Classic Poets

Introduction
The National Curriculum in England requires teachers to introduce students to the work of four of these pre-1914 poets at key stages three and four, and A level examining boards often choose them among their set texts. Textbooks are limited for space and budgets do not stretch to providing comprehensive collections of all these poets, making it all too easy as a teacher to be confined by the limits of what the stock cupboard provides.

Finding and assessing resources on the Web is very time-consuming for teachers, and can be confusing for students. On this site, the poems have been cleaned up for presentation to a class, and you can print hard copies from the downloadable files without intrusive tags if necessary. The font is clear and readable, and the spelling has been modernised; there is no need for any school student to get to grips with Spenser's use of Ioue for Jove. Where modernising the spelling would intrude on the rhyme or rhythmical flow of the poem, it has been left alone and linked to notes to explain it. Where (as in Chaucer) there has been a major change of language, both the original version and a translation is given of the poems available here. If you are able to use them online, you will find links between each poem and the notes on it, so that students can find an explanation of a tricky word or expression. A comprehensive glossary and search facility enables students to click immediately for an explanation and examples of any technical words they do not know.

You'll find a biography for every classic poet in the National Curriculum, putting his or her life into historical context. A timeline links all the poets to give students a picture of the development of English poetry. We've also provided links to particularly good sites on the World Wide Web which we think can enhance your experience of the poets. There are samples of poems from every poet, as well as a very comprehensive collection in the detailed pages for each poet.

If you have suggestions for god ways of using these resources in class or suggestions for additional materials, please email englishonline@actis.co.uk.

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Any comments? Please email englishonline@actis.co.uk