Comparing poems from Other Cultures and Traditions

1. Comparing poems from Other Cultures and Traditions You need to show that you can: Read below the surface Sustain and develop your ideas Give supporting evidence from the text and explain how this links to the question

2. Comparing poems from Other Cultures and Traditions • Make clear and thoughtful connections between poems: you MUST compare and contrast between and within poems • Explain how writers are using language to influence the reader (ie key words and techniques) • Comment on how language varies and changes

3. Comparing poems from Other Cultures and Traditions Foundation Tier Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion, and write about: • the poet's choice of language • ideas in the poem • how the choice of language affects the poem • your response as a reader Higher Tier Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict of confusion

4. Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion • Step 1: key words and connections • Underline the key words in the question and list relevant poems • (ie Hurricane Hits England, Search For My Tongue, Presents From My Aunt in Pakistan)

5. Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion Step 2: sketching out the main points for each poem Note the main points to cover for poem 1 This could be done as a spidergram. For example for PFMAIP: Alvi brainstorm for Powerpoint.doc Repeat for poem 2

6. Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion Step 3: Developing the plan for your answer • Jot down techniques and individual words used in each poem to convey these feelings, and quotations to support them, with shorthand explanations

7. Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion Step 4: A structure for your answer • Start with a short introduction, setting out only the main points you will be making in your answer; take the key words from the question, turn them around, and add the main points from your plan.

8. Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion • Next, discuss poem 1, referring back to your detailed plan and the key words in the question • Compare poem 1 with poem 2 commenting on how they are similar and how they are different

9. Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion When comparing, use connectives such as Similarly, Likewise, In the same way For example: Alvi is caught between two cultures; she likes them both but cannot decide where she really belongs. Similarly, Bhatt worries that she might lose touch with her Indian identity as it is being forgotten because she is living in England.

10. Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion To talk about contrast (differences), use connectives such as Whereas, However, Conversely, On The Other Hand For example: Alvi uses a series of contrasts throughout the poem to convey her confusion, whereas Bhatt uses two key metaphors, which in my opinion are much more effective.

11. Compare two poems which deal with inner conflict or confusion When comparing poems, try the following: • Ask yourself a series of questions and apply these to each of the poems. Base these on the main question: eg • What issue is being raised? • How does each poet feel about it? • What techniques are being used to put across the poet’s ideas and feelings in each case? • What are the key words in the poems? • Thinking about these kinds of questions should force you into making comparisons, and cross-references.