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Year 11 - English

Understanding the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti

Conflict poetry continued

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 Rossetti presents gendered conflict.

Key Notes

  • The poem explores the conflict between the speaker and society's expectations of her as a woman.
  • Victorian women had higher moral expectations placed on them than men.
  • The speaker in the poem has been caught having sexual relations outside of marriage.
  • Women were often considered the property of men at the time the poem was written.
  • Rossetti explores Victorian gender roles in the poem, reflecting on the inequality of a patriarchal society.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • predatory: exploitative behaviour aimed at taking advantage of others
  • influence: something or someone that affects others' behaviours, decisions, or beliefs
  • gender roles: societal norms dictating appropriate behaviours for different genders
  • societal conflict: disagreements and struggles within a society
  • patriarchal society: a social system dominated by men, with power centred around male authority

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • This poem is primarily about familial conflict.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The poem explores the conflict between the speaker and society's expectations of her as a woman. Victorian women had higher moral expectations placed on them than men.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'predatory'

exploitative behaviour aimed at taking advantage of others.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: This poem is primarily about familial conflict. Correction: Although the speaker and Kate are family relations, the conflict between them is focused on their shared love interest and so their family connection is inconsequential.

More Lessons In This Unit

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