‘The Habit of Light’
LO) To explore how Clarke uses
language and imagery to create a
vivid character
What words and ideas do you
associate with this concept?
light
The Habit of Light by Gillian Clarke
In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps
in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass,
her polished furniture, her silver and glass.
At dawn she’d draw all the curtains back for a glimpse
of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered
in an opulence of beeswax and light.
In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred
on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt
of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows,
in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing,
she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes,
her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, brining
the palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright
with her habit of colour, her habit of light.
Gillian Clarke
• This poem is a elegy (serious, meditative
poem, usually concerned with the theme of
death) where domestic routine is celebrated
as a kind of sacrament (ritual/rite = custom).
The poem celebrates the poet’s dead mother.
Structure
• 14 lines – an informal sonnet, Clarke lovingly details
the woman’s life in moments of remembered light –
even down to ‘palest potatoes’.
• Clarke says ‘the poets voice is physical – it’s not just a
metaphor for style, but the sound, the breath. The
heard voice and the ‘voice’ of the poet on the page are
connected.
• Character description is built through sense of place.
• Relationship – with the character and her home (sense
of place)
1st
Past tense indicates a
memory. Highly
descriptive language
demonstrates a
cherished house.
Quatrain
Works hard to create
a pristine house
Alliteration
In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps
in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass,
her polished furniture, her silver and glass.
At dawn she’d draw the curtains back for a glimpse
Many adjectives are used throughout
the poem to describe the setting/
mother. The poem also makes use of
adjectives that describe ‘lightness’ such
as ‘polished’.
Proud
Imagery- objects
that cast light or that
are shiny.
2nd
Adjective that suggests
light and grandeur
Quatrain
Creates mysterious/ beautiful atmosphere
Shows possession.
Alliteration
helps to
create
magical
atmosphere.
of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered
in an opulence of beeswax and light. House proud - pristine
In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred
on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt
Large
steel
stove
Alliteration reinforces
enjoyment of preparing
food.
Sentient = emotional
The personification used is
emotional. Almost as if memory
of kitchen is as alive as the
memory of her mother.
3rd Quatrain
Personification
Rooted history
of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows,
in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing,
she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes,
her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, bringing Elegance
(apron)
self
sufficient
Details fruit and veg shows uses
natural resources to be self
sufficient. ‘rows’ suggests v
organised.
Could be both
literal and a
metaphor for the
mother singing in
the garden.
Last rhyming couplet
Positive vibrant
images of her
mother.
Alliteration
The palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright
With her habit of colour, her habit of light.
Repetition shows emphasis reflects double meaning:
1) can be used to describe the mother’s routine &
expectation that all things were kept clean and
shining.
2) The word ‘habit’ describes a religious robe nuns
and priests wear. So, could be stating that mother
is dressed in colour and in light which may be a
religious metaphor for the mother’s passing on.
Or maybe her religious dedication to keeping the
house clean.
Words that help to create a SENSE OF PLACE
Words in the
poem which
suggest light
In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps
in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass,
her polished furniture, her silver and glass.
At dawn she’d draw all the curtains back for a glimpse
of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered
in an opulence of beeswax and light.
In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred
on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt
of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows,
in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing,
she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes,
her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, brining
the palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright
with her habit of colour, her habit of light.
In your exercise books:
‘Habit of Light’
Q1: What is the mother like? List at least 3
things.
Q2: How do you know? Explain
The character is built through the description of
a sense of place. We know about her from her
surroundings and how she keeps her house.
Q3. How has the poet created a
relationship between the character
and her home.
Use PEA in your answer.
Q4. How are the references to light in
the poem significant?
• Use PEA in your answer.
The reference to light in the poem are significant
because…..
Light imagery adds to the sense of place and
description of character. Light reflects the
domestic routine of the character.
How does Clarke use language and
imagery to create a vivid character?
Introduction
Language
Structure
Conclusion
Plenary
• To understand the ways in which Clarke has used
language and imagery to create a vivid character.
• To grasp the connection between the character
and her home, considering how the description
of her home sheds light on the person who lives
there.
• To respond to the sense of warmth and light and
to the feeling of pride and love of home created
in the poem.