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Year 5 - English

Identifying key themes in 'The Listeners' by Walter de la Mare

'The Listeners': reading

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and respond to the poem, 'The Listeners' by Walter de la Mare. They learn about the poet and examine the structure and language in the poem. Finally, pupils explore the imagery used and the key themes from the poem.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to identify and justify the key themes in 'The Listeners'.

Key Notes

  • Asking questions about a poem can help identify key themes within it
  • There are several key themes in "The Listeners" including, the unknown, the supernatural, isolation and solitude
  • The Listeners portrays the strangeness of the world, and humankind's inability to fully understand it

Vocabulary To Learn

  • theme: A theme is a central idea that the poet intends the audience to engage deeply with.
  • imagery: Imagery involves the use of vivid and sensory language to create vivid mental pictures, enhancing the emotional impact of a poem.
  • justify: To justify means to show or prove something using evidence.
  • sensory chart: A sensory chart is a table where readers can note down sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and textures in a poem.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that imagery appeals to just one of the senses.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Asking questions about a poem can help identify key themes within it. There are several key themes in "The Listeners" including, the unknown, the supernatural, isolation and solitude.

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

A theme is a central idea that the poet intends the audience to engage deeply with.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may think that imagery appeals to just one of the senses. Correction: Through interpretation, imagery in the poem may fall under more than one sense.

More Lessons In This Unit

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