Year 11 - English
Comparing attitudes to identity and longing in the Edexcel Belonging anthology
Belonging 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 'Belonging' 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 similarities and differences between poets' viewpoints.
Key Notes
- Chingonyi, Dharker and Kunial's poetry all appear to show a yearning for a sense of belonging.
- They also explore the links between belonging, dislocation and individual identity.
- Dharker's speaker yearns to escape her current life by becoming someone else who is more confident and 'cool'.
- Chingonyi's poem feels more reflective, considering how different life may have been if the speaker had not left Zambia.
- Kunial takes a philosophical approach to thinking about identity and belonging, exploring the fine line between them.
Vocabulary To Learn
- tenuous: weak, slight, not strong or substantial
- intercultural identity: identity influenced by multiple cultures or ethnic backgrounds
- thematically: relating to the central ideas or messages in a poem
- yearning: deep longing or desire, often with an emotional intensity
- attitudes: beliefs or opinions towards something, typically influencing behaviour or decisions
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- All three poems explore conflict and belonging related to cultural identity because all three poets have an intercultural identity.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Chingonyi, Dharker and Kunial's poetry all appear to show a yearning for a sense of belonging. They also explore the links between belonging, dislocation and individual identity.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'tenuous'
weak, slight, not strong or substantial.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: All three poems explore conflict and belonging related to cultural identity because all three poets have an intercultural identity. Correction: All three poets have an intercultural identity and this is reflected in many of their poems. However here, only 'Kumukanda' explores these ideas directly. Dharker focuses on identity and growing up; Kunial explores belonging in a more abstract way.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing an extended and developed response on Edexcel's Belonging anthology Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'In Wales, wanting to be Italian' by Imtiaz Dharker Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Kumukanda' by Kayo Chingonyi Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Us' by Zaffar Kunial Study Guide
- Comparing Chingonyi's 'Kumukanda' to other Edexcel 'Belonging' poems Study Guide
- Making connections between the poems in the Edexcel Belonging anthology Study Guide
- Planning an extended and developed response on Edexcel's Belonging poetry Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'In Wales, wanting to be Italian' by Imtiaz Dharker Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Kumukanda' by Kayo Chingonyi Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Us' by Zaffar Kunial Study Guide
- Writing an extended and developed response on Edexcel's 'Belonging' poetry Study Guide
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