Structure and form
Where a poem breaks, repeats or slows down is a decision. Structure is meaning you can see on the page.
Part of your national curriculum
- Reading: Read critically, knowing how language, including figurative language, vocabulary choice, grammar, text structure and organisational features, presents meaning
- Reading: Study setting, plot and characterisation, and the effects of these on the reader
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Discuss the effect of structure and form
Key learning points
- • Shape on the page
- • Whole-poem movement
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 12 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 12
Visual introductionPicture this
Structure and form
Where a poem breaks, repeats or slows down is a decision. Structure is meaning you can see on the page.
In a nutshell
Discuss the effect of structure and form
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 12
Learn
Shape on the page
Stanza length, line breaks, enjambment and caesura control pace. A one-line stanza isolates an idea; enjambment rushes you onwards.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 12
Learn
Whole-poem movement
Track how the mood or viewpoint shifts from opening to close. Naming the turn is often the strongest point in an essay.
Reset break
Part 4 of 12
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 5 of 12
Quick check
Part 6 of 12
Quick check
Part 7 of 12
Reset break
Part 8 of 12
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 9 of 12
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 10 of 12
Game · Recall cards
'Mob' rather than 'crowd' suggests the writer thinks the group is…
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 11 of 12
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Structure and form
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. 'Mob' rather than 'crowd' suggests the writer thinks the group is…
2. The first question to ask of any source is…
3. A quotation in an analysis should be…
4. The contrast between grey windows and a clean parlour mainly conveys:
Lesson round-up
Part 12 of 12
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Points this lesson
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Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 12 · Watch & discover
How this is going
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Read critically, knowing how language, including figurative language, vocabulary choice, grammar, text structure and organisational features, presents meaning
- Not looked at yet
Study setting, plot and characterisation, and the effects of these on the reader