It may also be representative of the disconnect the speaker feels towards her home.
- The irregularity of the poem may be indicative of the uncertainty towards the planet's future.
Vocabulary To Learn
- ironic: an ironic situation in which something has the opposite effect of the one intended.
- anthropogenic: relating to, or resulting from the influence of human beings on nature.
- sonnet: a poetic form consisting of 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter, typically on the topic of love.
- lament: a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
- volta: the turn of thought or argument in the sonnet form.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- If a poet doesn't conform to a poetic form then they are rejecting it.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Nichols' personification of nature may be to heighten the unjust treatment of nature by humanity. The link to the sonnet form through the length may be to show the love that the speaker has for nature and her heritage.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'ironic'
an ironic situation in which something has the opposite effect of the one intended.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: If a poet doesn't conform to a poetic form then they are rejecting it. Correction: By not using a particular poetic form, or subverting a poetic form, a poet may be critiquing a certain expectation or making a certain comment on society.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing extended responses to power and authority in Shelley and Femi's poetry Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of identity and heritage in Robinson's 'A Portable Paradise' Study Guide
- Analysing the ideas of connections in Antrobus' 'With Birds You're Never Lonely' Study Guide
- Comparing ideas of nature and identity in Robinson, Nichols, and Antrobus' poems Study Guide
- Making connections across the AQA Worlds and Lives anthology Study Guide
- Planning a response to ideas of belonging in the AQA Worlds and Lives anthology Study Guide
- Reviewing a response to ideas of belonging in the AQA Worlds and Lives anthology Study Guide
- Understanding connections in Antrobus' 'With Birds You're Never Lonely' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of identity and heritage in Robinson's 'A Portable Paradise' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of inheritance and identity in Nichols' 'Like an Heiress' Study Guide
- Writing a response to ideas of belonging in the AQA Worlds and Lives anthology Study Guide
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