Year 11 - English
Understanding the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke
Conflict 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 'Conflict' 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 across the anthology and practise crafting a sophisticated comparative essay,
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how Clarke presents internal parental conflict in her poem.
Key Notes
- 'Catrin' is a personal poem reflecting Clarke's own relationship with her daughter.
- 'Catrin' reflects the internal conflict parents face as their children grow.
- Clear comparisons can be made to 'Poppies' as both poems focus on parental conflicts.
- Whilst 'Catrin' focuses on one conflict between parent and child, the message is a timeless one.
Vocabulary To Learn
- parental: related to or characteristic of a parent or parenthood
- prevalent: widespread or commonly occurring within a particular area or at a particular time
- incubator: a medical device that provides a controlled environment to support the growth of (often) premature or ill babies
- inner conflict: psychological struggle within a person, often involving contradictory emotions or desires
- interpersonal conflict: disagreement or clash between individuals due to differing opinions, needs, or interests
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- This poem is entirely autobiographical, written about Clarke's experiences of motherhood.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'Catrin' is a personal poem reflecting Clarke's own relationship with her daughter. 'Catrin' reflects the internal conflict parents face as their children grow.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'parental'
related to or characteristic of a parent or parenthood.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: This poem is entirely autobiographical, written about Clarke's experiences of motherhood. Correction: This poem was written just after the birth of Clarke's fist daughter so does reflect on her experiences of motherhood but the later scenes of a older child playing out are necessarily fictional.
More Lessons In This Unit
- A comparison of 'Poppies' by Jane Weir with other Edexcel 'Conflict' poems Study Guide
- Analysing an extended and developed response on Edexcel 'Conflict' poetry Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Poppies' Study Guide
- Comparing women's conflict in the Edexcel 'Conflict' anthology Study Guide
- Making connections between poems in the Edexcel 'Conflict' cluster Study Guide
- Planning an extended and developed response on Edexcel 'Conflict' poetry Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Poppies' Study Guide
- Writing an extended and developed response on Edexcel 'Conflict' poetry Study Guide
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