‘ Nothing’s Changed’ Tatamkhula Afrika

1. 2 ‘Nothing’s Changed’ Tatamkhula Afrika Main thrust of poem is that despite the change from White Minority Rule the legacy of apartheid remains. Contrast between two places:- Haute cuisine v. Bunny chows Linen napery v. Plastic table cloths Ice white glass spitting on floor Single rose wiping fingers • Attitude of poet:- • anger at injustice of it all • wanting to smash the glass • his body’[hands/skin etc] repelled by whole thing • The poet suggests the ‘Inn’ should not be there:- • Weeds, cans, stones on the approach to the Inn suggesting neglect on the outside which contrasts with what is on the inside. • It ‘squats’ – name ‘flaring’ – ‘brash with glass’

2. 3 ‘Two Scavengers in a Truck …….’ Ferlinghetti brings, for the time it takes a traffic light to change, two opposite images from the ‘American dream’ – ‘in which everything is always possible’. WHITE Couple in Mercedes:- At the start of their day Him: linen suit, blond hair, sunglasses, cool, cologned, own architect. Her: casually dressed, short skirt, colored stockings Couple hanging from garbage van Both grungy at end of their day Black hunch-backed older man Younger Latino; same age as car driver Fragmented structure represents class divide. Criticises the ‘American Dream’ concept. Shows difference between classes in America, and shows that hard work doesn’t always mean success.

3. 4 ‘Vultures’ Chinua Achebe Achebe challenges the reader with cross-cultural references Achebe challenges the reader with a cross-cultural dichotomy. IF THE EVIL CAN BE GOOD IS THE POET ADOPTING AN OPTIMISTIC OR A PESSIMISTIC PERSPECTIVE? A European perspective An African perspective • The repellent Nazi:- • fumes of human roast • hairy nostrils • The tender father:- • stopping at the sweet shop for his daughter • A repellent scavenger:- • bashed in head…. • eating things…. • picking eyes…. • A tender mate:- • nestled close.. • inclined affectionately 2 columns to show comparison: vultures on one side, Concentration Camp on other.

4. 5 ‘Island Man’ Grace Nichols Poem deals with subject existing in one culture but yearning back to another. As a poet she leaves a lot out – she doesn’t need to detail the London scene – most of her readers can fill the details in for themselves – she gives us enough to act as the contrast. • Caribbean Island culture: • blue surf breaking • wild seabirds • small emerald island • Poetic Devices: • Imagery • Language choice Positive/ Negative vocab for effect:- + steady breaking and ,sun surfacing defiantly, always comes back - Dull NC roar, crumpled pillow, heaves himself out of bed • Living in London • grey metallic • surge of wheels • North Circular roar

5. Autobiographical Indian setting; Indian Jewish family 6 ‘Night of the Scorpion’ Nissim Ezekiel Religious themes Poet deals simply with scorpion – not shown as some embodiment of evil. But then poet explains at length what the villagers do. Is religion or superstition more important to this culture? Poem ends very simply with his mother’s quiet prayer. Total contrast to what has gone before Poetic Structure:- Free verse = no rhyme/ metre • Repetition: • the crowd of peasants[not neighbours!!! Tells us something about viewpoint of writer] ‘Peasant’ sounds negative / poor. • Line 32- more candles, more lanterns, more neighbours…… Creates a sense of desperation

6. 4 ‘Limbo’ Edward Kamau Brathwaite Slave dance invented as African slaves were transported Achebe challenges the reader with a cross-cultural dichotomy. BEGINS DESPAIRING AND NEGATIVE BUT BECOMES MORE POSITIVE WITH THE LIMBO DANCE Positive tone Negative tone ‘sun coming up’ ‘music is saving me’ ‘gods are raising me’ ‘Darkness is over me’ ‘Stick is the whip’ ‘Long dark deck’ Short words are used to sound like the beat of a drum. E.g ‘up’, ‘stick’, ‘hot’ – SHARP SOUNDING WORDS Repetition of ‘silence’ is creepy and scary Repetition of ‘Limbo’ gives the poem rhythm

7. 3 ‘What Were They Like? Denise Levertov A Protest poem – SAD TONE, ANGER AND BITTERNESS Reaction to the Vietnam War • Begins with factual Qs • No human element • -Sounds like a history text book Answers: -Very personal -Focus on suffering during the war -Answers become longer and more involved as they go on The word ‘They’ suggests division ‘Children were killed’ – suggests a generation of people was lost WORDS OF SUFFERING: SMASHED, KILLED, BURNED, SCREAM

8. 5 ‘Blessing’ Imtiaz Dharker The title makes it sound like something SPECIAL is happening. Structure – short stanza – gets longer – then shorter. Represents the water bursting forth and then being lost. • Shocking opening: • ‘cracks’ sounds painful • ‘never’ strong word • The first 2 lines stand alone = IMPACT • Poetic Devices: • Enjambment – represents the flow of water • Alliteration – emphasises joy Religious language suggests the community worships the water • Valuable language: • Silver • Liquid sun • Shows how important the water is ‘Imagine’ speaks directly to the reader. IMPERATIVE