- This topic has 44 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated April 1, 2025 by
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Summary for Lesson 1
In today’s class we began our study of War of the Worlds, thinking about the history behind the book. We discussed what we enjoyed and didn’t enjoy about the novel before thinking through the ways in which we can see the anxieties of the 1800s reflected in the plot. We spoke about the famous radio play drama of the 1930s, thought about the impact of Darwinism and Empire on the story and finally the class researched Wells to see what his life can reveal about the novel overall. Well done everyone, fab ideas today particularly when thinking about what science fiction as a genre reveals to us about our relationship to science & the unknown. Keep it up and see you next week 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 2
In today’s class we continued work on War of the Worlds, thinking about the Martians in the story and what they tell us about Wells’ overall message. We began by thinking about Wells’ personality and life, using this to consider his idea that nothing in his novel was impossible. We then thought about the characters’ response to the Martian invasion and whether we found it realistic before talking about the title and why Wells may have called it something slightly misleading. The class came up with their own titles before finally writing some excellent defences of the Martians, reflecting on the historical context of imperialism and Darwinism that the book explores, which they did fantastically. Very well done everyone, brilliant contributions from all today. Keep up the wonderful work and see you next week 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Sorry I was not in the lesson, I did listen to the recording. Thank you very much. Here is my homework
Yichen
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Summary for Lesson 3
In today’s class we looked at close and deep textual analysis of War of the Worlds, working with GCSE-style questions. We began by thinking through a passage from the text, dissecting particularly strong quotations and discussing them as a class. We looked at a GCSE-style question and thought about in depth analysis of an Orwell passage to help us think about the level of detail we need. The class read an example GCSE response, and then practiced some essay planning. Really great work today everyone, well done for all your interesting ideas. Keep it up and see you next week 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 4
In today’s class we finished our work on War of the Worlds thinking about modernising the story as a play. We looked at the ways in which stagecraft functions, considering the visual aspect of playwrighting and what it can add. We spoke about the structure of the novel and how to translate it and the students came up with brilliant ideas for a modern re-telling of the story in their groups. Finally we completed some essay question planning and looked at the ‘exploded’ quotation method of analysis. Well done everyone, I loved hearing your play ideas in particular! Keep up the wonderful work 🙂
Stagecraft vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFDZzbWGfKI
Homework article: https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2018/feb/13/ts-eliot-the-waste-land-mental-illness
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Summary for Lesson 5
In today’s lesson we began our work on The Wasteland, learning the context, philsophy and literary movements behind the poem. We began with discussing the poem before learning about modernism and connecting this to the way fragmentation and narrative is used within The Wasteland. We spoke about the work of other modernist artists, from Woolf to Picasso, and looked at elements such as the French symbolist movement. We then spoke about the birth of pyschological literature, discussed the homework article and finally researched and debated Eliot’s life and what it tells us about his writing. Amazing and attentive work everyone, you’ve been so great today in unpicking some strange and abstract topics. Keep it up and see you soon 🙂
Copy of the poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47311/the-waste-land
Allusions chart: https://bernytan.com/art/a-visual-guide-to-references-in-ts-eliots-the-waste-land-1922
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Summary for Lesson 6
In today’s class we continued work on Eliot’s The Waste Land, thinking about the themes of the poem and the way the poet uses contrast, juxtaposition and perspective. We spoke about the title of the poem and the way in which it changed over the course of Eliot’s writing, dug into his presentation of death and learned about the ways in which he uses religion and myth to discuss wider notions of moral and spiritual degradation. Excellent work everyone, very well done for all your astute commentary on the themes and their effect. You are all doing fantastically- keep it up! 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the insightful lesson – I’m starting to understand this poem a bit more now! ❤️
Here is my homework
Yichen
P.S — I found a really cool website where there is a recording of Eliot himself reading his poetry.
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Summary for Lesson 7
In today’s class we continued The Waste Land, thinking about close analysis of the poem and its themes. We looked at the modernist’s notion of fragmentation and dug into the ways in which we see this reflected in Eliot’s structure. We considered if the poem allows for a sense of hope or not and spoke about literary techniques in small groups, analysing the poem as if it were an unseen poem. Finally we spoke about the new and the old and their collision in radical art, and thought about Eliot’s approach to poetry overall. Very nice work everyone, particularly on your close analysis! Well done and see you next week 🙂
Homework essay: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69400/tradition-and-the-individual-talent
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Summary for Lesson 8
In today’s lesson we completed The Waste Land, finishing our study of the poem with some creative interpretations of the poem. We discussed how it is important as one of the first modern poems and then thought about other works of art, music and literature that reflects similar themes. The students then wrote some beautiful creative interpretations in response to the poem which were stunning in how intricate and creative they were. Such impressive work everyone- you should be very proud! See you next week for The Woman in Black 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the intriguing lessons on The Waste Land. I understand much more of it now, and can appreciate it more.
Here is my homework.
Yichen
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Summary for Lesson 9
In today’s class we began work on The Woman in Black, thinking about context and genre. We shared thoughts on the book and how it differed from the others we had read, digging into how genre is used and how this simplifies many elements of the writing. We discussed the historical context of the novel, thinking about how both the 1980s, when it was written, and the Edwardian era, when it was set, are relevant to understanding the deeper themes. We then watched some interviews with the author, thinking about why she decided to write this story and how it factors into the ghost story canon. Well done everyone, great work and sharing of ideas today. Keep up the wonderful job and see you next week 🙂
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Summary for Lesson 10
In today’s class we continued work on The Woman in Black, discussing the themes, structure and language. We spoke about the gothic genre in the novel and revolved our thinking around close analysis of the text following GCSE style essay questions. The class shared some amazing ideas on the creation of suspense and atmosphere in the book, thought about the way perspective feeds into the genre of the story and touched on elements such as symbolism too. They completed a group analysis task beautifully and discussed the purpose of ghost stories. Well done everyone! Wonderful and sophisticated analysis today. Keep it up and see you next week 🙂
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