British Invasion: Poetry WebQuest

Introduction

'Ello Junior Class! Welcome to this British Invasion Poetry Webquest! Ask yourself, "what do I really know about British poetry?" Most of you probably realized, "not much." Never fear, because this Webquest will help you delve in to the beautiful world of British poetry while focusing on three of the best! By the end of this Webquest, you will be better aquainted with different British poets, stronger at analyzing their works,  more prepared to share your reactions and opinions, and capable of comparing and contrasting the works. Finally, you will write your own British-inspired poem.

Task

Let's prepare for your trip to Europe for this British Invasion Poetry Webquest! You will be learning about three famous British poets, reading and analyzing some of their most popular poems, and writing responses to each work. You will compare and contrast at least two of the poems structurally and thematically. Finally, you will select the poem you like most and create an original work inspired by the tone, style, and theme of your selected poet. Grab your passports and let's get going!

Process

1. Use the links below to learn about famous British poets. Each link provides background information about the writer, which you will use to answer questions. You will notice that each writer has their own distinct style and tone.

Links to famous British poets:

2. Answer the following questions about the poets above:

  • Where was each poet born and where did they grow up?
  • What literary influences inspired each poet?
  • What thematic topics are most frequently associated with each poet?
  • Share 1-2 surprising fact(s) about each poet.

3. Use the following links to read and analyze one of the most famous works from each of the poets:

4. Please answer the following questions about each poem:

  • When was it written or published?
  • Did you like the poem? Explain your answer.
  • What theme(s) did the poem touch on?
  • What was the rhyme/ meter of the poem?
  • What was the tone of the poem? Please provide 1-2 textual examples of that tone.

5. Compare and contrast the poems:

  • Write a paragraph on the similarities and/or differences between at least two of the poems. You may choose to compare and contrast all three with one another, if you would like. Be specific, quoting the poems to provide stronger evidance for your claims.

6. Select your favorite poem. Using a similar format and structure, as well as theme, please create your own original poem inspired by the favorite you chose.

*For extra credit: hand write your poem on paper you creatively decorate to look like a poem that could have been written by your poet during their life. (For example, using caligraphy or browned paper.)

Evaluation

British Invasion: Poetry Webquest Rubric

Webquest Aspects

4- Above Average

3- Average

2- Needs Developing

1- Unacceptable

Questions about Poets

Student answered each question correctly and provided the correct number of examples.

Student answered each question correctly and provided examples. Answers could have been more specific.

Student answered most of the questions correctly and provided less than the minimum examples.

Student did not answer the questions and/or failed to provide examples where asked.

Questions about Poems

Student answered each question, provided ample examples and thoroughly discussed thematic topics.

Student answered each question, provided minimum examples and addressed thematic topics. Room for additional details.

Student did not answer every question and provided less than the minimum examples. Student did not explain their response to the poem.

Student did not answer the questions and did not provide examples. No specific themes or personal responses were given.

Compare and Contrast Poems

Student explained how at least two of the poems were similar, and how they were different. They used textual evidence and explained how those examples supported their claims.

Student compared and contrasted at least two of the poems. Minimal textual evidence was given.

Student compared and contrasted at least two of the poems but did not give any textual support to support their claims.

Student did not compare or contrast the poems. No textual evidence was given.

Original Poem

Student created a poem clearly aligned with the original tone and themes of the poem they selected. Formatted and designed correctly.

Student created a poem that matched the original in tone or themes. Format was a little off.

Student created an original poem that was greatly different to the original they selected. Format did not match.

Student did not create a poem, or, the poem they created was in no way similar to their original selected poem.
Conclusion

Well done! I hope your journey to Europe was an enjoyable and educational one. As you learned, British poetry is a beautiful, multifaceted genre with many famous writers. Each poem you read was famous for its own reasons. Hopefully, your ability to respond to poetry, and compare and contrast different works, has strengthened. I know poetry can be difficult to understand at times, seemingly "boring" compared to modern literature, but it is an artform full of grace and eloquency. 

Cheers!

Credits