Literary Appreciation of a Poem – JSS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note (Third Term)

Poetry appreciation is reading a poem carefully, understanding what it says, noticing how it is written, and thinking about what it means to you.

• Subject: Literature in English
• Class: JSS 1
• Duration: 40 minutes
• Topic: Literary appreciation of a poem

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Read a poem with proper expression.
2. Explain what a poem is about.
3. Identify the theme and message.
4. Recognise poetic devices in the poem.
5. Describe the tone and mood, and how the poem makes them feel.
6. Give a personal opinion about the poem.

What previous knowledge do students need?

• Poetry: students know that poems use special language, lines and stanzas.
• Sound: they know that poems often have rhyme and rhythm.
• Devices: they can name simple devices such as simile, metaphor and personification.

What teaching aids are needed?

• Poem: copies of a simple poem.
• Chart: the steps for appreciating poetry.
• Pictures: images related to the poem’s theme.
• Audio: a recording of the poem, if available.
• Board: whiteboard and markers.

Introduction (4 minutes)

The teacher starts with questions and a short poem read aloud.

• Question 1: Do you like poetry? Why or why not?
• Question 2: What makes a poem different from a story?
• Question 3: When you read a poem, what do you think about?
• Reading: the teacher reads a very short poem with expression.
• Follow-up: What did you feel? What do you think the poem is about?
• Link to the lesson: appreciating a poem means understanding it, enjoying it and thinking about what it means.

What is poetry appreciation? (5 minutes)

Poetry appreciation is reading a poem carefully, understanding its meaning, noticing its techniques, and giving a personal response.

• Comparison: it is like looking at a painting. You study the colours and details, and ask what the artist wanted to show.

Why do we appreciate poetry?

1. To understand the message: poems often have meanings that are not clear at first reading.
2. To enjoy the beauty: poems use beautiful language, sounds and images.
3. To connect personally: good poems speak to our own experiences.
4. To learn from the poet: poets share wisdom, observations and feelings.
5. To improve our own writing: noticing how poets use words teaches us to write better.

How do we appreciate a poem? (28 minutes)

A poem is appreciated in ten steps, from first listening to giving your opinion.

Teacher’s note: replace the sample poem below with your prescribed text if you wish.

Sample poem: “My Mother’s Hands”

By Anonymous

My mother’s hands are gentle,
As soft as morning dew,
They wipe away my tears,
And make me feel brand new.

My mother’s hands are strong,
They work from dawn till night,
They cook and clean and mend my clothes,
To make my world so bright.

My mother’s hands are magic,
They heal when I am ill,
With just one loving touch from her,
I know that all is well.

My mother’s hands are treasures,
More precious than fine gold,
They hold me when I’m frightened,
And keep me safe and bold.

What are the ten steps of appreciation?

Step 1: What should you do in the first reading?

In the first reading, students listen without the text and notice how the poem makes them feel.

• What to do: the teacher reads aloud with expression while students listen.
• Notice the sound: how does the poem sound?
• Notice the pictures: what pictures come to your mind?
• Notice the feeling: what is your first impression?
• After reading: students share quick first impressions of what the poem is about.

Step 2: What should you do in the second reading?

In the second reading, students follow the printed text and notice the form of the poem.

• What to do: students receive the text and follow while the teacher reads again.
• Stanzas: there are four stanzas (verses).
• Rhyming words: dew/new, night/bright, ill/well, gold/bold.
• Repeated phrase: “My mother’s hands” begins every stanza.

Step 3: How do we understand the content?

The content is what the poem says on the surface and what it means underneath.

Subject matter: the poem describes a mother’s hands and what they do.

What is the literal meaning?

• Stanza 1: the mother’s hands are gentle and soft, and they comfort the child who is crying.
• Stanza 2: her hands are strong and do much work, such as cooking, cleaning and mending clothes.
• Stanza 3: her hands seem to heal, and her touch helps when the child is sick.
• Stanza 4: her hands are very valuable, and they comfort and protect the child.

What is the deeper meaning?

The “hands” stand for the mother’s whole loving care.

• Love and care: the poem is about a mother’s love.
• Sacrifice: it shows her hard work for her family.
• Security: it shows the comfort a mother gives.
• Value: it shows how precious mothers are.

Step 4: How do we identify the theme?

The theme is the main message or lesson in the poem.

• Theme of this poem: a mother’s love and sacrifice are precious and cannot be replaced.
• Another way to say it: mothers show their love through their caring actions.

Supporting ideas:

• Mothers work hard for their children.
• Mothers give comfort and security.
• A mother’s care heals and protects.
• A mother’s love is worth more than wealth.

Step 5: What poetic devices and language features are in the poem?

Poetic devices are the techniques a poet uses to say things in a special way.

What is the rhyme scheme?

The rhyme scheme is ABCB in every stanza, so lines 2 and 4 rhyme and lines 1 and 3 do not.

How is the poem structured?

The poem has four stanzas, and each shows a different quality of the mother’s hands.

1. Gentleness and comfort
2. Strength and hard work
3. Healing power
4. Value and protection

Is there personification?

• Answer: personification is weak in this poem.
• Reason: the hands “wipe”, “work”, “heal” and “hold”, but these are things hands can really do.

Step 6: What are the tone and mood of the poem?

Tone is the poet’s attitude to the subject. Mood is the feeling the poem creates in the reader.

Step 7: Who is the speaker?

The speaker is the voice that talks in the poem, and here it is a child speaking about their mother.

• Gender: we cannot tell whether the child is a boy or a girl.
• Feelings: the child loves their mother deeply and feels safe and cared for.
• Character: the child notices and values the mother’s work.
• Experience: the child may have been sick or frightened at times.

Step 8: How do we make personal connections?

A personal connection is linking the poem to your own life and feelings.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Can I relate to this poem?
2. Do I know someone like the person described?
3. Have I experienced what the poem talks about?
4. Does it remind me of anything in my life?
5. How does it make me feel?

Questions for this poem:

• Can you remember a time your mother comforted you?
• When have you seen your mother working hard?
• How do you feel about your mother?

Step 9: How do we evaluate a poem?

To evaluate a poem is to judge how well it uses language, feeling and devices to give its message.

Step 10: How do we express our opinion?

A good opinion says what you liked, what could be better, and your overall view.

• What I liked: the repetition of “My mother’s hands”, the clear imagery, the pleasant rhyme and the meaningful message.
• What could be better: it may be predictable, because mothers are often praised in poems.
• Also: it could give more specific examples, and some readers may find it too sentimental.
• Overall opinion: it is a simple but effective poem that praises a mother’s love and sacrifice, and it suits young people learning to value their parents.

What does a complete appreciation of the poem look like?

Class discussion

1. What is your favourite line in the poem? Why?
2. Which stanza is the most powerful? Why?
3. What other things do mothers do to show love?
4. How does the poem compare with your own experience?
5. If you could add one more stanza, what would it say?

Class activity

Students work in pairs, then share answers with the class.

1. What is the poem about?
2. What is the theme?
3. Find three poetic devices.
4. How does it make you feel?
5. Do you like it? Why or why not?

How should students keep improving at poetry appreciation?

• Practise: appreciation is a skill that improves with practice.
• Re-read: read a poem several times instead of once.
• Discuss: talk about the poem with others.
• Be honest: you may like some poems more than others, and that is fine.

Evaluation (2 minutes)

1. What does it mean to appreciate a poem?
2. What is the theme of “My Mother’s Hands”?
3. Name two poetic devices used in the poem, with an example of each.
4. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
5. What is the difference between tone and mood?

Assignment

Write a full appreciation of “My Mother’s Hands” that includes:

1. The theme (one sentence)
2. A summary of the content (three to four sentences)
3. Three poetic devices, each with an example
4. The tone and the mood
5. Your personal opinion (one paragraph)