Form IV
English Literature – Scheme of Work
September 2015 - June 2016
List of Text books.:
Criticism booklet
Animal Farm [George Orwell]
The New Dragon Book of Verse
Macbeth [William Shakespeare]
First Term
September/October
Criticism of Unseen

Intro. to literary criticism – focus on HOW rather than WHAT; intro. to prose crit.

Text 1: Poem to Poem [handout in Teacher’s Notes]

Crossword and Word Search of Literary Terms; HW.

Text 2: Dragons – Reading and discussion.

Criticism Pack:

Discuss and write answers [whole class approach]

Text 3: First Passage: Count Olaf - Discuss and write answers
Prose Extracts/Poems

Drama:
Macbeth
Intro. to Elizabethan Era – use power point to introduce various aspects of this historical period & share first
impressions/discuss; videos such as “The Supersizers Go Elizabethan”, The Virgin Queen (miniseries).
H.W. – stds. are assigned topics in groups or research individually (teacher’s choice) any ONE of the topics below
[aspects of Elizabethan Era] and prepare a booklet or wall chart featuring their most interesting findings [presentation &
1
creativity also highlighted]
List of Topics:
1. Eliz. Education & Work
2. Elizabethan Entertainment & The Globe
3. Eliz. Crime & Punishment
4. Elizabethan Fashion
5. Eliz. Food & Homes
6. Eliz. Medicine & Ilnesses
Intro. to the witches – [handout] The Supernatural in the Play – relevant vocab, perception of witches in Shakespearean
Times;
Mind-map: characters of Act 1 (handout)
Video for background: Macbeth’s “curse”
Different interpretations of the text (Polanski, Bogdanov, Goold).
Classwork: Presentations of group project work: to be given assessment mark.
Act 1 Scene 1 – stds. listen to reading of scene; discussion of weather, role of witches in opening scene, paradox &
meaning etc.
Prose:
Animal Farm
Introduction to Animal Farm – discuss allegory, animal fable, satire.
Research HW: give a list of topics to research including Russian History as regards the Russian Revolution.
Power points (depending on teacher) and handouts re. characters and human counterparts.
[H.W.] Activity Pack – pre-reading task – finding out facts about the author & about relevant literary terms & historical
figures
Poetry:
The New Dragon
Intro. to WW 1 - Video clip
2
Book of Verse
[selected poems]
Background info. W.W.1 [Stds. handouts] – discuss hardships, deaths, horrors, emotions, propaganda etc. [whole class
approach]
H.W. : Find and list 10 facts about Wilfred Owen and his poetry
Use of BBC website to look for facts about WW1 and understand the implications of the war through interactive games
and other activities.
BBC World War One: Schools
The Send Off – Wilfred Owen

whole class approach – first reading for first impressions

listening to actor’s reading (Kenneth Branagh)

HW: Poem Profile
Anthem For Doomed Youth

Listening to recording

Focus on alliterative and onomatopoeic effects through use of recording of gunfire

The Sonnet Form: types of, rhyme scheme, etc.

Discussion of metaphors, alliteration, etc.
3
November
Criticism of Unseen
Prose
Prose texts from criticism pack: teacher’s choice.
Discussion of text followed by answering questions either in class or at home.
Extracts/Poems
Drama:
Macbeth
Act 1 Scene 2 - reading & understanding of plot & character esp. common perception of Macbeth as valiant and loyal
Act 1 Scene 3 l.1-37 – focus on setting & atmosphere, character – witches etc.; reading lines & consolidation
Act 1 Scene 3 l.38-158 – focus on prophecies, reactions, character, ambition, thoughts & temptations, plot etc.
Presentations of research work: in groups, with assessment mark given.
Discussion of research carried out for H.W. [Activity Pack – pre-reading task]; [handout] Literary Terms and Vocabulary –
Prose:
Animal Farm
Poetry:
The New Dragon
Book of Verse
discussion & consolidation of literary terms relevant to novel
Chapter1.
Finish Anthem for Doomed Youth
H.W.: ESSAY
Brainstorm a plan in class with students.
[selected poems]
4
December
Criticism of Unseen
Prose
Class discussion & correction of stds.’ answers
Prose passage from pack.
Extracts/Poems
Drama:
Macbeth
Act 1 scene 4 - reading & understanding; focus on false appearances, light vs dark, Macbeth’s fear of
Malcolm & innermost thoughts and intentions etc
Discussion leading to essay writing – Macbeth and Banquo: similarities & differences in character and
reactions to prophecies – brainstorming session
Focus: Chapter 1 -
Prose:
Animal Farm
Beasts of England – read & discuss message, function & parallelism [std. note taking]
Further consolidation & revision – evenstar.wikispaces.com, handouts on characters
H.W short answer questions on chapter 1
Class correction of H.W. – discuss answers
Start reading Chapter 2 (time permitting).
Poetry:
The New Dragon
Book of Verse
THE ROMANTIC POETS: in preparation for the next poem, The Echoing Green, by William
Blake, a sufficient introduction to Romantic Poetry is needed.
Handouts: Blake and the Romantic Poets.
Videos: The Romantics and William Blake, visionary.
5
Christmas
Holidays
Second Term
January
Criticism of Unseen Prose
School Past Paper: Form Four Literature Paper 1.
Extracts/Poems
Drama:
Macbeth
Act 1 Sc 5: Lady Macbeth; watch various interpretations of letter and soliloquy.
Act 1 scene 6: Appearance versus reality (Deception).
Act 1 scene 7: Macbeth’s character, Lady Macbeth’s character. Soliloquy.
Chapter 2
Prose:
Analyse intro. to character of Napoleon, Snowball & Squealer and parallelism with Russian history
Animal Farm
Poetry:
The New Dragon Book of Verse
The Echoing Green: William Blake.
Songs of Innocence, dark undertones; etc.
[selected poems]
6
February
Criticism of
Unseen Prose
Extracts/Poems
Drama:
Use School Past Paper 1 for Revision.
Revision of aspects of a text which should be given importance e.g. imagery, description, length
of sentences, dialogue, effect of figurative language, atmosphere & emotions etc. – discussion,
revision of literary terms
Revision for Mid-yearly exams [Act 1 ]
Macbeth

Snowball summary

Characters

Important plot points
Mid-Yearly
Examinations
Revision for Mid-yearly exams
Prose:
Points for discussion [group/pair work & whole class approach]:
Animal Farm
Poetry:

Old Major’s Speech

Beasts of England

Characters – Old Major, Boxer etc. & Napoleon, Snowball & Squealer

Rebellion

Animalism and The Seven Commandments
Revision for Mid-yearly exams [group work/pair work & whole class approach]:
The New Dragon Book
of Verse
Owen and Blake; War poetry and Romanticism.
[selected poems]
Discuss themes, language & imagery, figures of speech, mood & atmosphere, message, form
etc.
7
March
Criticism of Unseen Prose
Extracts/Poems

Revision of papers.

Intro. to poetry criticism

Use video (available on demand) to introduce the idea of analysing a poem you have
never seen before.

Poem 1: Teacher’s choice (from Criticism booklet) Possibly ‘Lord Neptune’
Easter
Drama:
Macbeth
Discussion of exam essay questions – focus on content and structure
Act 2 Scene 1; handout for Dagger Speech.
Finish Act 2 scene 1.
Discussion of exam essay questions – focus on content and structure
Prose:
Animal Farm
Poetry:
The New Dragon Book of
Verse
Chapter 3.
Hide and Seek (Vernon Scannell)
Biography of poet; listening and reading; close analysis.
HW: Poem Profile.
[selected poems]
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Holidays
Third Term
April
Criticism of Unseen Prose
Poems from Criticism Pack (class work and HW).
Extracts/Poems
Drama:
Macbeth
Act 2 scene 2: After the murder, different reactions. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, auditory and visual
hallucinations. Focus on shock, guilt on the one hand, strength on the other.
Chapter 3
Prose:
Animal Farm
Chapter 4.
Read p.45-46 and list events and decisions following Battle of the Cowshed
Poetry:
The New Dragon Book of
Verse
[selected poems]
La Belle Dame Sans Merci– John Keats

Romanticism Part 2: The Second Wave (Byron, Keats, Shelley).

Handouts regarding Keats and the Romantics, Keats’s life, etc.

Relationship with Fanny Brawne and effect on poetry – excerpts from Bright Star (2009), in which the
poem is recited by the main actors.

Close reading of poem with discussion in class.
9
May
Criticism of
Unseen Prose
Poems from Criticism Pack (class work and HW).
Extracts/Poems
Drama:
Macbeth
Act 2 scene 3: Porter Scene (initially).
Important themes and devices (use of prose, etc).
Reactions to Duncan’s death (natural and supernatural).
Act 2 scene 4: Choric Scene – explanation and discussion re. Old Man.
Animal reaction to Duncan’s murder: Great Chain of Being.
Chaper 5: Reading and HW (questions from Book)
Prose:
Animal Farm
H.W. Assign essay focusing on the differences between the Rebellion and the Battle of the Cowshed paying
special attention to what led to the two battles and their aftermath.
Discuss structure for literature essay writing using above essay title as an example.
Chapter 6: Reading and HW (questions from textbook).
Poetry:
The New Dragon
Book of Verse
[selected poems]
Finish Keats poem.
HW: essay re. MYSTERY, to be consolidated once last poem is done.
The Listeners (Walter de la Mare)
Reading, listening to audio version (if available). Song linked to on teacher’s blog.
Class discussion and analysis.
HW: link to work on MYSTERY in previous essay.
10
June
Criticism of Unseen Prose
School Past Paper: Form 4 Literature Paper 1: for revision of criticism exam.
Extracts/Poems
Revision of aspects of a poem which should be given importance e.g. rhyme, description,
length of lines, effect of figurative language, tone etc. – discussion, revision of literary terms
Drama:
Macbeth
Act 3 Scene 1: Banquo and Macbeth.
Characters and actions, different reactions to prophecies etc.
Reasons for killing Banquo (and Fleance).
Examinations
Revision of plot, themes, characters.
Students provide difficulties, otherwise teacher decides.
Revision for Annual Exams
Prose:
Animal Farm
Poetry:
The New Dragon Book of
Verse
[selected poems]
Points for discussion:
Discuss essay structuring with

Characters
reference to any of these points

Plot
[stds. take note of examples

Allegory

Abuse of Power & Inequality [corruption]

Rivalry between Napoleon & Snowball
discussed for further revision]
Revision for Annual:
Ask for difficulties re. this year’s poems.
Discuss themes, language & imagery, figures of speech, mood & atmosphere, message,
form etc.
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Annual