✍️ Poetry Comprehension KS2: Exploring Charles Causley’s Poems 🔎
🌟 Why Use Poetry Comprehension in KS2?
Poetry comprehension KS2 lessons help children explore rhythm, imagery, and meaning in depth. By reading closely and discussing their ideas, pupils learn not only to understand poems, but also to enjoy them.
Charles Causley — one of Britain’s most-loved poets, and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite — is a perfect choice for upper KS2. A master of the narrative poem, Causley combined strong storylines with rhythm and rhyme to create poems that are memorable, funny, and often deeply moving.
Causley lived most of his life in Cornwall, where he worked as a teacher as well as a poet. He wrote for both adults and children, and his poems often have a ballad-like quality, drawing on folk tales, history, and everyday life. He remains one of my own favourite poets, and I love sharing his work in schools.
For KS2 comprehension, I’ve chosen two of his most accessible poems:
Whatever Happened to Lulu? — a mysterious narrative poem full of unanswered questions.
There Was a Jolly Hunter — a humorous cautionary tale about greed and foolishness.
⚠️ Note for teachers: Both poems are under copyright, so I can only include short extracts here. To read the full texts, see:
📝 Poem 1: Whatever Happened to Lulu? (Extract)
“Whatever happened to Lulu, mother,
Whatever happened to Lu?
There’s nothing in her bed but an old rag-doll,
And by its side a shoe.”
This narrative poem is told from a child’s perspective, with a repeated question at its heart. Lulu has gone — but where? And why won’t the adults give a clear answer?
🔎 Comprehension Questions (Year 4–6)
Retrieval – What evidence is there that Lulu has left suddenly?
Inference – How does the child narrator feel about Lulu’s disappearance? Which words suggest this?
Vocabulary – Find one word or phrase that creates a mysterious mood. Why is it effective?
Structure – Why do you think the poet keeps repeating “Whatever happened to Lulu?”?
Author’s Purpose – Why do you think Causley chose not to tell us exactly what happened?
Comparison – Can you think of another story or poem where a character disappears? How is it similar or different?
Creative Response – Write a diary entry as Lulu, explaining why she left.
📝 Poem 2: There Was a Jolly Hunter (Extract)
“There was a jolly hunter
With a jolly bag of shot.
He killed the jolly tiger
With a jolly rifle and a lot…”
This ballad-style poem uses rhythm, rhyme, and comic exaggeration to tell the story of a greedy hunter whose foolishness eventually destroys him.
🔎 Comprehension Questions (Year 4–6)
Retrieval – What happens when the hunter tries to shoot the hare?
Inference – How does the poet want us to feel about the hunter?
Vocabulary – Why does Causley repeat the word “jolly” so often? What effect does it have?
Humour – Which parts of the poem make it funny, even though it’s about hunting?
Theme – What lesson does the poem teach us about greed or carelessness?
Structure – How do rhyme and rhythm make this poem sound almost like a song or nursery rhyme?
Creative Response – Imagine the hare could reply. Write a short verse in its voice.
👩🏫 Teacher Notes
Curriculum links: English (reading comprehension, poetry analysis), PSHE (empathy, consequences), Drama (performance).
Differentiation: Direct retrieval for support; inference and author’s purpose for stretch.
Engagement: Causley’s poems offer just the right mix of mystery, humour, and narrative drive to capture pupils’ attention.
🌟 Final Thought & Call to Action
Poetry comprehension KS2 is about much more than answering questions — it’s about helping children connect with rhythm, imagery, and meaning. Charles Causley’s poems are perfect for Years 4–6 because they combine memorable storylines with layers of meaning to explore.
🚀 Bring this same excitement into your classroom!
I’ve been performing and teaching poetry in schools for over 25 years. My Poetry Days are designed to inspire pupils through:
A high-energy performance assembly 🎤
Engaging workshops that guide children through reading, writing, and performing their own poems ✍️
Opportunities to build comprehension skills in a fun, memorable way 🌟
You can book me for:
In-person Poetry Days (UK schools)
Online poetry workshops (ideal for flexibility and budget)
👉 Poetry Days book up fast around key dates like World Book Day and National Poetry Day — secure your date now!
Contact me here ➡ Poets in Schools – Ian Bland
