This course will introduce students to ten classic poems that have been loved by generations. They are enduring classics because they tackle the great questions of human existence in an inspiring way, from Shakespeare's definition of true love, to Emily Dickinson's description of enduring hope in difficult times, to Tennyson's celebration of courage and sacrifice, to Claude McKay's poignant treatment of longing and exile, with plenty more besides. The lesson sequence is as follows:

1. Sonnet 18: ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’ (1609) by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
2. Sonnet 116: ‘Let me not to the marriage of true minds’ (1609) by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
3. ‘Daffodils’ or ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ (1807) by William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
4. ‘Home Thoughts, from Abroad’ (1845) by Robert Browning (1812-1899)
5.  ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ (1854) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
6. ‘“Hope” is the thing with feathers —' (1861) By Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
7. ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ (1890) by W B Yeats (1865-1939)
8. ‘After the Winter' (1919) by Claude McKay (1890-1948)
9. ‘If—’ (1910) by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
10. ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ (1922) by Robert Frost (1874-1963)

The classes will be a mixture of explanation from the teacher and discussion of key ideas in the poem. You will also have the opportunity to write short paragraphs based on what you have learned towards the end of the class. This mixture of activities will ensure that the knowledge you are gaining will be well embedded, forming a great foundation for future learning.

In addition, we will be memorising 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'  and 'Sonnet 18' as a class, using a simple and effective method which will lead to great fluency by the end of the course, and impressive recitals for family and friends.