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 no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Song: Love Armed” by Aphra Behn. 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 and Post-Reading Activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class). I’ve focused on Behn’s use of extended metaphor and personification, particularly relevant to “Love Armed”. **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 Capital” by W. H. Auden. 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 a review of figurative language, ideal for the follow-up analysis activities 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 print-and-use, ready to teach unit contains all my activities, worksheets, printables, handouts, answers and teacher’s guide resources for Chapter 2 of Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. One of my favorite 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 2 of Of Mice and Men, contains the following: Comprehension & Close Reading Questions for Chapter 2 of Of Mice and Men Let’s Get Quizzical! - Quote Hunt Quiz for Chapter 2 of the novel. Analyzing Characters - Curley’s Wife & Slim - this guided, scaffolded character analysis activity facilitates a close reading & analysis of the initial descriptions of Curley’s wife and Slim, using key passages and accompanying questions etc. Let’s Get Creative! - Draw Your Own Caricatures - this creative activity, designed to cater to visual learners and to present a different, more personal approach to characterization, introduces students to caricatures and guides them through drawing and creating a caricature of one of the characters presented in Chapter 2. A great alternative way to assess understanding of direct and indirect characterization. Creative Writing Task - A Diary Entry - George’s Point of View - this creative writing task allows students to step into the shoes of George, our primary protagonist, and to reflect upon everything that has happened in this Chapter and in Chapter 1 through a personal diary entry. This activity provides a guided writing prompt and incorporates Steinbeck’s eye dialect as well, to make the diary entry more authentic. Teacher’s Guide (Model Answers + Commentary + Analysis) - This is a comprehensive teacher’s guide for Chapter 2 of the novel, and it includes model answers for all the activities as well as a detailed plot summary and analysis of Chapter 2 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 bundle contains a complete set of IGCSE mock exam questions and model answers for all 15 poems of the IGCSE English Literature syllabus 2025-2027. Specifically, there is a mock exam for each of the following poems: From Songs of Ourselves Volume 2, Part 3, the following 15 poems: Nancy Fotheringham Cato, ‘The Road’ Sarah Jackson, ‘The Instant of My Death’ Arun Kolatkar, ‘The Bus’ Julius Chingono, ‘At the Bus Station’ Imtiaz Dharker, ‘These are the Times We Live in’ Elizabeth Jennings, ‘The Enemies’ Sampurna Chattarji, ‘Boxes’ W H Auden, ‘The Capital’ Arthur Yap, ‘an afternoon nap’ Elizabeth Smither, ‘Plaits’ Elizabeth Daryush, ‘Children of Wealth’ Thomas Love Peacock, ‘Rich and Poor or, Saint and Sinner’ Musaemura Zimunya, ‘A Long Journey’ Stevie Smith, ‘Touch and Go’ George Szirtes, ‘Song’ For each poem I’ve included: 1. Exam Quesion Paper (modelled after IGCSE English Literature Paper 1 exam. Where possible, I’ve used past paper questions!) 2. Essay Model Answer (as a teacher’s guide and as a guide for marking student responses in a mock exam (or other) setting. I’ve taken great care to include high quality, authentic model answers that can be used as a way to revise and prepare for the exam independently, too! ***Happy teaching, marking, and revising! 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 “Storyteller” by Liz Lochhead. 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-Reading Activities to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on the tradition of oral storytelling and poetry. 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 “Touch and Go” by Stevie Smith. 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 allegory in literature and poetry as this concept is central to understanding “Touch and Go” by Stevie Smith. 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). I’ve also included an essay question for comparative analysis. 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 “At the Bus Station” by Julius Chingono. 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) Comprehension, close-reading & analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria. 4) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4) 5) 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 “Boxes” by Sampurna Chattarji. 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 Chattarji use of sensory imagery, a particularly relevant aspect to fully understanding 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 “an afternoon nap” by Arthur Yap. 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 the phenomenon of tiger parenting, as this is a central issue in 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 “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 Bus” by Arun Kolatkar. 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 setting and symbolism, as these aspects are particularly relevant to the 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) 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 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 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!

This FREE activity focuses on Lois Lowry’s novel “The Giver”, specifically Chapters 1-3, in which Jonas’ world is introduced. Some central questions that should be addressed at this point in the study of the novel are: To what extent have the Elders succeeded in creating a perfect world of ‘Sameness’? Is Jonas’s world a utopia or a dystopia? The activity includes guided discussion questions for these central concepts and a creative follow-up activity: ‘Create Your Own Utopia’. Students can use the ideas and input to create their own perfect world, compare ‘utopias’ and, importantly, discuss similarities and differences to Jonas’ community. The idea of ‘dystopia’ is touched upon, but can be addressed in more depth at a later point in your study of the novel. Enjoy, and feel free to leave feedback!

This FREE print-and-use lesson worksheet is part of my teaching unit for Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It focuses specifically on Act 1, Scene 1 of the play. The worksheet includes: Comprehension Questions for Act 1, Scene 1 of Macbeth Shakespeare in Context: Informative text about witches & James I and the context of composition. This is crucial to fully appreciate the dramatic effect & significance of Shakespeare’s choice of using witches in the play. The information text is accompanied by relevant questions to link it to the play. Drama Activity: This is an activity that encourages engaging with the text on stage; it outlines various ways for students to act out and the scene, and to think critically about how the scene may have been performed on stage. Act 3 Close Reading Activity (focuses on 3.5.1-36, with all the imagery of light and darkness - a crucial dichotomy and thematic trope and motif that runs through the play) MODEL ANSWERS for all the questions + activities as well as a teacher’s guide and further in-depth analysis and commentary of the relevant aspects of Act 1, Scene 1 of Macbeth PS: This worksheet, as indeed all of my Macbeth handouts and activities are specifically designed to be read at IGCSE level or in preparation for the IGCSE English Literature exams. But they can be used independent of these exams and the IGCSE curriculum, too, of course! Enjoy, and please leave feedback!