Robert Frost - After Apple-Picking

Designed to accompany the Robert Frost poetry anthology for CIE AS English, but will be appropriate for any senior study of the poem After Apple-Picking. This lesson was taught over two hour-long periods, though could be condensed into one.
The first lesson introduces students to the idea of symbolism within the poem by analysing the connotations of significant images, and invites them to make predictions about the poem using this information and their knowledge of Frost’s poetry so far. The main part of the lesson focuses on analysis of the title, identifies the speaker and situation, encourages students to identify structure, and suggests useful vocabulary and appropriate language techniques necessary for studying the poem. Students look at the first two sections and answer a practice response paragraph on structure in the first lesson as a plenary.
The second lesson prompts students to identify and comment on the main themes of sleep, activity and winter as a starter activity. Students annotate the rest of the poem, and then answer comprehension questions to push their learning regarding the metaphorical aspects of the poem. They then evaluate their confidence regarding the poem, and could be prompted to link the poem to other poems previously studied.
A blank and annotated copy of the poem are also included with this resource.