- No category
A World of Poetry CSEC: Poem Summaries & Theme Analysis
advertisement
A World of Poetry — STRATEGIC REVIEW — © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — POEM — SUMMARIES — © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — Dreaming Black Boy This poem is about a young black boy who wishes that people would no longer treat him differently because of his race and that he could live a life without fear of oppression. He dreams of a world where he can access better opportunities in terms of education, job prospects, travel and social status. My Parents This poem follows the perspective of a young boy in his community whose parents keep him away from the other children of lower social status which leads him to be bullied. He longs to befriend them but they do not reciprocate. The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son The poem follows a woman who has a conversation with a man who has put her son whom she has raised without a father into a life of crime. She prays for him and prepares for his funeral as she realises that her son may pass away sooner rather than later. Little Boy Crying The poem narrates the feelings of a three-year-old boy who is upset with his father for giving him a quick slap for playing in the rain. The boy imagines doing cruel things to his father to make him feel the pain he feels and though the father wants to comfort the boy, he cannot undermine the lesson he is trying to teach him. Mirror The first stanza of the poem is told from the perspective of a mirror in a child’s room and tells the readers about its truthful and unbiased reflections. The second stanza of the poem, however, is told from a lake’s perspective which tells the story of a woman’s fading youth and her constant displeasure at the reflection she sees in the lake. Once Upon A Time The poem is written from the perspective of a father who is outlining to his son all the insincere interactions with people that take place daily. He longs for a time of old where he does not have to fit in with the new norm but instead that he could go back to being more genuine. Orchids This poem is about a person who is moving out of a house and has packed everything except an orchid he or she was gifted. The persona is confused as to how the flower has survived despite only being watered once; he or she is intrigued by its resilience and thus saves its petals in hopes of understanding its strength in the future. Theme for English B In this poem, the persona, the only coloured student in his class, speaks about the things he enjoys doing, his history and the route he takes to school. The persona concludes that he is just as much a part of his instructor as the instructor is of him, although they may not like it because of their racial differences. © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — Birdshooting Season The persona describes the events surrounding birdshooting season in their home where men eat, drink and ignore their wives in favour of the season while the unhappy women serve them quietly. The little boys long to become men and who hunt birds too while the girls wish for the birds to be free. This is the dark time, my love The poem describes a time of fear, oppression and despair in a particular region. The persona relates these events to his “love” who may either be an actual human lover, a child or even a nation. Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge The poem outlines the persona’s observations as he admires the views from the Westminster Bridge early in the morning before the normal bustle of activity begins. An African Thunderstorm An oncoming storm threatens an African village. The persona, in vivid metaphor, highlights the sheer power and fury of the storm and details the responses of various members of the community, including wailing babies, frantic women and “delighted children”. God’s Grandeur The persona begins by stating that the earth is charged with God’s grandeur but highlighting how mankind destroys and abuses it, even separating themselves from it. However, the final sestet demonstrates that the earth will never cease to renew and replenish itself no matter what Man does to harm it. West Indies, USA The persona, from a plane several thousands of feet in the air, admires Puerto Rico which is viewed as one of the luckiest islands in the Caribbean, likely because of its status as a United States overseas territory. However, with a hint of sarcasm, the persona highlights how the US does everything in its power to keep the “desperate Blacks” from other Caribbean nations out of Puerto Rico and then further highlights the stark inequality between the rich and the poor in Puerto Rico, an island that “belonged to someone else.” Test Match Sabina Park A White Englishman enters the Sabina Park cricket grounds in Jamaica, confident that England will beat the West Indies team in the ensuing match. Unfortunately for him, England plays a slow and unexciting game, which leads to him being jeered by the Caribbean nationals and almost forced to leave the stadium, embarrassed. Dulce Et Decorum Est A soldier witnesses the harrowing death of his colleague who succumbs to a gas attack by enemy forces on the battlefield. He relives the experience in his dreams each night and has come to realise that the assurance that it is sweet and honourable to die for your country is an “old lie.” © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — South The persona expresses a longing for his native home in the south, near to the sea and expresses sadness at the dull oppressive life he has been reduced to living in the north. By the end of the poem, he is joyful as he rejoins his life, his community and his old memories in the south. Ol’ Higue A Caribbean vampire, known as a ‘soucouyant’ laments about the frustrations of chasing babies’ blood each night with no skin. Eventually, she settles into the fact that she loves babies and their blood which keeps her alive and young and resigns herself to the fact that her job is necessary and she will never lose her job or her life once babies continue to be born. It is the Constant Image of Your Face The persona seems adamant that he puts his country above his lover but soon realises that he is torn between the two and each time his feelings rise for one, he feels as if he is betraying the other. A Stone’s Throw A mob of men are determined to stone a woman to death for her sexual sins, while they also take advantage of her sexually. A religious figure enters the scene and writes something in the dust that gets the men to reflect on what they are about to do and to decide against killing the terrified woman though they vow that they would do it again another day if they felt like it. © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — ANALYSING — THEMES — © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — ANALYSING POEMS BY THEME Dreaming Black Boy My Parents Little Boy Crying Theme for English B racism oppression dreams / aspirations youth / childhood desires disappointment / disillusionment self-esteem travel social barriers conflict power dynamics fear school / education violence determination resilience oppression bullying youth / childhood family relationships forgiveness disappointment / disillusionment social barriers conflict self-esteem desires power dynamics fear anger violence oppression youth / childhood parent/child relationships power dynamics punishment misunderstanding regret imagination play determination racism race politics oppression power dynamics travel migration dreams / aspirations desires school / education social barriers self-respect / self-awareness empathy determination resilience Mirror A Stone’s Throw Ol’ Higue youth / ageing self-esteem disappointment / disillusionment nature conflict (internal) female roles / gender politics desires frustration / anger violence religion gender politics abuse conflict desire hypocrisy oppression power dynamics disappointment / disillusionment anger morality grace / mercy determination empathy folklore / superstition death frustration / anger conflict disappointment / disillusionment motherhood violence desire determination mortality / immortality The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son powerlessness violence death anger love betrayal parent/child relationships conflict disappointment / disillusionment dreams / aspirations desires religion morality power dynamics female roles / gender politics hope resilience © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Once Upon A Time Orchids South conflict admiration childhood / innocence nostalgia transformation family relationships societal expectations hypocrisy desires nature admiration resilience / survival travel / migration transformation nature patriotism love / admiration nostalgia / memory desire regret travel / migration oppression satisfaction / happiness determination rural vs urban life nature love / admiration urban life / industrialization peace Birdshooting Season This is the dark time, my love Dulce Et Decorum Est God’s Grandeur oppression nature conflict gender politics violence parent/child relationships family relationships desires / expectations commitment / betrayal tradition oppression conflict war love conflict war patriotism love resilience disappointment / disillusionment illness death chaos heroism nature conflict love/admiration transformation renewal determination / resilience An African Thunderstorm It is the Constant Image of Your Face Test Match Sabina Park West Indies, USA nature conflict gender roles chaos nature conflict patriotism gender roles love conflict patriotism rejection chaos nature conflict patriotism rejection © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — ANALYSING THEMES BY POEM Childhood Youth Innocence Dreaming Black Boy My Parents The Woman Speaks… Little Boy Crying Birdshooting Season Once Upon A Time Theme for English B An African Thunderstorm Dulce Et Decorum Est Ol’ Higue Power Dynamics External Conflict War Violence An African Thunderstorm (man vs nature / /environment) Dreaming Black Boy (man vs society) My Parents (man vs man) Dreams Aspirations Desire Oppression Injustice Nature Dreaming Black Boy My Parents The Woman Speaks… Theme for English B A Stone’s Throw South Birdshooting Season This is the dark time Dulce Et Decorum Est Birdshooting Season An African Thunderstorm South Sonnet Composed God’s Grandeur West Indies USA This is the dark time Orchids Dreaming Black Boy My Parents The Woman Speaks… Once Upon A Time Ol’ Higue South A Stone’s Throw This is the dark time Birdshooting Season Internal Conflict Pride Patriotism Race Politics Dreaming Black Boy Little Boy Crying Once Upon A Time Dulce Et Decorum Est Ol’ Higue Orchids It is the Constant Image of Your Face Test Match Sabina Park Dulce Et Decorum Est It is the Constant Image of Your Face Test Match Sabina Park West Indies USA South Sonnet Composed Dreaming Black Boy Theme for English B Test Match Sabina Park West Indies USA Little Boy Crying (man vs man) Birdshooting Season (man vs man / man vs environment) Once Upon A Time (man vs man) Dulce Et Decorum Est (man vs man) South (man vs society) God’s Grandeur (man vs environment) © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — It is the constant image (man vs society) Test Match Sabina Park (man vs man) West Indies USA (man vs society) This is the dark time (man vs man) A Stone’s Throw (man vs man) Gender Politics Mirror Birdshooting Season A Stone’s Throw Ol’ Higue It is the Constant Image Nostalgia Memory Yearning / Longing Isolation / Loneliness South Once Upon A Time The Woman Speaks… Love Family Friendship Parent-child relationships Loyalty Betrayal Death The Woman Speaks… Dulce Et Decorum Est It is the Constant Image Birdshooting Season Little Boy Crying (perceived betrayal) The Woman Speaks… Dulce Et Decorum Est Ol’ Higue This is the dark time A Stone’s Throw Orchids Hypocrisy Morality Renewal Hope Transformation Growth Resilience Survival Determination A Stone’s Throw Once Upon A Time God’s Grandeur Orchids Dulce Et Decorum Est God’s Grandeur South Orchids Theme for English Little Boy Crying The Woman Speaks… Ol’ Higue My Parents Little Boy Crying The Woman Speaks… Ol’ Higue Birdshooting Season It is the Constant Image An African Thunderstorm This is the dark time Dulce Et Decorum Est Once Upon A Time Isolation West Indies USA My Parents Dreaming Black Boy Little Boy Crying My Parents Theme for English B © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — Travel Migration Disappointment / Disillusionment Anger Frustration Happiness Satisfaction South West Indies USA Dreaming Black Boy My Parents Little Boy Crying The Woman Speaks… South A Stone’s Throw Dulce Et Decorum Est Test Match Sabina Park Once Upon A Time Mirror Orchids God’s Grandeur It is the Constant Image of Your Face Little Boy Crying The Woman Speaks… Dulce Et Decorum Est Test Match Sabina Park Mirror Orchids South Test Match Sabina Park Ol’ Higue An African Thunderstorm Sonnet Composed © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — LITERARY — DEVICES — © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — ANALYSING POEMS BY DEVICE Dreaming Black Boy My Parents Little Boy Crying Theme for English B anaphora diction repetition metaphor alliteration allusion hyperbole simile imagery metaphor diction imagery allusion pun constrast metaphor alliteration rhyme imagery diction symbolism rhetorical questions rhythm repetition alliteration allusion Mirror A Stone’s Throw Ol’ Higue personification simile metaphor imagery Biblical allusion irony repetition metaphor diction imagery rhetorical question metaphor alliteration repetition simile rhyme Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son Biblical allusion allusion repetition simile sarcasm metaphor imagery symbolism Once Upon A Time Orchids South metaphor simile repetition alliteration contrast / juxtaposition compound epithet simile alliteration metaphor allusion symbolism alliteration imagery metaphor personification contrast simile personification simile metaphor rhyme imagery Birdshooting Season This is the dark time, my love Dulce Et Decorum Est God’s Grandeur imagery alliteration metaphor diction rhetorical question repetition oxymoron metaphor rhyme simile alliteration metaphor repetition contrast rhyme simile © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — contrast personification symbolism alliteration imagery personification symbolism imagery diction allusion transferred epithet hyperbole irony personification assonance alliteration symbolism metaphor An African Thunderstorm It is the Constant Image of Your Face Test Match Sabina Park West Indies, USA alliteration metaphor simile personification imagery onomatopoeia irony contrast diction metaphor personification metaphor allusion pun personification synecdoche rhetorical question contrast sarcasm sarcasm metaphor simile irony imagery symbolism allusion alliteration contrast / juxtaposition pun repetition ANALYSING DEVICES BY POEM Simile Metaphor Personification Allusion An African Thunderstorm West Indies USA God’s Grandeur Dulce Et Decorum Est Once Upon A Time South It is the Constant Image South Ol’ Higue Mirror The Woman Speaks… My Parents Dreaming Black Boy My Parents Little Boy Crying The Woman Speaks… An African Thunderstorm Birdshooting Season God’s Grandeur South Sonnet Composed Dulce Et Decorum Est West Indies USA Test Match Sabina Park It is the Constant Image This is the dark time Mirror Ol’ Higue Once Upon A Time A Stone’s Throw Orchids An African Thunderstorm South Test Match Sabina Park Sonnet Composed Dulce Et Decorum Est Birdshooting Season It is the Constant Image This is the dark time Mirror Dreaming Black Boy Theme for English B Little Boy Crying The Woman Speaks… Dulce Et Decorum Est West Indies USA Test Match Sabina Park A Stone’s Throw Orchids © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — Rhyme Alliteration Assonance Repetition Theme for English B Ol’ Higue Dulce Et Decorum Est Sonnet Composed God’s Grandeur Dreaming Black Boy Theme for English B Little Boy Crying An African Thunderstorm Birdshooting Season God’s Grandeur South Dulce Et Decorum Est West Indies USA This is the dark time Ol’ Higue Once Upon A Time Orchids God’s Grandeur Dreaming Black Boy Theme for English B The Woman Speaks… God’s Grandeur West Indies USA This is the dark time Ol’ Higue Once Upon A Time A Stone’s Throw Rhetorical Question Symbolism Hyperbole Irony Theme for English B Ol’ Higue The is the dark time Test Match Sabina Park Theme for English B The Woman Speaks… Orchids Birdshooting Season God’s Grandeur West Indies USA This is the dark time Dulce Et Decorum Est Dreaming Black Boy West Indies USA Dulce Et Decorum Est A Stone’s Throw An African Thunderstorm Sarcasm Oxymoron Pun / Humour Contrast West Indies USA Test Match Sabina Park The Woman Speaks… This is the dark time Little Boy Crying Test Match Sabina Park West Indies USA Once Upon A Time South Birdshooting Season God’s Grandeur West Indies USA An African Thunderstorm Test Match Sabina Park Humour Test Match Sabina Park Ol’ Higue © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — DEEPER — MESSAGES — © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — Dreaming Black Boy There is a far cry between hope (wishes) and reality. Racism is a terrible social ill that affects all kinds of people and can affect every aspect of a person’s life. My Parents Bullying can have severe negative effects on a child. Parents often make efforts to protect their children but those efforts sometimes backfire. Victims of bullying are sometimes so isolated and low in self-esteem that they may even seek friendship from their bullies, rather than avoiding them or seeking revenge. The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son Little Boy Crying Children raised by one parent will often long for the influence of the other. No matter how well a child is raised, it is their choice whether they will follow a straight path or not. Everything is not what it seems, especially to children. Don’t be quick to judge or to get angry, especially when you lack experience or perspective. Parents often have to make hard and uncomfortable decisions in the short term to benefit their children in the long run. Mirror Society puts unnecessary pressure on women to continue looking young, which causes shame and insecurity as they age. Once Upon A Time Common courtesy and genuine human kindness are becoming less common over the years. Humans tend to lose their innocence, sincerity and kindness and become more hypocritical as they age. As humans, we are very impressionable. It is hard not to be moulded and influenced by our environment. Orchids Sometimes, we don’t see the beauty in something until it’s dead or gone. We can learn a lot of good qualities from nature. “Peculiar poetry” often springs from some harsh experiences. Theme for English B Blacks and Whites are more alike than they think. As humans we are inextricably linked to one another. © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — Birdshooting Season Women often exist to serve the needs of men, even men who ignore them, and this cycle continues generation after generation. Men often find pleasure in dominating and destroying nature. This is the dark time, my love War can devastate and destroy the human spirit. Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Earth is beautiful and majestic, especially without mankind’s influence. An African Thunderstorm Mankind often has to yield when nature takes its course. Nature is an overpowering force. God’s Grandeur Humans relentlessly destroy the earth but the earth will always renew itself. West Indies, USA Everything that glitters is not gold. Despite America’s pretense that they are a welcoming country, they are very resistant to foreigners, especially Blacks, entering the country. Test Match Sabina Park Pride comes before a crash. Dulce Et Decorum Est There is nothing sweet or honourable about war. South Ol’ Higue There’s no place like home. Humans rely on superstition to explain the unexplainable. There is no rose without thorns. It is the Constant Image of Your Face Love for one’s country can be as powerful or even more powerful than love for humans. A Stone’s Throw Don't judge if you do not wish to be judged. Nobody is perfect so nobody deserves to be condemned by another human. Women are demonized for their sexual expression while men are given a pass or even celebrated for their sexual prowess. © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — TONE —&— MOOD © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — POEMS BY TONE FIRST / ONLY THEN THEN yearning / longing hopeful / wishful sad - - My Parents fearful yearning sad - - The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son reflective nostalgic sarcastic angry resigned disappointed Little Boy Crying contemptuous angry empathetic tender firm / resolute - Mirror prideful self-assured reflective pitiful ominous - Once Upon A Time nostalgic disappointed yearning humble - Orchids matter-of-fact frustrated surprised admiring Theme for English B matter-of-fact pensive - - Birdshooting Season narrative matter-of-fact pensive - - Dreaming Black Boy © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — This is the dark time, my love sad fearful ominous - - - - - Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge admiring awestruck An African Thunderstorm ominous urgent - God’s Grandeur disdainful reflective assured calm grateful - West Indies, USA exuberant reflective sarcastic reflective - Test Match Sabina Park proud joyful embarrassed - Dulce Et Decorum Est reflective pitiful frantic disappointed sad angry South nostalgic sad / hurt joyful hopeful satisfied calm Ol’ Higue frustrated yearning weak / vulnerable resigned triumphant It is the Constant Image of Your Face assured adamant conflicted loving pleading - A Stone’s Throw lustful bloodthirsty unimpressed angry resigned - © MissEducationJa @misseducationja - Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — POEMS BY MOOD FIRST / ONLY Dreaming Black Boy My Parents sympathetic empathetic sad hopeless pitiful empathetic THEN THEN - - - - - The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son nostalgic thoughtful outraged sad sympathetic Little Boy Crying tense angry empathetic tender - Mirror intrigued curious sad empathetic - Once Upon A Time reflective sad - - Orchids tense admiring - Theme for English B reflective inspired - Birdshooting Season reflective - - This is the dark time, my love tense fearful - - Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge calm admiring - - © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — An African Thunderstorm intrigued fearful - - God’s Grandeur awestruck angry sad relieved hopeful awestruck - West Indies, USA impressed annoyed insulted empathetic Test Match Sabina Park intrigued humoured - Dulce Et Decorum Est sad empathetic tense shocked disturbed sad empathetic reflective sombre South nostalgic reflective calm nostalgic joyful - empathetic humoured confused disgusted disturbed empathetic - Ol’ Higue It is the Constant Image of Your Face intrigued sorrowful conflicted - - A Stone’s Throw disgusted fearful relieved disturbed - © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — LIKKLE — MORE — © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — POEMS BY PERSPECTIVE Dreaming Black Boy first person Black boy’s perspective My Parents first person perspective of child being bullied The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son third person observer / limited narrator Little Boy Crying second person / third person observer / omniscient narrator Mirror first person mirror’s perspective Once Upon A Time first person parent speaking to son Orchids first person mover’s perspective Theme for English B first person Black college student’s perspective Birdshooting Season first person perspective of the child of a bird shooter who lives in the house where all the other bird shooters gather This is the dark time, my love first person perspective of a person seemingly engaged in war / conflict speaker to his lover / country Sonnet Composed Upon Westminster Bridge first person perspective of a person travelling across the Westminster Bridge An African Thunderstorm third person observer / narrator © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — God’s Grandeur third person observer / commentator West Indies, USA first person (plural) observers / passengers on a plane Test Match Sabina Park first person perspective of a White English man at a cricket match in Jamaica Dulce Et Decorum Est first person soldier’s perspective South first person perspective of a nostalgic migrant Ol’ Higue first person ol’ higue’s perspective It is the Constant Image of Your Face first person perspective of person seemingly engaged in war / conflict speaker to his lover A Stone’s Throw first person (plural) perspective of the mob seeking to stone the woman © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — DEFINITION OF POETIC TERMS TERM MEANING situation (also known as content or context) refers to the events, feelings or memories that unfold in the poem; simply what happens in the poem or what the poem is about tone the attitude of the speaker or writer towards the subject mood the feelings a poem is meant to evoke in the reader message the lessons or truths about life that can be garnered from a poem theme a topic or issue that is discussed or highlighted in a poem poetic technique (also known as device or poetic device) any element of language or format in the poem used to help develop the context, mood, tone, messages or themes effectiveness (also known as effect, significance or literary significance) how a poetic device or technique acts to add to the reader’s understanding and appreciation of the content, characters, themes, messages, tone or mood of a poem persona the speaking voice in the poem poet-persona a term used to describe a situation in which the experiences of the speaker are similar to the real experiences of the poet; the speaker in a semi-autobiographical semi-autobiographical loosely or partially based on the poet’s real life experiences allusion a reference made in a poem to a person, place, thing or event of religious, cultural, literary, political or historical significance alliteration (also known as consonance) the repetition of a consonant sound in a line or stanza (not the letter, the sound!) assonance the repetition of a vowel sound in a line or stanza (not the letter, the sound!) euphemism a way of stating or describing something in a manner that is less harsh or direct © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — narrative point-of-view (also known as perspective) the “eye” or narrative voice through which a story is told, especially related to the pronouns used in relating the poem first person perspective a perspective in which the character narrates the content of the poem from their point of view using the pronouns “I” or “we” second person perspective a perspective in which the reader becomes the focal character, immersed in the narrative and addressed as “you” throughout the poem third person limited a perspective in which the narrator is an outsider to the story perspective and relates the content of the poem using “he”, “she”, “it” or “they”; in this perspective, the narrator does not know the internal thoughts and motivations of the characters in the poem or things occurring outside of their immediate notice third person omniscient (omniscient means ‘all-knowing’) a perspective in which the perspective narrator is an outsider to the story and relates the content of the poem using “he”, “she”, “it” or “they”; in this perspective, the narrator does knows the inner thoughts and motivations of the characters in the poem as well as things occurring outside of their immediate notice © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — SAMPLE — ESSAYS — © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — For CSEC, you are required to write a comparative essay for poetry. This means that you will analyse and compare two poems according to the guidelines of the questions given. TIPS: ✔ If the poems you receive are named in the question, only write on those poems. Do not stray off to discuss any other poems. If no poems are named in the question, you are free to use any appropriate poems. ✔ Quickly create a simple outline for your essay before you start writing. I know many may think it is a waste of time, but it is not. It guides your thought process, helps you to test out your ideas and saves time in the end. It does not have to be in perfect complete sentences but it must be clear to you and it must touch on each aspect of the question. ✔ Use the major verbs as cues for how to break down the question and what should be discussed in each paragraph. “Outline”, “discuss”, “describe”, “examine” and “explore” are examples of such major verbs. Generally, each time you see one of these verbs in the question, it is a cue that a new task and hence, a new paragraph, is required. ✔ Don’t spend more than 40 minutes on your essay and spend no more than 8 minutes on any one body paragraph. An outline will help with this. If you think your essay through before you start writing and you have a clear outline of what you want to write then you will not need to keep stopping to think about what you want to say during your essay. ✔ WRITE QUICKLY. DO NOT STOP WRITING. ✔ Always write the names of the poems in quotation marks. ✔ Use the mark scheme to guide you as to how much detail is needed for each question. Typically, the first and second paragraphs are worth 8 marks, while the last paragraph is worth 9 marks. So don’t treat each paragraph lightly as if they were worth only 4 or 5 marks. If it’s worth 8 or 9 marks, it means that your examiner is expecting something substantial. However, don’t waste time writing on and on for eternity as if each paragraph were worth 15 or 20 marks. Be balanced. ✔ Do not write about one poem and then write about the other. You must compare them. It is also very dangerous to write everything you know about one poem and then try and write about the other, as time may run out on you and you may not reach the next poem and thus lose half the marks or even more for the question. ✔ You must use cohesive language that indicates comparison. Therefore, if, in analysing the poems, you find that they are similar in some way, you must use transitional words and phrases to indicate this, such as “likewise”, “similarly”, “comparably” and “in like manner.” However, if the poems differ in some way, you indicate this using other transitional words and phrases, such as “in contrast”, “however”, “on the other hand” and “contrastingly.” © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — Sample essay question: “Conflict is central to any work of poetry.” (named version) Write an essay in which you describe the major conflict in the poems, “Dreaming Black Boy” and “My Parents”. In this essay, you must also explain how the persona in EACH poem overcomes the conflict and comment on TWO poetic devices used to develop the conflict in EACH poem. (35 marks) “Conflict is central to any work of poetry.” (unnamed version) Write an essay in which you describe the major conflict in any TWO poems you have studied. In this essay, you must also explain how the persona in each poem overcomes the conflict and comment on TWO poetic devices used to develop the conflict in each poem. (35 marks) Sample outline #1: “Dreaming Black Boy” a. Conflict: man vs. man or man vs. society. The persona is discriminated against and mistreated because of his skin colour. He also is in conflict with himself (man vs. himself) because he doubts his own self-worth. b. In an external way, he does not overcome his conflict, because he never actually brings an end to racism. However, he overcomes the conflict by keeping hope alive, repeating, “I wish… I wish.” c. Two devices: diction (e.g. “wish my teacher’s eyes wouldn’t go past me…” “wish I myself wouldn’t hold back…”) and imagery (“torch throwers of the night would burn light for decent times… plotter in pyjamas would pray for themselves” “hotel keepers would make it a waste”) “My Parents” a. Conflict: man vs. man. The persona is bullied by bigger boys; he is teased because of his comparative size and because of his lisp. b. In an external way, he does not overcome the conflict, as he never beats up the other boys or tells them off or gets them to stop bullying him. However, he overcomes by trying to make peace with them and to forgive them, thus seeking to give himself inner peace. © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — c. Two devices: diction (e.g. “children who were rough” “they were lithe”) and imagery (“I feared more than tigers” “they sprang out behind hedges like dogs to bark at my world”) Sample essay #1 (named): Sample introduction: In this life, conflict is inevitable. Humans are constantly in conflict with other humans, with the environment and many experience conflict even within themselves. Since poets and other writers try to reflect real-life situations, conflict is a theme that is often explored in literature. In the poems, “Dreaming Black Boy” by James Berry and “My Parents” by Stephen Spender, the poets use imagery and diction to explore conflict in similar ways, by means of two personas who experience slightly different conflicts – one with racism and the other with bullying – but who both overcome them in similar ways, not externally but internally. Sample body paragraph 1: The personae in each poem face slightly different conflicts. Both face a conflict of man versus man. However, in “Dreaming Black Boy,” the persona also faces an internal conflict (“man versus himself.”) This is shown in the line of the poem where he says, “Wish I myself wouldn’t hold back when an answer comes,” where he expresses the self-doubt he feels when he wishes to offer a contribution in his class. Moreover, he shows that even if he did not doubt himself and was willing to answer the question, “[his] teacher’s eyes [usually] go past [him]” anyway; his teachers constantly ignoring him along with all the other prejudice he faces for being Black is probably the reason why he lacks confidence in himself. Thus, the external conflict of Whites against the speaker and those of his Black race has led to a much deeper internal conflict. Comparably, the persona in “My Parents” faces a similar conflict, but on a smaller scale. Rather than being in conflict with the world in general, the speaker is in conflict with only a few bullies, who tease him verbally and physically abuse him. The persona in “My Parents” is likewise teased for a physical trait that is out of his control; however, instead of his skin colour, he is teased for his size and his lisp. Sample body paragraph 2: In an external way, neither speaker ever actually ends the conflict that they face. The persona in “Dreaming Black Boy” never actually dismantles racism nor does the persona in “My Parents ever actually stand up for himself or beat up the bullies. However, they both seek to overcome the conflict they face with one word: hope. The persona in “Dreaming Black Boy” keeps his hope burning bright by bravely continuing to wish and dream for better conditions for himself and his people. He constantly repeats the word, “wish” to express his hope for © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — change in various spheres of life, including education, travel, and general interactions with society and he even ends the poem on a note of hope. Similarly, the persona in “My Parents” seeks to make peace with his bullies and even forgive them. “I longed to forgive them,” he says, but sadly, “they never smiled” back at him. Despite the fact that he continues to be bullied, he tries to be hopeful that the boys will change. Even though that never actually happens, he still proves himself to be ‘the bigger person’ in the way he responds to the boys and as such, he overcomes in his own small way. Sample body paragraph 3: Both poets use diction and imagery to develop the conflict in each poem. In “Dreaming Black Boy,” James Berry’s diction is quite repetitive. It is this repetition that shows the persona’s hopeful determination to endure despite the conflict he faces. He constantly says, “I wish… I wish” to express his hope for improvement in various situations. As stated before, he wishes for improvement in various sectors of life, such as education (“wish my teacher’s eyes wouldn’t go past me today./Wish I myself wouldn’t hold back when an answer comes”), travel (“wish I could go on every criss-cross way of the globe… and no hotel-keepers would make it a waste”) and general societal prejudice (“wish torch-throwers of the night…plotters in pyjamas would pray for themselves.”) This diction emphasises the seriousness of the conflict the boy faces and his yearning to see a change. In “My Parents,” the persona uses strong clear diction to describe his bullies. He describes them as “rough” and “lithe” which gives the reader a clear picture of the types of boys being dealt with. In tandem with diction in “My Parents,” Spender also uses strong imagery to develop the conflict, describing the bullies as “tigers” and barking dogs to show the viciousness of these bullies and cause the reader to empathise with the persona. This is an example of animal imagery, which also incorporates visual and auditory imagery, which gives the reader a full sense of the experience of the persona and truly helps the reader to empathise with the persona. Berry also uses imagery in “Dreaming Black Boy” to convey the full sense of the conflict faced by the persona. He alludes to the Ku Klux Klan in the following lines: “wish torch throwers of the night would burn light for decent times… wish plotter in pyjamas would pray for themselves.” This helps the reader to visualize ominous figures with fire lynching Black bodies to show how dangerous and cruel these individuals were. However, imagery is not only used to show how terrible the conflict is, but it also shows the boy’s courage in dealing with them. A key example of this is, “wish I could go on every criss-cross way of the globe” which helps the reader to visualise endless grid lines running across the globe, add a whimsical and playful mood to the poem and symbolise the persona’s endless dreams and hope, which serve as his weapon against the hatred in the world. Sample conclusion: It is true that in this life, conflict never ends, but there are ways to keep one’s head above water. As shown in the imagery and diction of “My Parents” and “Dreaming Black Boy,” a burning hope and a resilient determination to find inner peace will work wonders in staving © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — off the depression that often accompanies conflict. Be it physical or verbal, conflict against bullies, conflict with oneself or conflict with society at large, the key is just to “keep on keeping on.” Activity: Try a question on your own. Use a timer or ask your parent or sibling to invigilate as you write a poetry essay in 40 minutes or less. Do not spend more than 8 minutes on any one body paragraph, do not spend more than 5 minutes on your introduction, spend no more than 3 minutes on your conclusion. Remember to spend about 8 minutes to create a simple outline and don’t stop writing. ********************************** Sample essay question #2 (unnamed): Choose TWO poems that you have studied from the prescribed list which focus on an individual’s dreams OR memories. Write an essay in which you outline a major dream or memory that affects the persona in EACH poem. In this essay, you must discuss the speaker’s attitude to the dream or memory in EACH poem, and examine ONE device that is used to explore dreams OR memories in EACH poem. (35 marks) Sample outline: “Dulce Et Decorum Est” 1. Persona has nightmares of his companion dying in war from a gas attack, “guttering, choking, drowning” and then being “flung” into a wagon. He also recalls dreams of a young boy being fed war propaganda and paints the dream of fighting in war being sweet and honourable as an “old lie.” 2. The speaker evidently suffers from PTSD and does not have a positive attitude towards his dreams. They are a menace to him (“smothering dreams”). He also says that the dream that continues to be fed to children is an “old lie” which will only lead to pain and disillusionment, as has been the case for him. 3. Device – diction; effect – creates a haunting tone and a mood of disillusionment, helps the reader to visualize the gruesome images and empathize with the persona. (Examples: “an ecstasy of fumbling”, “yelling out” “floundering”, “guttering, choking, drowning”, “smothering dream”, “flung him in”, “watch the white eyes writhing in his face,” “his hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin”, “blood…gargling © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — from the froth-corrupted lungs,” “obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues”, “children ardent for some desperate glory.”) “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” 1. The face of the persona’s lover is etched in his mind as he contemplates his double-hearted position, having split affection for both his country and his lover. 2. The persona is “perennially accused” and “convicted” by the image of his lover’s face. His “land takes precedence” over his lover but he still feels guilty for having such strong affections for his lover. He is torn and conflicted. 3. Device – diction; effect – creates a slow pace for the poem, highlights the persona’s passion and internal conflict and helps the reader to empathize with him. (Examples: “the grave attention of your eyes,” “perennially accuses and convicts me”, “heart’s-treachery” “pleading guilty”, “still-fresh treason.”) Sample essay: Sample introduction: Both “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” and “Dulce Et Decorum Est” are semi-autobiographical poetic pieces that deal with a time of war and social upheaval. The respective poets, Dennis Brutus and Wilfred Owen, both engaged fiercely in major wars of their time. For Brutus’ part, he fought against injustice in apartheid South Africa while for Owen, it was military service during the First World War. The poems they have penned convey the deep disillusionment and internal conflict they may have faced as they recalled painful dreams and memories before, during and after their respective experiences with warfare. These troubling emotions and the painful relationships between the personae and their dreams and memories are conveyed in each poem by means of diction. The poet-persona in “Dulce Et Decorum Est” grapples with nightmares over the war and the death of his fellow veteran, while the poet-persona in “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” faces internal conflict as he is swayed from his whole-souled devotion to his country by the constant memory of his lover’s face. Sample paragraph 1: Both the personae in “Dulce Et Decorum Est” and “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” are plagued by significant dreams and memories. The persona in Brutus’ poem continues to relive the memory of his lover’s face, “framed in [his] hands as [she] knelt before [his] chair/the grave attention of [her] eyes/surveying [him].” This is likely a reference to Brutus’ own life as he spent much of his young life in vicious battles, protests and federal lock-up for fighting against the system of apartheid in South Africa. Due to his fierce involvement in such politics, he likely spent much time away from his wife and eight children. Brutus felt the need to sever many emotional ties in favour of his whole-hearted devotion to © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — his country. He even disowned one of his sons because he had opposing political views. Such is the fierceness expressed by the persona in “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” who unhesitantly declares that “[his] land takes precedence of all [his] loves.” Yet, he still has some affection for his lover – more affection than he thinks is warranted – and thus, he is haunted by this love, which he interprets as “treason” to his country and to his cause. The poet-persona in Owen’s poem however, is haunted by visions of a different kind. He seems to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder which leads him to experience constant dreams in which he relives the tragic death of his fellow veteran in a gas attack and his helplessness to save him. “In all [his] dreams, before [his] helpless sight,” he sees this deceased man, plunging at him, “guttering, choking, drowning” and he is haunted by the horror and the guilt of it all. The persona also seems to dream quite often of young children “ardent for some desperate glory” – as he himself might have been – as they are told that “it is sweet and honourable to die for one’s country,” which is the English rendering of the poem’s Latin title and one of the major forms of war propaganda that was fed to many – young and old – during the time of World War I. Owen’s poet-persona posits that this mantra is nothing but a dream, an illusion which will leave these children disillusioned as he himself is. Sample paragraph 2: It is obvious that neither of these personae has a favourable disposition towards the dreams and memories which haunt them. The persona in “It is the Constant Image of Your Face”… Sample paragraph 3: The diction in both poems creates a slow, haunting tone and helps us to empathise with the horror that plagues each persona as a result of his persistent dreams and memories. The diction in “Dulce Et Decorum Est”, for example, is quite gruesome and graphic. It describes the death of the persona’s companion with such expressions as “an ecstasy of fumbling”, “yelling out”, “floundering”, “guttering, choking [and] drowning.” These terms convey the sense of chaos and helplessness that must have been experienced as the persona and his other companions watched this poor man battling for dear life. It is not clear but it appears that because of the persona’s Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, these memories were exaggerated and became even more haunting in his nightmares. Thus, the third stanza, which describes the persona’s “smothering dreams” is even more graphic than the previous stanza. The persona holds nothing back as he describes how they “flung him in” the wagon, showing that even amidst this tragic death, the nature of war is so horrific that such an honourable man cannot even be afforded a decent burial. He also describes “the white eyes writhing in his face/his hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin” with “blood…gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs.” The persona’s disgust and fear are clear in this stanza and we, the readers, pity him and his companions. We also pity even more the “children ardent for some desperate glory” who may soon face the same horror and disillusionment. Less graphic, but similarly heart-rending © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — diction is used in “It is the Constant Image of Your Face.” The persona describes his feelings towards his lover as “heart’s-treachery.” This shows how seriously he takes his devotion to his country and his desire for nothing to interfere with it. He comments that his lover’s face, particularly “the grave attention of [her] eyes”, perennially accuses and convicts him. The use of words such as ‘perennial’ shows how gruelling the persona’s internal conflict is and how deeply and continuously he is affected by this haunting memory of his lover’s face. He also uses the word, “convicts” to show how guilty he feels and we, the readers, feel with him. Certainly, the diction in both these poems creates vivid images, sets strong tones of disillusionment in the poems, conveys themes of guilt, hopelessness and horror and leads us to empathise deeply with the plight of each persona. ACTIVITY: Using the tips, the outline and the sample paragraphs provided, complete the essay above by completing paragraph 2 and writing an appropriate conclusion. Time yourself. Ensure that no paragraph takes you more than eight minutes to write. SAMPLE POETRY QUESTIONS: 1. “Little Boy Crying” and “The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son” are both poems in which parents feel a desperate need to raise their sons well. Write an essay in which you outline what measures each parent takes to protect their child. In this essay, you are also expected to describe each child’s response to their parents’ efforts to raise them well and comment on the effect of one device used in each poem to portray parent-child conflict. 2. “My Parents” and “Dreaming Black Boy” portray bullying and prejudice in two different forms. Write an essay in which you describe the bullying and prejudice evidenced in each poem. In this essay, you must also outline one important message about injustice that each poet seeks to convey and examine one device each poet uses to convey this message. 3. “Theme for English B” and “Little Boy Crying” are both poems in which young people reflect on their circumstances in life. Write an essay in which you outline what each young person reflects on in each poem. In this essay, you must also describe the tone of each reflection and comment on the significance of one device used in each poem. © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — 4. “Injustice and racism are polarising issues in today’s world.” Write an essay in which you describe the portrayal of racial injustice in two of the poems from the CSEC prescribed list. In this essay, you must also comment on the significance of two racially charged images in the poems and comment on the mood created by each image. 5. Select two poems from the CSEC prescribed list that depict a similar theme. Write an essay in which you outline the content of each of the poems. In this essay, you must also compare and contrast the portrayal of the theme in each poem and comment on the significance of the diction used in each poem. 6. Select two poems from the CSEC prescribed list in which the persona appears to be a third-party omniscient. Write an essay in which you briefly outline the situation in each poem. In this essay, you must also compare and contrast the tone and mood of each poem and comment on the significance of the use of a third-party omniscient persona. 7. “Test Match Sabina Park” and “The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son” are both poems in which a person is faced with disillusionment. Write an essay in which you briefly outline the disillusionment the person in each poem faces. In this essay, you must also explain how each person responds to the disillusionment faced and comment on one device used in each poem to create a tone of disillusionment. 8. Select two poems from the CSEC prescribed list in which the personae face similar struggles but with different attitudes. Write an essay in which you outline the content of each poem. In this essay, you must also describe the attitude with which each persona faces their similar struggle and comment on one poetic device which highlights an important message related to the struggle highlighted. 9. Both “Dulce et Decorum Est” and “The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son” are poems which tell stories of individuals who invest pride and effort into something that ends up disappointing them. Write an essay in which you describe the pride and effort the subject in each poem invests into something seemingly worthwhile. In this essay, you must also explain how the seemingly worthwhile thing previously described ends up disappointing them and © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute. A World of Poetry for CSEC — STRATEGIC REVIEW — examine one device which effectively leads the reader to empathise with the person’s disappointment. 10. “God’s Grandeur” and “Birdshooting Season” present the destruction of nature in different ways. Write an essay in which you compare and contrast how the destruction of nature is portrayed in each poem. In this essay, you must also describe the tone of each poem and comment on the effectiveness of one significant image in each poem. 11. “West Indies, USA” and “My Parents” are two poems from the CSEC prescribed list that deal with prejudice. Write an essay in which you describe the prejudice presented in each poem. In this essay, you must also comment on the mood created by each poem and examine how one poetic technique is used to highlight the effects of prejudice in each poem. 12. “An African Thunderstorm” and “Little Boy Crying” are two poems in which children demonstrate a lack of understanding in serious situations. Write an essay in which you compare and contrast how the children respond to the serious situation in each poem. In this essay, you must also discuss how the thoughts and actions of the adults in each situation differ from that of the children and comment on one important message delivered by each poet. 13. “It is the Constant Image of Your Face” and “This is the dark time, my love” clearly show that love is not always easy or straightforward. Write an essay in which you discuss the validity of the statement above. In this essay, you must also examine how diction is used to develop the relationship between love and conflict in each poem and comment on the effectiveness of one significant metaphor used in each poem. 14. Select two poems from the CSEC prescribed list in which the persona expresses a deep desire for something that is seemingly out of reach. Write an essay in which you outline the context of each poem. In this essay, you must also explain what deep desire each persona has and examine how diction is used to convey a deep sense of yearning in each poem. © MissEducationJa @misseducationja Do not reproduce or distribute.
0
advertisement
Related documents
Download
advertisement
Add this document to collection(s)
You can add this document to your study collection(s)
Sign in Available only to authorized usersAdd this document to saved
You can add this document to your saved list
Sign in Available only to authorized users