The document discusses Tennyson's poetry and provides quotes that may relate to specific poems, asking which poems could be connected and explored together. It lists Tennyson's poems featuring women and men, suggesting the women are often presented as victims, while also providing critical perspectives on Tennyson's works. The questions prompt analysis of Tennyson's poems through different angles of interpretation and consideration of gender roles.

1. What are these quotations suggesting about Tennyson and his
poetry?

2. Poem lucky dip.
Women
Godiva
Death
The Lady of Loss and bereavement
Shalott
The past – classical
Mariana and medieval settings
Men
Ulysses Progress and the future
Tithonus Beauty and art

3. The women in Tennyson’s Several Victorian painters were inspired
by Tennyson’s poetry therefore the visual
poems are presented as effects Tennyson creates are the most
victims of a male world. memorable feature of his poetry.
‘Tithonus’ is Whicha the poemsLotos-Eaters and Choric
simply of ‘The to
cautionary tale. Song’ is a condemnation of
connect to and explore
drug-taking.
(3 of them)?
‘Ulysses’ is a celebration– why?
Yes Stagnation and inactivity
of old men. No – why? dominate the worlds of
Tennyson’s poems.
“Tennyson’s use of classical and “For Tennyson, to act is vital; there is
medieval settings could enhance nothing to be gained by being
or detract from the passive.” Tennyson’s poetry presents
appeal of his poems”. the advantages of an active life.

4. AO1: argument, debate, focused on the Section A – even
question, well-supported, embedded numbered
throughout, clear understanding of the question
Section B
stories and the methods used to tell them,
clearly written and argued, woven into
comments about the other AOs.
Section A – odd
AO2: analysis of aspects of language, numbered
structure and form that have been used to question
tell the story. Language = words and Section B
phrases, description, metaphor,
characters, titles, names. Structure =
order, time & sequence, rhyme, repetition,
chronology, fragmentation, chapters,
sections, stanzas. Form = why a poem or a
prose, monologues, lyrical poetry, first Section A – even
numbered
person narration, omniscient narration, question
present or past tense. Section B
AO3: other readers, including personal Section A – even
responses, different interpretations, numbered

5. Model answer
• The first question: named poem,
marked only for AO2 (Language,
Stucture, Form).
• Analyse the effects of the choices of L,
S, F on the way the story is told –
refer to relevant narrative methods:
What?
How?
– Scenes and locations Why?
– Characters and characterisation
– Time and sequence Reader and
writer.
– Voice
– Point of view
– Destination

6. Model answer
• The second question: same writer, a
debatable idea is presented, marked for
AO1 (argument and
support/relevance), AO3 (other readers)
and AO4 (context).
– Debate the question – yes (agree), no
(disagree) and why
– AO1 should be woven through your answer –
always focus on the question and your
argument/debate
– Refer to how different readers may
respond, this could be due to time or their
beliefs and opinions
– Bring in relevant contextual information –
about Tennyson’s life (that may have
influenced his choices), about the Victorian

7. Model answer
• The final question: the other 3 writers, a
debatable idea is presented, marked for
AO1 (argument and support/relevance),
AO2, L, S, F and AO3 (other readers).
• Debate the question – yes (agree), no
(disagree) and why
– AO1 should be woven through your answer –
always focus on the question and your
argument/debate
– Make comparisons and structure your
argument
– Give examples relating to the question and
how language, structure and form are used
– Refer to how different readers may
respond, this could be due to time or their
beliefs and opinions

8. Look at the other models.
• Go through them and find examples
for the AOs
• Look at the annotations from the
examiner and where they have put
the ticks
• Ticks indicate what is being marked
and rewarded
• Try and pick out key phrases, even
for texts that you haven’t studied
• Read the commentaries

9. The women in Tennyson’s poems
are presented as victims of a male Which of the poems to
connect to and explore
world. (3 of them)?
Yes – why?
No – why?

10. ‘Tithonus’ is simply a cautionary
tale. Which of the poems to
connect to and explore
(3 of them)?
Yes – why?
No – why?

11. ‘Ulysses’ is a celebration of old
men. Which of the poems to
connect to and explore
(3 of them)?
Yes – why?
No – why?

12. “Tennyson’s use of classical and
medieval settings could enhance or Which of the poems to
detract from the connect to and explore
(3 of them)?
appeal of his poems”.
Yes – why?
No – why?

13. Several Victorian painters were inspired
by Tennyson’s poetry therefore the Which of the poems to
visual effects Tennyson creates are the connect to and explore
(3 of them)?
most memorable feature of his poetry.
Yes – why?
No – why?

14. Lotos-Eaters and Choric Song’ is a
condemnation of drug-taking. Which of the poems to
connect to and explore
(3 of them)?
Yes – why?
No – why?

15. Stagnation and inactivity
dominate the worlds of Which of the poems to
connect to and explore
Tennyson’s poems. (3 of them)?
Yes – why?
No – why?

16. For Tennyson, to act is vital; there is
nothing to be gained by being passive.” Which of the poems to
Tennyson’s poetry presents the connect to and explore
(3 of them)?
advantages of an active life.
Yes – why?
No – why?

17. Tennyson
Tennyson is ‘the poet of
melancholia, passion
and despair’.
T. S. Eliot

18. Tennyson
Have a read of the quotations. Do any of
them obviously link to any of the poems?
Label them.
Which do you feel is the strongest/most
interesting comment and why?
Which poem/s does it apply to?

19. Tennyson
Have a read of the quotations. Do any of
them obviously link to any of the poems?
Label them.
Which do you feel is the strongest/most
interesting comment and why?
Which poem/s does it apply to?

20. Tennyson
‘The women in Tennyson’s poems are presented as victims
of a male world.’
AO1: Articulate creative,
How far do you agree? informed and relevant
responses to literary texts,
Some will agree and focus on using appropriate terminology
• the wife of Ulysses and concepts, and coherent,
• the Lady of Shallot
accurate written expression
• Godiva to a point
• Aurora - victim of the male gods perhaps AO3: clear consideration
• Mariana of some different
Some will disagree and focus on interpretations of texts
• Godiva’s triumph over her husband and
with some evaluation of
her gaining immortality in legend
• Mariana might be discussed as a victim of their strengths and
herself or of clinical depression weaknesses
• Tithonus – more a victim than Aurora AO4: detailed exploration of some
• Lady of Shallot – victim perhaps of contextual factors with specific, detailed
links between context/texts/task
supernatural forces, etc.

21. ‘The women in Tennyson’s poems
are presented as victims of a male Tennyson
world.’ AO1: Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to
How far do you agree? literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts,
and coherent, accurate written expression
AO3: clear consideration of some different
interpretations of texts with some evaluation of
their strengths and weaknesses
AO4: detailed exploration of some contextual factors with specific, detailed
links between context/texts/task
Plan:
Set up the debate in the first paragraph – are they only presented as victims? What does it
mean to be a victim? What does the term suggest? Could they be viewed differently?
Choose one of the poems and explore how the female character and her story are
presented. What images do we get of her? How could she be interpreted by different
readers? How might we respond to her character? Why is Tennyson presenting her
character like this – consider the ways that women were treated and how they were viewed
both at the time (contemporary) and now (modern context).
Consider a second character.
Consider a third character – maybe one who is completely different.

22. Yes: No:
… …
… …
… …
‘The women in Tennyson’s poems are presented as victims
of a male world.’
How far do you agree?
Some readers and critics may argue that… Don’t forget to
The counter argument would be that… connect to the
Alternatively… STORY/NARRAT
It is debatable that… IVE. Consider
There is ambiguity regarding… voices,
It can be argued that… description,
events,
However…
sequence.
It could be interpreted that…
A contemporary reader may… whereas a modern reader might…