READING AND CONTENT ANALYSIS OF NON-AFRICAN POETRY: “CROSSING THE BAR” BY LORD TENNYSON
Subject:
LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
Term:
FIRST TERM
Week:
WEEK 6
Class:
SS 2
Topic:
READING AND CONTENT ANALYSIS OF NON-AFRICAN POETRY: “CROSSING THE BAR” BY LORD TENNYSON
Previous lesson:
The pupils have previous knowledge of
Themes and Characterization of the work
that was taught as a topic in the previous lesson
Behavioural objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to
- Analyze three main characters in the work
- Discuss the role of women in the work.
- Discuss the language of the work.
Instructional Materials:
- Wall charts
- Pictures
- Related Online Video
- Flash Cards
Methods of Teaching:
- Class Discussion
- Group Discussion
- Asking Questions
- Explanation
- Role Modelling
- Role Delegation
Reference Materials:
- Scheme of Work
- Online Information
- Textbooks
- Workbooks
Content:
WEEK SIX
TOPIC: READING AND CONTENT ANALYSIS OF NON-AFRICAN POETRY: “CROSSING THE BAR” BY LORD TENNYSON
CONTENT
ABOUT THE POET
CONTENT ANALYSIS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
One of the most popular and well-loved British poets Alfred, Lord Tennyson lived between 1809 and 1892. He belonged to the Victorian era of English Literature. He was the poet Laureate of British and Ireland from 1850 until his death in 1892, making him the longest serving English poet Laureate to date.
ANALYSIS OF THE POEM
The poem is a meditation on death. It begins with a reflection of the poet’s persona on what he describes as “one clear call for me!(l.2) on a certain evening when he realizes that it is time for him to go to the sea. He hopes that the sea could have become calm after usual turbulent movement. He further expresses the hope that when twilight eventually turns to darkness and he consequently embarks on his journey, his people will not be sad over his departure. Finally, he notes that though the journey may take him to a far distant or location, he believes it will be profitable because it will afford him the opportunity to meet his Pilot. Metaphorically speaking, the journey is actually death. Therefore, “Crossing the Bar” relates the poet’s persona’s preoccupation with the coming of death, an inevitable phenomenon. Instead of the usual fright and anxiety that many display at their approach of death, the poet’s persona faces death calmly. The tone of the poem depicts neither fear nor distress. At the literal level, the “bar” in this context is a nautical term for a ridge of sand formed at the shore, by moving tides. At the metaphorical level, the “bar” refers to crossing the threshold from mortality into another realm of experience, possibly immortality.
Presentation
The topic is presented step by step
Step 1:
The class teacher revises the previous topics
Step 2.
He introduces the new topic
Step 3:
The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own examples and he corrects them when the needs arise
EVALUATION QUESTIONS
- What do you know about the poet?
- Analyze the poem in your own words.
GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS
- What are the dominant ideas in the poem?
- Give a content analysis of the poem.
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
- A short and witty poem is known as (a) a balled (b) an epigram (c) an Epic (d) a lyric
- A literary work that extols one’s virtues and accomplishment is
(a) a eulogy (b) a pastoral (c) an elegy (d) an allegory
- The main character in a literary work is the (a) antagonist (b) protagonist (c) narrator
(d) villain
- A sonnet may be divided into an octave and (a) tercet (b) quatrain (c) sestet (d) couplet
- “All hands-on deck” is an example of (a) metaphor (b) personification (c) metonymy
(d) synecdoche
THEORY
Read the content analysis of the poem above in Exam Focus and summarize it.
Conclusion
The class teacher wraps up or concludes the lesson by giving out short notes to summarize the topic that he or she has just taught.
The class teacher also goes round to make sure that the notes are well copied or well written by the pupils.
He or she makes the necessary corrections when and where the needs arise.
