Download
1 / 19
E N D
1. Island man Grace Nichols
4. Imagine…
5. Differences between life on a Caribbean island and life in London
6. CULTURE Guyana:
Country on the north coast of South America;
One of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere;
Gained independence from Britain in 1966.
7. SURFACE MEANING A man who used to live on a Caribbean island still dreams of this place even now when he lives in London.
8. Island Man Morning
and island man wakes up
to the sound of blue surf
in his head
the steady breaking and wombing
wild seabirds
and fishermen pushing out to sea
the sun surfacing defiantly
from the east
of his small emerald island
he always comes back
groggily groggily
Comes back to sands
of a grey metallic soar
to surge of wheels
to dull North Circular roar
muffling muffling
his crumpled pillow waves
island man heaves himself
Another London day
9. Island Man
(for a Caribbean island man in London who still wakes up to the sound of the sea)
Morning
And island man wakes up
To the sound of blue surf
In his head
The steady breaking and wombing
wild seabirds
and fisherman pushing out to sea
the sun surfacing defiantly
from the east
of his small emerald island
he always comes back groggily groggily
11. IDEAS, ATTITUDES, FEELINGS Ideas:
Comparing the simple beautiful way of life on a Caribbean island to the noise and rush of a modern city
When far away from home some people will over idealise it
Never forget where you come from
Attitudes:
Island man does not seem to feel at home in London therefore there is a sense of being out of place and not belonging
The opportunities of London are far removed from the beauties of the Caribbean
Feelings:
Homesick
Idealising the past / previous home
Regret
Dull repetitive nature of present working life
12. Language
13. Island Man There is no punctuation in the poem. Why? What image does the Island man have in his head? How does the poet’s choice of language reflect that image?
There are more capital letters on the second part of the poem. Why? Think of the formality of capital letters.
14. Island Man Island:
“blue surf”
“wild seabirds”
“fishermen”
“emerald island” London:
“grey metallic soar”
“to surge of wheels”
“dull North Circular roar”
“Another London day”
15. Back to exams… The question will name ONE poem, you must choose the other
Use the wording of the question at the beginning and end of EVERY paragraph
Relate everything you write to the question
The more points you make the higher the grade!
16. Sample Exam Question
17. Planning a response to the question on poetry from other cultures When planning an answer to the question on poems from other cultures do not consider one poem and then another and then try to make comparisons in your conclusion. You should be comparing (discussing similarities) and contrasting (considering differences) the poems throughout your essay.
