INTRODUCE THE S.L.A.P
INTRODUCE
Introduce the two poems
Briefly explain how both poems relate to the key words in the
exam question, highlighting the main differences/similarities.
(Don’t go into to too much detail here, reserve your analysis for the main part of your
response)
S
Compare the structure of each poem
Explore and interpret how the structure of both poems
communicates the key words in the exam question, highlighting
similarities and differences.
L
Compare the language used in each poem
Explore and interpret how a range of language devices have been
used in both poems to communicate the key words in the exam
question, highlighting similarities and differences.
A
Compare the attitudes and feelings presented in
the poems.
Assess the different/similar feelings and attitudes presented in both
poems. Remember that the character(s) in the poems may express a
different attitude to those expressed by the poet (eg. in ‘Not My
Business’ the character believes that the atrocities happening around him are “not
[his] business” whereas the poet asserts the idea that they are).
P
Personal preference & evaluation (conclusion)
Evaluate the overall effectiveness of poems’ ability to communicate
the key words in the question. You may also state which poem was
most effective but remember to explain why and keep your
response relevant to the key words in the question.
Top Tips!!!
 Use short quotes to support your ideas (preferably embedded into your sentence)
 Use appropriate discourse markers to compare. Eg, whereas, although, on the other
hand, contrasts to, similarly, equally, in the same way, also, unlike, comparatively.
 Make sure you constantly refer to the key words in the exam question.
 Use the S.L.A.P to create a plan before you begin your written response.
Remember: The exam for both sections A and B on this paper will last for 1 hour
and 30 minutes. You should spend 45 minutes on responding to poetry (section
A) of which, 5-10 minutes should be spent on planning.
What the examiners are looking for
Examiners will be looking for evidence that you:
• understand the ideas, attitudes and feelings presented in
the poems. Hopefully going beyond the obvious meaning by
presenting alternative interpretations convincingly.*
• are able to select and use relevant evidence (quotations)
from the poems. Where possible, these should be short and
embedded.*
• demonstrate how the poets use a range of linguistic
devices, structure and presentation to communicate their
ideas. Evaluate how successful the device is (eg: this
metaphor is effective as it appropriately highlights… )*
• make clear and developed comparisons throughout the
whole response.
*Words underlined are aimed at achieving A*-B
Linguistic Devices (language)
Similes
Metaphors
Imagery/images
Onomatopoeia
Personification
Oxymoron/contrasts
Assonance
Alliteration
Words that create a particular effect
(love, celebration, conflict,
destruction, pride etc)
Repetition
Rhyme
Enjambment
Structure and Presentation
Stanzas
Different line lengths
Indentations/ split stanzas
Lack of punctuation
Refrain (a repeated chorus)
Repetition
Shape
Size
Order of content
Rhyme/blank verse
Enjambment
Accents/dialects/colloquial/Standard English
Short sentences
1st/3rd person narrator
Shifts in time and/or location
ACTVITY
Read the example below. Then highlight/underline and label where the student
has ‘Introduced the S.L.A.P’ and remembered the top tips.
Compare how feelings towards places are presented in Hurricane
Hits England and one other poem.
Plan:
Intro – Island Man is about a man living in London (a place) but
dreams of being in the Caribbean. Hurricane is about not feeling
at home in a new place but the hurricane brings her “closer to
the landscape”.
Structure – Island man’s split stanzas shows the man being
divided between two places. Hurricane’s one line stanza
represents the woman’s freedom.
Language – “Emerald Island” shows admiration for the island.
Hurricane is personified as her “cousin” come to England for a
visit.
Attitudes/feelings - brought about by the conflicting language in
both poems to show the internal conflict both characters feel
from being attached to two different places.
Personal – how I felt when I moved to England: missing home.
Preference for Hurricane as it has a happy ending.
Places are important to people as places could represent where
you come from or where you feel comfortable. When we think
about these places, they bring up certain feelings for us. In the
poem ‘Island Man’, Nichols presents a character living in London
who dreams fondly of a place in the Caribbean. Similarly,
‘Hurricane Hits England’ presents a character living in England
too but she doesn’t really feel as if she is a part of the English
“landscape” not until the hurricane comes to make her feel at
home in this new place.
‘Island Man’ uses structure to reinforce the idea of being
displaced from the place he longs to be, the Caribbean. Stanzas
three and four are split stanzas. Repetition of the words
“groggily groggily” (reinforcing his dream-like state) and the
description of the flow of cars during rush hour: “to surge of
wheels” have been separated from the rest of the stanza. This
has been done to present the idea of feeling split between two
different places. The Character, although he lives in London,
dreams of being back home in the Caribbean beside the “sun”
and the “sea”. This feeling of being displaced from home is also
presented in ‘Hurricane hits England’ however, this time the
displacement is seen as freedom; towards the end of the poem, a
single line stanza asks the question “O why is my heart
unchained?” This is the point in the poem when she no longer
feels homesick as her “heart”, which was missing home, is now
“unchained” and now she is free to feel at home in a new place:
England. So the single line stanza represents her freedom.
We can tell that the character in ‘Island Man’ adores his
Caribbean island as he describes this place using a metaphor
calling it an “emerald island”. An emerald is a precious stone.
This description shows the character’s feelings as he believes the
island is beautiful and precious. He also feels that this place is full
of energy and life as is shown with the image created by the
“wild seabirds” and the “sun surfacing defiantly”. Although
“Hurricane Hits England” does not describe a place in the
Caribbean, it does describe a thing that is associated with the
Caribbean and this is the “hurricane”. The poet has used
personification to describe the hurricane as if it is the character’s
“cousin” from “back home” in the Caribbean. For the character,
the hurricane is not simply a destructive force but a welcomed
visitor whose arrival has helped her to feel at home in England.
Both poets use contrasting language to highlight their
characters’ feelings towards different places. In ‘Island Man’, the
“blue surf” of the Caribbean Sea contrasts with the “grey
metallic” roads in London. In ‘Hurricane’, the character feels
“fearful and reassure[ed]” by the arrival of the hurricane. In both
poems, the contrasts highlight the conflict the characters feel
being in a new place whilst still feeling attached to another place.
Very often, people find it difficult to adjust to a new environment
and things that remind them of their home may make them miss
their home even more. Missing the place you’re originally from is
a feeling that has been highlighted in both poems but I liked the
fact that in ‘Hurricane…’ the hurricane that reminds her of home
also gives her the freedom to accept a new home. Whereas in
‘Island Man’, the character hasn’t really accepted London as
home which is why he reluctantly “heaves himself” out of bed to
face yet “another London day”.