This document provides information about an exam assessing literary heritage prose and contemporary poetry. The exam is 1 hour and 30 minutes long, with 60% of the marks coming from a section on Animal Farm and 40% from a contemporary poetry section. In the poetry section, students will answer an question about an unseen poem, exploring how the poet vividly portrays the power of the wind through the language, sounds, structure and effects used. The document provides guidance on how to plan and structure an answer to the unseen poetry question.

1. A664: Literary Heritage Prose and
Contemporary Poetry
1 hr 30 mins
60%
Answer 2 questions:
• Section A – Literary Heritage Prose (Animal Farm)
• Section B – Contemporary Poetry
50 mins Section A
40%
40 mins Section B

2. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Use the contents to find the UNSEEN POEM
question (usually the last one).

3. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.

4. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
Author’s purpose
+
the ways this is achieved

5. 1. Highlight key
words from the
question

6. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.

7. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.

8. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.

9. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

10. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

11. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

12. 1. Highlight key words from the question
2. Read and
understand the
poem

13. 2. Read and understand the poem
1. Underline all of the positive words/images in the poem.
2. Underline all of the negative words/images in the poem.
3. Does the poet have a positive, negative or mixed feelings
about the subject of the poem?
4. Next to each stanza, briefly summarise:
• What the stanza is about
• The poet’s feelings
WHAT IS THE POEM ABOUT (THEMES)? HOW DOES THE POET FEEL?

14. 1. Highlight key words from the question
2. Read and understand the poem
3. Plan

15. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

16. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

17. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

18. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

19. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

20. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

21. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

22. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

23. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important

24. Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays the power
of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important
1. Find the part(s) of the poem that addresses the first ‘WHAT’.
2. Underline and annotate 3-4 details in the poem which help you to answer the
question.
What am I looking for???
• Refer to the HOWS from the HOW bullet points
• Any other features on the POETRY FEATURES HANDOUT

25. Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays the power
of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses HOW
STANZA 4
• Line 13: ‘The fields quivering’
‘Quivering’ suggests the fields are frightened by the wind (personification) – the wind
must be powerful if the natural world fears its effects.
• Line 13: ‘the skyline a grimace’
‘Grimace’ suggests that the skyline is in pain (personification) – the power of the wind
is such that it causes pain to the natural world.
• Line 14: ‘A any second... And vanish’
The wind is unpredictable – the natural world is constantly looking over its shoulder to
see when it will next strike – it has a powerful hold over the natural world.

26. Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays the power
of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses HOW
STANZA 4
• Line 15: The wind flung a magpie away....’
‘Flung’ suggests that the wind had total control over the magpie as if it were an
inanimate object – the magpie was helpless.
• Line 16: ‘gull bent like an iron bar slowly’
Simile – emphasises the strength of the wind. The fact it was bent ‘slowly’ suggests
that the wind was completely in control.

27. Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays the power
of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world WHAT
• some of the sounds in the poem NEXT HOW
• Line 2: ‘crashing’
Onomatopoeia – use of sound creates a vivid image for the reader of the wind
destroying trees.
• Line 14: ‘bang’
Plosive – this sound reflects the power of the wind.
• Line 24: ‘hearing the stones cry out’
Personification - Stones are hard, inanimate objects – the wind must be powerful to
make it cry out.

28. Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays the power
of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world WHAT
• the structure of the verses NEXT HOW
• Enjambment between stanzas 1 and 2:
The lines run on – reflects the unstoppable nature of the wind. Also creates a sense of
pace – reflects the powerful energy of the wind.

29. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Explore the ways in which Hughes so vividly portrays
the power of the wind in this poem.
You should consider:
• the effect the wind has on the natural world
• the effect the wind has on the house and people WHAT
• some of the language the poet uses
• some of the sounds in the poem
HOW
• the structure of the verses
• anything else you think is important
Repeat process for next WHAT

30. 1. Highlight key words from the question
2. Read and understand the poem
3. Plan
4. Write

31. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
Aim to write 7 paragraphs:
Introduction
6 developed sections
• Paragraph 2: WHAT 1; HOW 1
• Paragraph 3: WHAT 1; HOW 2
• Paragraph 4: WHAT 1; HOW 3
• Paragraph 5: WHAT 2; HOW 1
• Paragraph 6: WHAT 2; HOW 2
• Paragraph 7: WHAT 2; HOW 3

32. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
INTRODUCTION:
An overview of the poem:
• What is the poem about (themes)?
• What is the poet’s viewpoint (feelings)

33. Section A – Literary Heritage Prose
Passage-based question
INTRODUCTION:
An overview of the poem:
• What is the poem about (themes)?
• What is the poet’s viewpoint (feelings)
The poem is about the awesome power of the wind. The
poet highlights its might and dominance over the
landscape and the people and houses within it. The wind
is seen as a destructive force, of which all things fear.

34. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
WRITING A PARAGRAPH:
Mention a KEY WORD from the question in every paragraph.
Provide EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT for everything you say.
Focus on THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE and the WAYS this is achieved.
Viewpoint/feelings
• HOW bullet points
• POETRY FEATURES HANDOUT

35. Section B – Contemporary Poetry
Unseen Poem
How does Iain Crichton Smith make this such a moving
poem?
You should consider:
• the description of the family
•The baby’s thoughts, hopes and fears in verses 5-12
• some of the language the poet uses
• the structure of the poem
• anything else you think is important
USE THE PROCESS ON THE POETRY REVISION
HANDOUT TO PLAN AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.