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Unit 17 Lesson 7
'A man speaking to men'
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• read about the characteristics of a poet
• read and understood a poem
• discussed the qualities of good poetic writing
A According to Wordsworth, a poet is 'a man speaking to men'. In this sense, a poet communicates through his/her poetry. Here is a simplified version of what Wordsworth says.
What, is a poet? To whom does he address himself? And what language is to be
expected from him? He is a mar, speaking to men: a man endowed with
sensibility, enthusiasm and tenderness. He has a greater knowledge of human
nature and a more comprehensive soul. He is aware of deep passions and feelings,
and rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life. He has a strong imagination
and can visualise things as if they were present in front of him.
(Source: Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical. Ballad,. 1800 - simplified)
According to the passage, how are poets different from common people?
How does that make poets especially suitable to address people they have never met?
B Here is a famous poem written by P B Shelley. Read it and answer the questions below.
Ozymandias
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert... Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown.
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command.
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read.
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things.
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair!"
Nothing beside remains, Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
1 Guess the meaning of the following words as used in the poem.
shattered, visage, despair
2 This poet speaks of an ancient statue in a far-off land. Describe the statue.
3 Now in pairs, draw a picture of the statue as described in the poem.
4 What is the central idea the poet is trying to communicate? What words and expressions has he used to get this idea across to us, the readers?
C Does Shelley display the Special qualities of a poet that Wordsworth talks about? Give examples from the poem.
D Write a summary of the poem in simple English.
Focus:
Skills.
Speaking, reading, writing.
Functions.
Understanding underlying message.
Grammar/Structure.
Imagery, figurative language.
Vocabulary.
endowed with, rejoice, enthusiasm, comprehensive, shattered, visage, sneer.
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Unit 17 Lesson 7
'A man speaking to men'
Objectives: By the end of the lesson you will have
• read about the characteristics of a poet
• read and understood a poem
• discussed the qualities of good poetic writing
A According to Wordsworth, a poet is 'a man speaking to men'. In this sense, a poet communicates through his/her poetry. Here is a simplified version of what Wordsworth says.
What, is a poet? To whom does he address himself? And what language is to be
expected from him? He is a mar, speaking to men: a man endowed with
sensibility, enthusiasm and tenderness. He has a greater knowledge of human
nature and a more comprehensive soul. He is aware of deep passions and feelings,
and rejoices more than other men in the spirit of life. He has a strong imagination
and can visualise things as if they were present in front of him.
(Source: Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical. Ballad,. 1800 - simplified)
According to the passage, how are poets different from common people?
How does that make poets especially suitable to address people they have never met?
B Here is a famous poem written by P B Shelley. Read it and answer the questions below.
Ozymandias
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert... Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown.
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command.
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read.
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things.
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty and despair!"
Nothing beside remains, Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
1 Guess the meaning of the following words as used in the poem.
shattered, visage, despair
2 This poet speaks of an ancient statue in a far-off land. Describe the statue.
3 Now in pairs, draw a picture of the statue as described in the poem.
4 What is the central idea the poet is trying to communicate? What words and expressions has he used to get this idea across to us, the readers?
C Does Shelley display the Special qualities of a poet that Wordsworth talks about? Give examples from the poem.
D Write a summary of the poem in simple English.
Focus:
Skills.
Speaking, reading, writing.
Functions.
Understanding underlying message.
Grammar/Structure.
Imagery, figurative language.
Vocabulary.
endowed with, rejoice, enthusiasm, comprehensive, shattered, visage, sneer.