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

47 replies

collision · 07/02/2011 22:11

Tyger

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collision · 07/02/2011 22:42

notrightnow - think i will take another look at it with ds

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edam · 07/02/2011 22:42

I think ds did this in Year 2. As collision says, it's to do with Take One Picture and the Rousseau painting. Suspect the teacher just wanted a tiger poem to go with it.

Six or seven year olds may not have a complete grasp of Blake's ideas but they enjoyed the poem as far as I can tell. Fine IMO for children to encounter something they may not fully understand. They can come back to it later and get more out of it.

Life would be pretty boring if they were only allowed to read Biff and flipping Kipper.

Marlinspike · 07/02/2011 22:43

8 year olds will be able to appreciate the rhythmn and the imagery of the poem. It could be supported by some artwork (thinking of some rousseau-style collages with bright-eyed tigers looking out through long grass). I don't see anything wrong with younger pupils looking at a more complex piece, even if they don't fully investigate the metaphors and symbolism.

notrightnow · 07/02/2011 22:45

collision - has he seen the drawing from the original book made by Blake?

it's here

I always think the tiger looks rather benevolent and not remotely a work of violence!

collision · 07/02/2011 22:46

the surprise

Is your ds doing it atm Edam?

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collision · 07/02/2011 22:48

nrn, I think I was so taken over by the symbolism I haven't discussed it very much with him so will do it tomorrow.

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notrightnow · 07/02/2011 22:50

I hope he ends up enjoying it, and that you do too :)

collision · 07/02/2011 22:51

thank you

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edam · 07/02/2011 23:01

Collision - no, last year when he was in Yr2. The bit that made the strongest impression on him was when his class did an Assembly on the picture and he got to say the "surprise" bit of the title. Don't think he really took on board much of the meaning of Blake's poem beyond it having lots of exciting descriptive words. But he'll come back to it when he's older and get a richer understanding. Thing is, it's quite important for them to have a taste of great literature - if it has echoes of familiarity when they finally do it in depth I think that helps. Warms them up in some way.

littlebylittle · 07/02/2011 23:35

It is a fab poem and with the right teaching could be great for year four. You'd have to unlock the language a bit and mould definitely want to read it out loud for the sake of the rhythm. Children do like poems that they can't fully understand. I used to like the anthology "I like this poem" and the children's choices were quite surprising and often based on the rhythm.

littlebylittle · 07/02/2011 23:37

I think some of the imagery isn't too hard to unpick- the burning bright bit would prob be okay for young children?

GrimmaTheNome · 07/02/2011 23:42

Poetry doesn't have to be fully understood to be appreciated.

Just think of Jabberwocky or the Ning nang bloody nong that seems to be a favourite for kids to learn!Grin

Saracen · 08/02/2011 00:48

"Don't think he really took on board much of the meaning of Blake's poem beyond it having lots of exciting descriptive words. But he'll come back to it when he's older and get a richer understanding. Thing is, it's quite important for them to have a taste of great literature - if it has echoes of familiarity when they finally do it in depth I think that helps. Warms them up in some way."

I agree entirely. We do children a disservice if we assume they should be exposed only to topics they are likely to understand well. I think this one is a great choice. Let it wash over them, and they'll take from it what they will, which may be different for every child.

Many of the poems I most enjoy are ones I don't understand fully. That's part of what draws me to them. Poetry isn't all about being able to unpick what the poet meant in a definitive way.

I've told "Tyger" to my four year old several times recently. (She is not particularly verbal, rather the opposite.) She loves it. I explain a few phrases when she asks. Exactly what is going on in her mind while she is learning is often a mystery to me, but that doesn't change the fact she is learning a great deal.

skiphopskidaddle · 08/02/2011 09:36

I did Tyger at primary. Had to learn it by heart. It has a wonderful rhythm to it and it has stuck in my mind so much that I've often recited it to my children aged 3 and 5. DS1 loves it. There's no way he can understand all of it and all the references but he can still appreciate the beauty of the language and he can still appreciate the powerful imagery at his level.

Timebends · 08/02/2011 09:45

The rhythm and vocabulary of this poem is wonderful. Of course the symbolism will go over a child's head, except that he/she can understand tha the poet is pondering the majesty of the tiger and the deep mystery of its creation. That's enough - and to savour and play with the language - which is far far superior to that in the other link you prefer.

Still, makes a change from teachers being relentlessly accused of dumbing down I suppose.

tomhardyismydh · 08/02/2011 09:55

I dont think it is inapropriate for that age, It may be difficult to follow or understand but I dont think that is a bad thing as it can pen up a dialogue with the child. I read peoms to my dd who is nearly 5 and often she has very little understanding of the meaning of what I am reading but I explain it to her and some times she makes her own up aloud from her perspective. I think it is important for children to rewad chalenging literature.

LaVieEnTechnicolor · 08/02/2011 11:15

I don't think it's inappropriate. For all the reasons just given, I'd be delighted for my dd to study this at school. FWIW, the (fictional) little boy in Outcasts last night - who I'd estimate was about 6 - was trying his very best to learn it off by heart.

ImNotaCelebrity · 08/02/2011 22:51

Stop trying to put a ceiling on his learning and be thankful he has a teacher who wants to push them on!
In terms of home learning, just let him enjoy the reading of it, savour the language and the rhythms and see what he gets out of it, not what you find out from looking on the internet. I'm sure the teacher is more interested in his thoughts on the poem than yours or Google's!

ImNotaCelebrity · 08/02/2011 22:51

Stop trying to put a ceiling on his learning and be thankful he has a teacher who wants to push them on!
In terms of home learning, just let him enjoy the reading of it, savour the language and the rhythms and see what he gets out of it, not what you find out from looking on the internet. I'm sure the teacher is more interested in his thoughts on the poem than yours or Google's!

ImNotaCelebrity · 08/02/2011 22:52

I'm so important I posted twice! Grin

ImNotaCelebrity · 08/02/2011 22:52

I'm so important I posted twice! Grin

collision · 09/02/2011 21:50

Thanks for all your comments

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