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This lesson resource is designed for the Edexcel IGCSE English Literature specification and focuses on Imtiaz Dharker’s powerful poem Blessing. It supports students in understanding the poem’s context, language, and imagery, while exploring key ideas about poverty, community, and the symbolic power of water. This lesson is ideal for introducing the poem or preparing for exam-style analysis.

Lesson Content:

• Starter: Students write their own simple definitions for key poetic techniques used in the poem e.g. religious imagery, onomatopoeia, auditory imagery. They can write examples and add the definitions to a poetic glossary.
• Symbolism of Water: Students brainstorm the different associations of water, tuning them into its symbolic value in the poem e.g. purity, cleanliness, hydration, religion.
• Brief Context: Information introducing Imtiaz Dharker and her poetry.
• Video: An embedded YouTube video of Dharker explaining the how the poem came about and giving a reading.
• Carousel: Group work where students annotate A3 sheets containing extract from the poem and written prompts for analysis.
• Form and Structure Focus: Analysis provided for students to take notes on.
• Mini Essay Planning Task: Students are guided in writing a PETAL paragraph in response to the question: How does Dharker present water as a blessing in the poem? An Examplar paragraph is provided.