LO: to develop a critical response to the poem The Flea (AO1) The Flea by John Donne LO: to develop a critical response to the poem The Flea (AO1)

thoughtfully characters/relationships; Some students will make increasingly assured selection of relevant detail; are able to speculate/offer tentative judgements; are able to evaluate characters/relationships and attitudes/motives and may show appreciation of how writers use language to achieve specific effects. A*- B Most students will make more detailed reference to text; discuss thoroughly and thoughtfully characters/relationships; probe the sub-text with increasing confidence; select and evaluate relevant textual details. C-D All students will be able to recall the narrative of The Flea and make a personal response to the text. E + Entry level

What is a flea? CLASS TASK: A tiny animal that sucks blood and lives off warm-blooded hosts. Carries diseases of the blood. Spread the plague. Causes itching and irritation to those it feeds upon.

Aged 23 Aged 43 Donne wrote two distinct types of poetry reflecting his life, priorities and beliefs at different times in his life... Metaphysical poetry typically employs unusual verse forms, complex figures of speech applied to elaborate and surprising metaphorical conceits, and learned themes discussed according to eccentric and unexpected chains of reasoning.

Donne as a young man wrote about... Love poetry was all encompassing, linking body, mind and soul with another person was comparative with the divine love for God. His poetry was ‘gritty’ looking at all aspects of love from sex, unity, pain and anguish. To feel is to be human. pain

As an older man he became deeply religious and wrote sermons on sin, preparing for death and our place in God’s kingdom. After converting to CofE and being ordained as a preist his poetry turned and looked at the greater questions and issues and the relationship between humans, nature and God.

MARK but this flea, and mark in this, How little that which thou deniest me is ; It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. Thou know'st that this cannot be said A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ;     Yet this enjoys before it woo,     And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;     And this, alas ! is more than we would do. Mark= pay attention Deniest= refuse, say no Mingled= mixed Loss of maidhead= viginity Pampered= treated/ spoiled

O stay, three lives in one flea spare, Where we almost, yea, more than married are. This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is. Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, And cloister'd in these living walls of jet.     Though use make you apt to kill me,     Let not to that self-murder added be,     And sacrilege, three sins in killing three. Stay= hang on Spare= don’t kill it how wuld you say this in modern english Yea= yes Grudge= dissaprove cloistered= enclosed (where monks live and are not allowed out) Though use...= you are used to killing fleas sacrilege= against God

Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence? Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee? Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now. 'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ; Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me, Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee. Hast= have Wherein= in what/ how Yield= give

5 Imagery metaphor Form? simile Rhythm & rhyme scheme alliteration PAIRED TASK Find as many techniques as you can in 5 minutes EAL/ SEN- use a dictionary to find the key words highlighted 5 Form? simile Rhythm & rhyme scheme alliteration

Take a stanza each to attempt to answer the questions: How is the speaker attempting to persuade the lady? (5) 5

What does the flea signify in this stanza? 4

3 What tone is adopted by the speaker? He said angrily/ sorrowfully/ sweetly...

What do you think the lady’s reaction is to what is being said? 2

2 1 3 Pick a picture to represent the couple in your stanza. 1 5 4

LO: to develop a critical response to the poem The Flea (AO1) The Flea by John Donne LO: to develop a critical response to the poem The Flea (AO1)

Tell me about your stanza... 5 MARK but this flea, and mark in this, How little that which thou deniest me is ; It suck'd me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be. Thou know'st that this cannot be said A sin, nor shame, nor loss of maidenhead ;     Yet this enjoys before it woo,     And pamper'd swells with one blood made of two ;     And this, alas ! is more than we would do.

Tell me about your stanza... 5 O stay, three lives in one flea spare, Where we almost, yea, more than married are. This flea is you and I, and this Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is. Though parents grudge, and you, we're met, And cloister'd in these living walls of jet.     Though use make you apt to kill me,     Let not to that self-murder added be,     And sacrilege, three sins in killing three.

Tell me about your stanza... 5 Cruel and sudden, hast thou since Purpled thy nail in blood of innocence? Wherein could this flea guilty be, Except in that drop which it suck'd from thee? Yet thou triumph'st, and say'st that thou Find'st not thyself nor me the weaker now. 'Tis true ; then learn how false fears be ; Just so much honour, when thou yield'st to me, Will waste, as this flea's death took life from thee.

LO: to develop a critical response to the poem The Flea (AO1) The Flea by John Donne LO: to develop a critical response to the poem The Flea (AO1)

thoughtfully characters/relationships; Some students will make increasingly assured selection of relevant detail; are able to speculate/offer tentative judgements; are able to evaluate characters/relationships and attitudes/motives and may show appreciation of how writers use language to achieve specific effects. A*- B Most students will make more detailed reference to text; discuss thoroughly and thoughtfully characters/relationships; probe the sub-text with increasing confidence; select and evaluate relevant textual details. C-D All students will be able to recall the narrative of The Flea and make a personal response to the text. E + Entry level

Choose from the list of words on the board write at the bottom of your page to remind you of key features. 5 Love Lust Friendship Control Pain Passion Hate Emotion Manipulation Religion Power Security Honour Obligation Equality Marriage Physical Family Sex Blood Disease Jealousy Infidelity