Exploring Themes in 'Mrs Midas'

Curriculum Details

Subject: English Literature
Level: Key Stage 4 (GCSE)
Exam Board Alignment: AQA / Edexcel / OCR / WJEC / CCEA
Curriculum Focus: Poetry – Modern Texts
Unit Title: Exploring Duffy’s Midas (Lesson 1 of 5)

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this 50-minute lesson, students will be able to:

1. Identify the central themes in Mrs Midas by Carol Ann Duffy.
2. Analyse how Duffy conveys these themes through poetic techniques.
3. Express personal responses to the poem’s themes and their relevance to modern society.

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Lesson Structure

Starter Activity (10 minutes) – The Gold Debate

• Engage students with a thought-provoking question: What would you wish for if you could have one magical power?
• Think-Pair-Share: Students discuss their chosen power and why.
• Lead into a brief class discussion on the downside of unchecked desire, linking to myths and modern life (social status, wealth, fame).
• Display an image of Midas turning his daughter to gold and ask:
  • What emotions does this evoke?
  • What does this symbolise about greed and power?

Main Activity (25 minutes) – Thematic Exploration

Step 1: Reading & Initial Reactions (10 minutes)

• Teacher reads Mrs Midas aloud with expressive intonation.
• Students follow along, underlining any words or phrases that stand out.
• Quickfire discussion:
  • What is Mrs Midas feeling throughout the poem?
  • How does Duffy make her emotions clear?

Step 2: Theme Identification (15 minutes)

• Small Group Task (5 minutes):
  • Groups of 3–4 each receive a different theme (Greed, Love, Consequences of Desire).
  • Task: Highlight 2–3 key quotes from the poem that illustrate their given theme.
• Gallery Walk (10 minutes):
  • Groups write their quotes on large sheets.
  • Each team moves around the room, annotating other groups' work with comments or interpretations.
  • Teacher facilitates discussion to ensure deep interpretation.

Plenary (10 minutes) – Modern Connections & Reflection

• Class discussion: Where do we see these themes in modern society?
  • Example prompts:
    • Are there modern 'Midas' figures in business or celebrity culture?
    • What are the real-world consequences of greed?
• Exit Ticket: Each student writes one sentence on a sticky note responding to:
  • What do you think Duffy is saying about human nature in this poem?
• Sticky notes are placed on the board as students leave – reviewed next lesson.

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Assessment for Learning

• Formative: Discussions, theme analysis, and gallery walk contributions.
• Summative (End-of-Unit): Students will produce an analytical response exploring how Duffy presents key themes across Mrs Midas and other selected poems.

Differentiation Strategies

• Support: Provide key quotes for selected students to analyse instead of searching the text.
• Challenge: Ask higher-ability students to compare Mrs Midas to another poem by Duffy or relate it to other literary texts.

Resources

• Copies of Mrs Midas
• Large paper for group work
• Sticky notes for plenary reflection
• Image of Midas myth for starter discussion

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Notes for the Teacher

• Maintain an expressive reading to bring the poem to life.
• Encourage personal connections – poetry resonates more when students see its relevance.
• Be ready with contemporary examples of greed (social media influence, financial scandals) to prompt discussion.

This lesson sets the foundation for deeper poetic analysis in subsequent sessions while fostering an engaging, theme-driven approach to Duffy’s work.