Year 11 - English
Understanding the poem 'In Wales, wanting to be Italian' by Imtiaz Dharker
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 how Dharker presents ideas of cultural identity and belonging associated with youth.
Key Notes
- Dharker was born in Lahore, Pakistan before moving to Glasgow, Scotland before her first birthday.
- Dharker's poems are testaments to her experience: intercultural identities and global living.
- Dharker's poetry explores the longing of youth - when you desire to be anyone more exciting than who you currently are.
- Dharker's poetry reminds the reader that people often look elsewhere to create a sense of belonging.
Vocabulary To Learn
- yearn: an intense longing or desire for something
- belonging: feeling accepted and comfortable in a particular group or place
- Calvinist: a person who follows Calvinism, a type of Christianity that believes God controls everything
- cultural identity: a feeling of belonging to a particular culture or group
- intercultural identity: feeling like you belong to more than one culture; mixing different traditions and experiences
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Dharker grew up in Wales.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Dharker was born in Lahore, Pakistan before moving to Glasgow, Scotland before her first birthday. Dharker's poems are testaments to her experience: intercultural identities and global living.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'yearn'
an intense longing or desire for something.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Dharker grew up in Wales. Correction: Although Wales features in the title of this poem, Dharker moved to Scotland just before her first birthday. She references Glasgow (where she grew up) in the second stanza of the poem.
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 attitudes to identity and longing in the Edexcel Belonging anthology 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 '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
Browse all guides in the Year 11 English guide library.