London Review of Books

• Engels
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Goals for today 

A new text type  paper 1 

Describing a sound using literary language 

highlighting and listening 

Finding information and sharing that information 

Writing a paragraph response 

AWL

Paper 1 texts 

Fictional Prose: Extracts from novels, short stories, or novellas.

Poetry: Various forms, including sonnets, villanelles, and modern free verse.

Dramatic Plays: Scripts from theatre, including modern and classical scenes.

Non-fiction Prose: Literary non-fiction, including memoirs, personal essays, travelogues, and biographies.

Diaries/Journals: Introspective, first-person narrative accounts. 

Key considerations 

Use figurative language... 

• Use literary techniques to describe the heartbeats that you will hear. For example; metaphors, similes, imagery, 
• You will hear 5 heart sounds. For each one try to use figurative and literary techniques to describe that heart sound. 
  
• Use the information given to you. 

In your groups 

Context: What is the significance of the publication (London Review of Books)? How does this shape the tone and content? Do some research

Audience: Who is the intended reader? How does the style cater to them?

Purpose: What is Francis trying to convey beyond medical knowledge?

Style: How does the author blend scientific and poetic language?

Text type: diary 

Listen, read along and annotate...

Highlight for: 

Scientific terminology

figurative language (metaphors, similes, imagery etc)

Emotional tone and shifts

annotate for ...

Semantic fields around the topics of:

Music 

nature 

What associations do we make with these topics?

Structure 

How is the text structured? 

For each paragraph write next to it the focus of that paragraph. 

What do you notice? 

How is anecdote used to entertain? 

Make notes on these questions 

What is the effect of describing heart valves with musical or nature imagery?

How does Francis use personal anecdotes to humanise medical practice?

00:37

Figurative language 

Describe the heartbeat using figurative language:

- similes 

-metaphors

-imagery 

-personification 

- hyperbole 

01:15

Figurative language 

Describe this heartbeat using figurative language: 

- metonymy (the pen is mightier than the sword/ association) 

- litotes (understatement) 

- exaggeration 

01:42

Figurative language 

Describe the heartbeat using figurative language: 

- similes 

- metaphors 

- alliteration - consonance 

- assonance - sibilance 

02:06

Figurative language 

Describe that heartbeat using figurative language: 

- similes 

- metaphors 

- onomatopoeia 

- synecdoche (part for the whole/ The White House) 

Individually post in the Padlet 

In what ways would the author’s structure and style appeal to the target audience?

Comment on the way the author combines the scientific and the literary.

Write one paragraph analysing how Gavin Francis uses literary techniques to enhance the reader’s understanding of the human heart.

You must include these terms imagery (specify which imagery), tone, metaphor, audience awareness and the four AWL words. Underline these words where you have used them. 

TAG

Tell something you like, Ask a question, Give a suggestion

TAG at least two paragraphs in the Padlet. 

Tell something you like, Ask a question, Give a suggestion