IEB English HL: Grade 12 Poetry - 'The Tenant' by Na Ngulube

Summary

This educational video lesson, designed for Grade 12 students, analyzes Na En Trube's poem "The Tenant," which explores themes of emotional baggage and the fear of vulnerability in relationships. Trube, a Zimbabwean accountant and philanthropist, encourages students to reflect on their personal experiences with love and loss. The lesson provides strategies for analyzing poetry, including note-taking techniques, and poses thought-provoking questions about how past memories influence future decisions. Ultimately, it invites students to engage with poetry as a means of understanding their emotional landscapes.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video lesson is designed for Grade 12 students of St. Patrick CBC in Kimberley, South Africa, during the lockdown.
• 😀 Na En Trube, the Zimbabwean poet, is introduced as an accountant and the founder of the Global Native Foundation.
• 😀 The poem 'The Tenant' is part of the poetry section for the Independent Examinations Board curriculum for 2020-2022.
• 😀 The video emphasizes the joy and relaxation that poetry can bring, contrasting it with serious social commentary.
• 😀 'The Tenant' uses the metaphor of a heart as a space occupied by a former lover, representing emotional baggage.
• 😀 The speaker expresses fear of moving on and the difficulty of letting go of past memories after a breakup.
• 😀 The poem's tone is reflective and cautious, highlighting the impact of past relationships on future decisions.
• 😀 Students are encouraged to engage with the poem through various note-taking methods, including spider diagrams.
• 😀 Key themes include emotional baggage, fear of vulnerability, and the transient nature of relationships.
• 😀 Reflection questions prompt students to consider their own emotional baggage and its effect on their relationships.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video lesson?

The video lesson is designed for Grade 12 students at St. Patrick CBC in Kimberley, South Africa, focusing on the poem 'The Tenant' by Na En Trube, which is part of the English Home Language curriculum.

Who is Na En Trube, and what is her background?

Na En Trube is a Zimbabwean poet and accountant, known for her charitable work through the Global Native Foundation, which aims to address poverty in rural Zimbabwe by utilizing expat remittances.

What themes does 'The Tenant' address?

'The Tenant' explores themes of emotional baggage, the fear of vulnerability in relationships, and the complexities of human connection, particularly in the context of past heartbreak.

How does the poem use metaphors?

The poem employs an extended metaphor comparing the heart to a physical space, highlighting how past relationships leave emotional luggage that affects future connections.

What notetaking methods are suggested for analyzing the poem?

The video suggests methods such as spider diagrams and the TIPCAST acronym, which stands for Title, Paraphrase, Connotations, Attitude, Shifts, and Theme, to help students annotate and understand the poem.

What does the title 'The Tenant' signify?

The title signifies a temporary occupant of the heart, reflecting the transient nature of relationships and the lingering impact of past loves.

What does the speaker express about past relationships?

The speaker expresses reluctance to move on due to the emotional baggage left behind by a former lover, indicating a struggle between the desire for new love and the fear of being hurt again.

How does the structure of the poem contribute to its themes?

The poem's free verse structure allows for fluid expression of emotions, reinforcing the theme of vulnerability and the complexities of dealing with memories associated with past relationships.

What reflective questions are posed to students at the end of the lesson?

Students are encouraged to reflect on their own emotional baggage, the impact of past experiences on current relationships, and whether they would prefer loneliness over imperfect relationships.

How are song lyrics compared to poetry in the lesson?

The lesson compares song lyrics, specifically Rick Astley's 'Empty Heart,' to poetry, suggesting that both forms of expression explore similar themes of love, loss, and emotional struggle.