Protest Poetry: Voices of Resistance

This six-week scheme of work delves into the powerful world of protest poetry, guiding students through an exploration of how poets use their craft to voice dissent, challenge injustices, and inspire change. The selected poems cover a range of themes including racial discrimination, environmental concerns, and existential reflections on human conditions. Each week focuses on a different poem, encouraging students to analyse and interpret the language, structure, tone, and underlying messages.

Week 1: “No Problem” by Benjamin Zephaniah
Focus: Understanding racial prejudice and the impact of stereotypes.
• Activities: Annotate key phrases and discuss Zephaniah’s use of dialect.
• Explore the poet’s background and his role in contemporary British poetry.
• Group discussions on personal experiences with stereotypes and racism.

Week 2: “Remember” by Christina Rossetti
Focus: Reflecting on memory and loss.
• Activities: • Analyse the language and imagery used by Rossetti to convey themes of remembrance and grief.
• Creative writing: students compose their own poems inspired by the theme of remembrance.
• Class discussion on how memory shapes personal and collective identity.

Week 3: “Nothing to Be Said” by Philip Larkin
Focus: Examining existential themes and societal reflections.
• Activities:
• Close reading of the poem with an emphasis on tone and structure.
• Research and present on the historical and cultural context of Larkin’s work.
• Debate on the relevance of Larkin’s existential themes in today’s society.

Week 4: “One World Down the Drain” by Simon Rae
• Focus: Addressing environmental issues and climate change.
• Activities:
• Analyse the poem’s tone and the use of satire to critique environmental neglect.
• Group project on current environmental issues and their portrayal in media and literature.
• Class discussion on individual responsibility and collective action for environmental preservation.

Week 5: “Zero Hour” by Sweeney
Focus: Exploring themes of urgency and crisis.
• Activities:
• Annotate and discuss key quotations to understand the poet’s message about global crises.
• Creative project: students create visual art or multimedia presentations based on the poem’s themes.
• Class debate on the effectiveness of protest poetry in inciting action.