Give

1. Give Simon Armitage

2. Learning Objectives • AO1 – respond to texts critically and imaginatively, select and evaluate textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations. • AO2- explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes and settings.

3. Give Of all the public places, dear, To make a scene, I’ve chosen here. Of all the doorways in the world To choose to sleep, I’ve chosen yours. I’m on the street, under the stars. For coppers I can dance or sing. For silver – swallow swords, eat fire. For gold – escape from locks and chains. It’s not as if I’m holding out For frankincense or myrrh, just change. You give me tea. That’s big of you. I’m on my knees. I beg of you. Simon Armitage

4. Homelessness Which of the following words would you use to describe homeless people? Lazy Vulnerable Dirty Alienated Unlucky Ostracised Tramps Uneducated Deserving Lonely Why have you chosen those words?

5. Give What is the effect of this word? • Of all the public places, dear, • to make a scene, I’ve chosen here. What is the situation being described? What are your first impressions? What does ‘chosen’ imply?

6. Beginning of second stanza is the same as the first. • Of all the doorways in this world • to choose to sleep, I’ve chosen yours. • I’m on the street, under the stars. Who is ‘you’? ‘choose’ and ‘chosen’ repeated from first stanza.

7. Where might people do this? • For coppers I can dance or sing. • For silver - swallow swords, eat fire. • For gold – escape from locks and chains. What does this suggest? Notice the pattern at the start of all 3 lines.

8. What are the 2 meanings of ‘holding out’? What are the 2 meanings of ‘change’? • It’s not as if I’m holding out • for frankincense or myrrh, just change. Allusion –a reference to another thing without mentioning the name. What is implied by this?

9. How would the homeless man say this? • You give me tea. That’s big of you. • I’m on my knees. I beg of you. Use of half-rhyme What might this mean?