Year 5 - English
Understanding the context of 'The Highwayman'
'The Highwayman': narrative writing
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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, pupils use 'The Highwayman' by Alfred Noyes as the stimulus from which to write a character and setting description, a narrative build-up in third person prose and a section incorporating varied speech sentences. Pupils complete the unit reciting and memorising parts of the poem.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to understand the geographical, historical, social and authorial context of 'The Highwayman'.
Key Notes
- 'The Highwayman' is an example of a narrative poem.
- A narrative poem is a type of poem that tells a story.
- 'The Highwayman' was set in rural England during the 18th century.
- Alfred Noyes is the poet who wrote 'The Highwayman'.
- Highwaymen were robbers on horseback who attacked travellers.
Vocabulary To Learn
- narrative poem: a type of poem which tells a story
- context: the factors outside a text that influence it, such as the historical period, setting and society at the time
- 18th century: the historical time period from 1701-1800
- welfare state: government support for people, such as social care and health services
- synopsis: a summary of a text
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may find it challenging to place the time period in which the poem is set.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'The Highwayman' is an example of a narrative poem. A narrative poem is a type of poem that tells a story.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'narrative poem'
a type of poem which tells a story.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may find it challenging to place the time period in which the poem is set. Correction: Explicit discussion of features of the 18th Century and visual representations on a timeline will help pupils' understanding.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing stanzas five and six of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Analysing stanzas one and two of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Analysing stanzas three and four of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Editing the build-up of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Editing the speech section of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Learning and reciting stanzas four to six of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Learning and reciting stanzas one to three of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Planning a setting and character description based on 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Planning and writing the second part of the build-up of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Planning the first part of the build-up of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Planning the third part of the build-up of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Reviewing speech punctuation to write the next section of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Using drama to analyse the next section of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Writing a setting and character description based on 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Writing the first part of the build-up of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
- Writing the third part of the build-up of 'The Highwayman' Study Guide
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