Poetry Lesson for Grade 11

Good Day Grade 10's and welcome to our lesson on WebQuest! 

https://youtu.be/kxCb4KA4ALQ

Poem link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FOiCQ4CQ9Y&ab_channel=GeophysicalSoftw…

• Group work activity- Learners you are required to divide yourselves into groups of 5. 
• Main Worksheet activity- This should be done individually.
• There will also be notes that you can go through to help you answer the questions.
• A copy of the poem is also available.

You are required to watch the video that is posted on the task tab. This video will help you understand the poem better and will assist in answering the questions. There is also a copy of the poem, see below:

You are required to work in groups of 2. In those groups you need to discuss the following questions:

• What does the title mean to you, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
• What is an abandoned bundle?
• What are the meaning of the words, 'an', 'abandoned' and 'bundle'.

There are notes on the poem that you need to go through which will assist you when answering the main worksheet.

please see notes attached below:

The main worksheet you are required to complete will be pertaining to the poem. Please answer the questions individually. The questions will be posted below. 

QUESTIONS

The following questions refer to Stanza 1:

The “mist” (line 1) and “smoke” (line 2) are compared to “pus” (line 5); while the “White City Jabavu” (line 3) is compared to a huge “sore” (line 6).

1. Are these comparisons examples of either similes or metaphors? Explain your response in detail.
2. Discuss the figurative effectiveness of each of these comparisons. (Find three similarities which they share.)
3. What emotional impact do these comparisons have on the reader in terms of setting the scene in which the events of the poem will take place?
4. To the politicians in apartheid South Africa, how might White City Jabavu, a sprawling part of Soweto township, been like a “gigantic sore” (line 6)?

The following questions refer to Stanza 2:

Stanza 2 contains only two lines. The two elements being compared here are “our little houses” (line 7) and “fish caught in a net” (line 8).

5. What is the “It” referred to in line 7?
6. Discuss the figurative effectiveness of this comparison. What is suggested about the people of Jabavu when the poet compares them to “fish caught in a net” (line 8)?

The following questions refer to Stanzas 3 and 4:

7. What are the “bandanas” (line 10) which the dogs wear?
8. Why would the poet describe the dogs with the line “they bared fangs” (line 14), as opposed to ‘they showed their teeth’.
9. What do the words “leaving a mutilated corpse” (line 17) reveal about the condition of the infant?

The following questions refer to Stanza 5:

10. How does the mother feel about having abandoned the bundle? Substantiate your response with direct reference to the text.
11. Do you think that the mother to blame for leaving her child? Explain your answer in detail.

Marks: 20

Group work activity: This activity is not for marks, however you will be presenting your views to the class and a discussion will take place.

Main Worksheet Activity: You will be assessed on the answers you have provided and marks will be then issued. 

We have come to the end of this exciting lesson .

I will ask you to pleased go through the notes pertaining to the poem, this will assist you in the upcoming tests.

Please answer the main worksheet

https://samwiterson.blogspot.com/2019/05/an-abandoned-bundle-by-oswald-mbuyiseni.html

https://prezi.com/svwc32ufh_oo/an-abandoned-bundle-poem-analysis/