Match up the following words/phrases used in the poem with their correct meaning. coo
knell
very obvious marking or decoration that stands out murmur softly
soothe area of a school where ill students can wait for attention stanch gaudy
to calm or comfort the sound made by a bell being rung slowly, usually to mark someone’s death sick bay stop the flow of a liquid, e.g. blood
2. 3. 4.
5. 6. 7.
8. 9.
Tell the story of this poem in no more than thirty words. Who are the people affected by the death described in this poem?
Draw two images that represent what you think are key moments in the poem. Show them to your class and describe why you feel these are key moments. Attach quotes to the images.
Create three questions you would like to ask the poet about this poem. How did this poem make you feel? Give a reason for your answer.
Put yourself in the poet’s shoes. Vocalise your thoughts by writing a monologue in which you explain the thoughts running through your head when you arrive home.
How would you describe the atmosphere or mood of this poem? Choose three words or phrases to support your answer.
Heaney uses examples of the following poetic techniques in his poem. Find an example of one of them:
l Simile l Alliteration l Onomatopoeia
l Repetition l Assonance
Top Tip
You could use websites such as Voki or GoAnimate to create a character for question 7 and make them talk.
Monologue n. Definition: A long, uninterrupted speech by one actor or character. It usually explains the inner feelings and thoughts of this character that they might not want to share with anyone else.
Atmosphere n. Definition: The dominant mood of a piece of written work
