English

Y7 English

Key Stage 3

Year 7

‘If we must die’, Claude McKay

The sonnet through time

THEME

‘The sonnet-ballad’, Gwendolyn Brooks

‘If thou must love me’, Barrett-Browning

‘Death, be not proud’, Donne

Introduction to the sonnet

‘Sonnet 18’, Shakespeare

UNIT

In this lesson you will meet the wonderful poem 'If We Must Die' for the first time. We will explore our first impressions of this powerful writing from the poet Claude McKay and learn more about what it means to study poetry.

If We Must Die' by Claude McKay

In our second lesson on the poem 'If We Must Die', we are going to travel to 1920s and 1930s America to learn about the Harlem Renaissance. We will also find out about some of the regrettable context which inspired the poet Claude McKay. For some people this will be a sensitive topic. If that applies to you, you may want to do the rest of this lesson with a trusted adult nearby who can support.

The Harlem Renaissance and Claude McKay

In our third lesson on the poem 'If We Must Die', we will return to the poem again to explore the powerful images created by McKay. We will look closely at the words and sounds of the poem to consider how McKay paints a vivid scene and inspires a call to action.

Language in 'If We Must Die'

In our fourth lesson on the poem 'If We Must Die', we will look at the sonnet form and see what Claude McKay has in common with William Shakespeare. We'll look at how McKay uses and plays with a tradition of poetry which stretches back over 800 years.

Form and Structure in 'If We Must Die'

In our final lesson on the poem 'If We Must Die', we will bring together everything we have learnt to produce a fabulous essay in response to this incredible poem. We will try to answer the question: 'How does McKay challenge oppression in his poem 'If We Must Die'?

Key Stage 3, English
‘If we must die’, Claude McKay

Lessons in this unit

If We Must Die' by Claude McKay

The Harlem Renaissance and Claude McKay

Language in 'If We Must Die'

Form and Structure in 'If We Must Die'

Writing about 'If We Must Die'

Key Stage 3, English ‘If we must die’, Claude McKay

Lessons in this unit

If We Must Die' by Claude McKay

The Harlem Renaissance and Claude McKay

Language in 'If We Must Die'

Form and Structure in 'If We Must Die'

Writing about 'If We Must Die'

Key Stage 3, English
‘If we must die’, Claude McKay