'Tyger' poem by William Blake - suitable for Y4 or not?

[collision]

Tyger

sorry, what are your thoughts on this?

I remember doing this poem at school - can't remember what year though. Primary I think? Either that or it was tied in with doing Skellig which was year 8.

Sorry not much help I know!

I did this for O'level English Lit.... my year 4's wouldn't understand a word of it, but I love it all the same.

TBH unless you've got an out-of-this-world class, I don't think it's below Y6 imho.

I'd be more tempted to go for something else, maybe still dragon book of verse (Tyger's in this too, obv) but maybe one of the cat poems or even Jabberwocky if you wanted to stretch them. What are you looking at - adjectives, imaginary settings, more clues please?

probably a bit convoluted for primary, I would have thought, unless they are all quite bright and verbal.
there is so much that is a long way from modern children's experience (eg the forge imagery) so unless it is a big project with lots of time to put it in context I think many of them would not manage to get their heads round it.

Am looking for nothing! I am the parent!!

Just think that it is not wholly appropriate and seems to get a bit symbolic about good and evil and God and Satan, heaven and hell. This is the research I have done from the internet in order to try and help ds.

Of all the tiger poems there are I am confused as to why they have chosen this one for 8 year olds!

Depends on what you were wanting to do with it. I think you'd have to plan the work very carefully though if a Year Four class were going to get very much out of it, but it would make a good springboard for descriptive imagery. Personally, I loved the poem at that age and I'm sure my Year Four DD would love it too - in fact I will read it to her and see what she thinks of it.

I've done "The owl and the pussycat" with ours - and despite a few of them knowing bits as a nursery rhyme, we got a lot out of going through it and establishing the narrative, description, rhyme and meter.

Another lovely one is Christina Rosetti's Caterpillar; the fieldmouse, or possibly "pigeons" by Richard Kell (iirc!)

sorry, wrong end of stick
I wouldn't do it with Y4, as I said before. Way above their heads and stuff you don't necessarily need to get into explaining at 8.

As you were.

The stuff I mention is way more appropriate and meant to show what level year 4 are actually likely to be doing.

xposted I see, but actually from a parent's pov I would be delighted for DD to come home with Blake to work on.

I don't think those themes are inappropriate, it's just the hardness of it.

There can be a real value in reading or learning by heart poems that you don't understand, and just relishing the language. Then it's all in your head later on, when you are old enough to fully grasp it.

I also think that Blake's ideas in this series of poems are not too complex, once you get past the language, and if explained clearly 8 year olds (for whom life is quite black and white, isn't it? not so many shades of grey, and still very childlike) will grasp it OK.

He won't get there on his own but if the teaching is good he will get something out of it. Don't worry about trying to 'understand' it - just read it with him. I hope this isn't just homework? Did they work on it in class?

It needs to be about tigers as the topic is 'Take one picture' and the picture is of a tiger.

I think the symbolism of the writing is too OTT for Y4 and much prefer

her

her should read this doh!

Tis homelearning to be discussed in literacy next week.

like that one, collision

Thanks MrsShrek.

there's a Rudyard Kipling tiger,tiger poem too, can't remember it properly tho

just found this and pmsl

this one?

I think I did this in year 3. I think we looked at it in terms of the way it used descriptive language rather than in terms of good and evil. Was a long time ago though. I think if you go in there, criticise the teachers choice of poem and offer one of your, you will forever be known as 'that mother'!

ooh ds (y1) would love that one!

collision, in that case, I really wouldn't worry about understanding; just read and enjoy the words, talk about what images the words put into his head. Is the tiger fierce? etc. Concentrate on the opening and closing stanzas, and the idea that the tiger and the lamb are made by the same creator (an awesome concept whether you believe in a god or not).

I think the children would have got more out of it if the teacher had worked on it in class first, but I expect he/she will live and learn.

I'm afraid I think that other poem is dire. Stick with the Blake!

I agree Deidre.

I agree with Deirdre.

No, I'm Spartacus.

I don't think it's too much at all...they'll take what they will. They'll be exposed to great literature. Even if all they take is an appreciation of the sounds and images the words conjure then that's enough imo.