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Comparing ‘Island Man’ and ‘Blessing’
How much do you remember about these two poems? I will
give you a quick test.
1. Who wrote the poem ‘Island Man’? 2. Who wrote the poem ‘Blessing’? 3. Where is the poem ‘Island Man’ set? 4. Where is the poem ‘Blessing’ set? 5. What sounds does the island man wake up to? 6. What is the island man disturbed by? 7. What is the ‘Blessing’ that the poet describes in the poem? 8. What type of language does the poet use? 9. What is the gender of both poets? 10. Can you give an example of repetition from the poem ‘Island man’?
Remember…
In the exam you are required to compare at least two different poems from your anthology.
So far we have compared Nothing’s Changed and Two Scavengers
Today you will compare Island Man and Blessing.
Sample exam question
Compare the presentation of the different environments in ‘Island Man’ by Grace Nichols and one other poem in cluster 1. (copy)
You should be comparing (discussing similarities) and contrasting (considering differences) the poems throughout your essay, not just in your conclusion. This will also help you to ANALYSE the poems rather
than simply DESCRIBING them.
An essay plan should look like this:
Introduction – outline key similarities and differences between the poems
Para 1 – discuss how each poem handles the theme of . . .
Para 2 – consider how the structure affects our interpretation on each poem.
Para 3 – focus on language and key imagery in each poem
Conclusion – sum up arguments.
And not like this
Introduction – say what I’m going to write about.
Para 1 – Write about what happens in poem 1.
Para 2 – Write about what poem 2 is about.
Conclusion – write about similarities and differences.
Spider diagrams are a useful way of generating ideas, but it does not help you to structure ideas.
A comparison table is much more useful…(the more points you make, the higher your marks will be)
Planning is NOT a waste of time
(you should spend up to 12 minutes planning)
Planning your answer (spend 12 mins)
Language / Themes/Techniques
‘Blessing’ (give quotations) ‘Island Man’ (give quotations)
Para 1 Introduction – What is the subject of each poem?
A celebration of water because water is a gift from god.
A man who lives in London and dreams about his former life in the Caribbean.
How does each poet describe environment / place?
Para 2It is dry and hot – “the skin cracks like a pod”. “There never is enough water.”
Para 3 – Caribbean – “wild seabirds”, “sun surfacing defiantly”, “sound of the blue surf”London – “Grey metallic soar, North Circular Road”“Another London Day”
What language techniques are used (alliteration/ repetition/ metaphor)
Para 4Metaphor “Voice of a kindly God”. “silver crashes to the ground”
Para 5Contrasting language – use of colour “blue” for caribbean and “grey” for London Repetition – “groggily groggily ”
How does the structure help to support the ideas in the poem?
Para 6Read it faster as the items are listed, use of commas. And also words like “frantic hands” and “sudden rush”.
Para 7
Irregular structure – dreamlike, some words are separated from the main poem e.g. “groggily” which shows he doesn’t want to wake up to reality.
Describe the poet’s tone and attitude.
Para 8 Mixed – happy and celebratory because of water being like a gift from god but it makes the reader feel sorry for them.
Para 9
Desperate, trapped, bored, tired.
Not belonging, frustration.
Introduction – which is better?
A In this essay I am
going to write about ‘What were they like’ and how it discusses the effects of the Vietnam war on the population. Then I am going to compare it to ‘Vultures’ and how it presents war and conflict.
B
Both ‘What were they like’ and ‘Vultures’ discuss the effects of the Vietnam war on the public. The following essay will explore the poets’ presentation of war and conflict, examining which has a greater effect of the audience.
You must now write your own introduction to the essay. In your introduction include the main comparisons between the poems (e.g. that they present different environments) and explain what the essay will explore.
Use your table to help you.
Para 2 – 10 you must write as PEE
chains. For example (para. 2) - How does each poet describe environment / place?
P The environments presented in the two poems are different. ‘Blessing’ is set in _____ environment (probably India)
E The reader knows it is very hot and dry because the first line says “the skin……………..”.
E The poet uses a technique called a s____________ to help the reader to imagine the difficult conditions in the hot country. Water is a luxury and therefore a __________ from God.
Third paragraph
P ‘Island man’ is set in _______, although he is dreaming about life on a beautiful _________.
E This can be seen in the lines “………………”, yet island man also has to return to “………………”
E The poet uses a technique called c_________ imagery to help the reader to imagine what life is like for the island man.
Now write the next two paragraphs on language (you can choose to write
about alliteration/ repetition/ metaphors).
Both poems use ____________. An example of this in Blessing is __________ This shows the reader that ____________
In addition, Island man uses ___________ when it says _________. This makes the reader feel _________________.
Homework – Due in one week
Using your grid, write at least two more PEE chains either on the poet’s attitude/ tone or structure of the poem.
You’ve done over half the essay already. There is nothing to stop you from getting a C+ grade!
Let’s play ‘last one standing’!
Read through your notes so far on Poetry from different cultures.
Write down two/ three questions from the work you’ve done so far e.g. what is the meaning of the word ‘blessing’?
Be ready to ask and answer questions. If you get an answer right you will get to select two people to sit, if you get it wrong you will sit down. The last one standing is the winner!
Past exam questions
June 2005 Compare the wyas an evnt is described in
Blessing with one other poem. (27 marks)
June 2008
Compare how language and layout are used for effect in ‘Two scavngers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Mercedes’ with the ways language and layout are used for effect in one other poem. ’
