This advanced activity is designed to help students understand W. B. Yeats’ iconic yet rather difficult poem “The Second Coming”, with a particular focus on how it is linked to Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart. The activity includes: 1. Context of Composition: An introduction to the context shared by both Achebe’s novel and Yeats’ poem. This includes information about how Achebe was inspired by the poem in the choice of both the epigraph at the beginning of the novel and in his choice of title. 2. Annotated Poem text: (“The Second Coming” by W. B. Yeats) with annotations for difficult concepts, vocabulary, and terminology required to understand the poem. 3. Yeats’ Vision: A diagram and labeled, explaining how “The Second Coming” envisions Yeats’s cyclical, dual gyres of history (as outlined in his book Vision). 4. Comprehension, Close Reading & Analysis Questions for the poem 5. Food for thought and essay questions for additional in-depth reflection and to ensure higher-order thinking and writing skills are also catered to. 6. Analyzing Okonkwo’s Character: The Tragic Hero: This PowerPoint presentation (included here as a PDF to ensure cross-platform compatibility) provides a no-prep guide through teaching Yeats’ poem, and connecting it to an analysis of Okonkwo’s character as a classical tragic hero. The PPT includes: It introduces the poem “The Second Coming” by W. B. Yeats, Achebe’s source of inspiration for the title of the novel. The presentation includes a glossary of difficult terms for the poem and places it in the context of the novel, to facilitate a deeper understanding of the overall purpose of the novel as well as the wonderful poem by Yeats itself. Comprehension and close-reading questions accompany the poem. Linked to “The Second Coming” and its central message, the presentation introduces the concept of the tragic hero in literature and enables a detailed analysis of how Okonkwo (the novel’s protagonist) is, ultimately, a tragic hero. The PowerPoint includes a final form of assessment that you can optionally use to wrap up the unit about Okonkwo as a tragic hero. NB: I’ve opted for a minimalistic, no-fuss design to allow you to focus on the content rather than the flashy (but ultimately pointless) functions of a PowerPoint. I hope this allows you to seamlessly include the lesson into your study of the novel. 7. Teacher’s Guide + Answer Key - this provides a detailed answer key with model answers for all the activities - designed for teachers who are new to the novel, or veterans who wish to gain fresh insights. Perfect for independent study and distance learning. IMPORTANT! Rate this product & get one product for free: If you provide a rating & feedback for this product, contact me by email to receive one product (except a bundle) sent to you free of charge! Feedback is always appreciated! Enjoy, and please leave feedback!

This print-and-use, ready to teach unit contains all my activities, worksheets, printables, handouts, answers and teacher’s guide resources for Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. One of my favourite novels to teach, I’ve revisited and revised my Of Mice and Men resources and included a range of activities for each of the six parts of the novel. This unit, for Chapter 1 of Of Mice and Men, contains the following: Comprehension & Close Reading Questions for Chapter 1 of Of Mice and Men Let’s Get Quizzical! - Quote Hunt Quiz for Chapter 1 of the novel. The Novel in Context - A Short Biography of John Steinbeck - a short, informative biography of the author, can be used at any point in your study of the novel. Analyzing Characters - George & Lennie - this guided character analysis activity facilitates comparison and contrast of the protagonists of the novel - George & Lennie. The Novel in Context - Migrant Workers Then & Now - this comprehensive activity uses an excellent documentary about the context of Of Mice and Men (available on YouTube, links etc. included) - as a basis for a listening/video comprehension. Starting with a focus of migrant workers in Salinas, California in the 1920s and 1930s, this activity interweaves history, biographical information about Steinbeck with eye-witness accounts, interviews, and extracts from the novel to paint a comprehensive picture of the context of composition and the timeless qualities of this literary masterpiece. Teacher’s Guide - Model Answers + Commentary + Analysis - This is a comprehensive teacher’s guide for Part One of the novel, and it includes model answers for all the activities as well as a detailed plot summary and analysis of Part One, designed for teachers who are new to the novel, or veterans who wish to gain fresh insights, as well as for students working independently in a home-schooling setting or in a distance learning environment. Hoping you find everything you were looking for, please leave feedback!

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Plaits” by Elizabeth Smither. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Teaching Activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class). I’ve focused on the central imagery of the poem, the plaits. 4) Comprehension, Close-reading & Analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “The Enemies” by Elizabeth Jennings. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-Reading Activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class). I’ve focused on extended metaphor as this is a key aspect of the poem. 4) Comprehension, Close-reading & Analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “The Chimney-Sweeper” by William Blake. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-Reading Activities to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on the two different versions of the poem in Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience, as this comparison is crucial to understanding Blake’s message. 4) Comprehension, Close-reading & Analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “The Road” by Nancy Fotheringham Cato. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-reading activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class) 4) Close-reading & analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). ***Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “These Are The Times We Live In” by Imtiaz Dharker. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-reading & After-Reading Activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class). I’ve focused on Dharker’s use of metonymy and synecdoche, as these aspects are particularly relevant to the poem. 4) Comprehension, close-reading & analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This is an advanced worksheeet, ready-to-print and teach handout that facilitates a guided reading and provides while-reading questions for teaching the novel “The Wave” by Morton Rhue / Todd Strasser. The reading log includes: Comprehension, close reading & analysis questions for each chapter. Particular focus on close reading, analysis of language and its effects, including historical context links, analysis of structure, themes and pupose. Since most available reading logs and while-reading activities do not go into enough analytical depth and detail, I put together my own reading log that tries to dig a little deeper and forces the students to engage in higher order thinking and analysis skills. Enjoy, and please leave feedback!

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “The Instant of My Death” by Sarah Jackson. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2024-2026. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers and explanatory notes to facilitate a close-reading and understanding. 3) Pre-reading activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class). I’ve focused in particular on the poem’s use of enjambment and caesura, as this is crucial to appreciate “The Instant of My Death” fully. 4) Comrpehension, close-reading & analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Rich and Poor or, Saint and Sinner” by Thomas Love Peacock. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-reading & After-Reading Activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class). I’ve focused on metaphor, as Peacock uses metaphor extensively in his poem. **4) Comprehension, close-reading & analysis **questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “A Long Journey” by Musaemura Zimunya. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Before-Reading Activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class). I’ve focused on the historical context of the poem, as it is central to understanding “A Long Journey”. 4) Comprehension, Close-reading & Analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Report to Wordsworth” by Boey Kim Cheng. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-Reading Activities to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on ecocriticism and the allusions to Wordsworth’s sonnets and his legacy as a nature poet. 4) Comprehension, Close-reading & Analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5**) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice,** modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This no-prep bundle of activities is designed to enable the in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Carpet-weavers, Morocco” by Carol Rumens. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2026-2028. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-Teaching Activities & Follow-Up Activities to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on different stanzaic forms as well as visualising the poem, activities that are particularly relevant to Rumens’ poem. 4) Close-reading & Analysis Questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4). These can be used as a mock exam with your students. 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This no-prep bundle of activities is designed to enable the in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Hunting Snake” by Judith Wright. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2026-2028. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-Teaching Activities: to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on introductory activities of figurative and poetic devices. 4) After Reading Activities: a range of activities ideal as follow-up to reading the poem in class. Topics covered include: sensory imagery in the poem, visualisation and comprehension of the poem. 5) Close-reading & Analysis Questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 6) Exam Practice Questions, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4). These can be used as a mock exam with your students. 7) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). *Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!***

An informative handout to introduce Rupert Brooke and a unit of analysis for his famous war poem ‘The Soldier’. The handout includes the following: a short biography of Rupert Brooke, the poet annotated text of the poem ‘The Soldier’ (includes a glossary of key terms explained in the context of the poem) comprehension, close reading, and analysis questions holistic, ‘food for thought’ question to elicit an essay-style response.

The title, Of Mice and Men, is an allusion to a line in a poem called “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns. This no-prep print-and-use pre-reading activity includes: A copy of the poem in its original Scots Modern English translation Comprehension, analysis & discussion questions Connections to the novel and the title in particular. Enjoy, and please leave feedback!

This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “A Different History” by Sujata Bhatt. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-Reading Activities to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on Sujata Bhatt’s life and the context of the poem, as this is particularly relevant to “A Different History”. 4) Comprehension, Close-reading & Analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This FREE no-prep unit provides introductory activities for Chinua Achebe’s iconic African novel Things Fall Apart. The unit includes: 1. Exploring Expository Writing: An in-depth introductory text that provides insights into the following aspects of the novel: critical reception & worldwide success of Things Fall Apart context & background 2. Discussion Questions: A range of discussion prompts that test understanding of the text, on the one hand, and provide food for thought and extended critical discussion. Happy teaching! Feedback is always appreciated!

This FREE no-prep bundle of activities is designed to enable the in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Sonnet 18: Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” by William Shakespeare. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2026-2028. The unit includes: 1) Short biography and introduction to the poet 2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary. 3) Pre-Teaching Activities: to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on the Shakespearean sonnet (structure and form). 4) After Reading Activities: a range of activities ideal as follow-up to reading the poem in class. Topics covered include: aporia (figurative device), visualising the poem, “Sonnet 18” - reading aloud and a first analysis. 5) Close-reading & Analysis Questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 6) Exam Practice Questions, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4). These can be used as a mock exam with your students. 7) Detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4). **Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising! Please leave feedback!**

This FREE activity focuses on Lois Lowry’s novel “The Giver” addresses a central issue of the novel: the importance of colour. The activity includes various discussion questions and activities that students can either perform in an experimental setting in class or as a while-reading homework assignment at home. Enjoy, and feel free to leave feedback!