A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat - Edexcel iGCSE English Language

Lesson Summary: A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat

This lesson explores Emma Levine’s travelogue extract “A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat,” which describes a donkey race in Karachi, Pakistan. The lesson engages students in analysing how Levine uses language and structure to create excitement, build tension, and provide a humorous account of cultural experiences. Students will examine literary techniques such as metaphor, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia, and discuss their effects on the reader.

Lesson Objectives:

• Analyse how language and structural choices create excitement and build tension.
• Understand and identify literary devices such as metaphors, similes, and personification.
• Explore the cultural and social context of the narrative to deepen comprehension.

Activities:

• Group discussion on the extract’s themes, including cultural differences and the appeal of unusual sports.
• Identification of literary techniques and their impact through guided reading and annotation exercises.
• Creative writing task where students craft their own sports commentary using similar devices to those found in Levine’s writing.

Skills Developed:

• Critical analysis of text and understanding of authorial choices.
• Empathy and cultural awareness through the exploration of diverse experiences.
• Creative writing skills by applying learned techniques to original stories.