MORE DEMANDING POEMS (LEVEL 2 - Years 2-4) Wynken, Blynken and Nod: probably the best known of American children’s verses – a charming fantasy about dreaming. Comes with biographical notes, teacher commentary and worksheets. (387 words) Theme: The importance of fantasy, the beauty of childhood (Zip Stage 5) The Owl and the Pussycat: Edward Lear’s immortal fantasy. Comes with biographical notes, teacher commentary and worksheets. (236 words in total) Themes: Love, the importance of our animal friends (Zip Stage 5) A Poison Tree: William Blake’s renowned parable about truth and betrayal. Comes with biographical notes, teacher commentary and worksheets. (102 words) Themes: Anger, Honesty CHALLENGING POEMS (LEVEL 3 - Years 5-6) Jabberwocky: Lewis Carroll’s great fantasy masterpiece – a comic reworking of the old heroic epic tradition – in which a young warrior finds and defeats a terrible monster. Comes with biographical and historical noes, teacher commentary and worksheets. (180 words) Themes: Heroism, Humour (Zip Stage 8) Ozymandias: Shelley’s immortal sonnet – about the ruined statue of a long dead king who once thought he was king of the world. Comes with biographical notes, teacher commentary and worksheets. (114 words) Themes: Pride, Self-delusion, The brevity of life (Zip Stage 10) The Lady of Shallott: Tennyson’s famous romance about Camelot. The ‘Lady’ falls in love with Sir Lancelot. However, she is under a fateful curse, and her love proves lethal. Difficult, but exceptionally beautiful. Comes with biographical and historical notes, teacher commentary and worksheets. (958 words) Themes: Love, Fate, Beauty (Zip Stage 10) The Pied Piper of Hamelin: Browning’s great retelling of the classic myth of the rats, the piper who is betrayed, and the revenge he takes. A very challenging work in places, but the story comes through loud and clear. Accompanied by biographical and historical background, teacher commentary and worksheets. (2121 words) Themes: Arrogance, Justice, Honesty (Zip Stage 10) |