L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

1. L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

2. ‘Out of the blue’ Where have you heard this saying before? Has anything ever happened to you ‘out of the blue’? Was it a positive  or negative  experience? L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

3. Task • Read through the poem ‘Extract from Out of the Blue’ by Simon Armitage. • What do you think that this ‘extract’ is about? • Do you think that this poem is about a positive  ‘out of the blue’ experience or a negative  ‘out of the blue’ experience? • Why? Highlight any positive words/imagery in one colour and any negative words imagery in another colour. L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

4. Look what happened ‘Out of the Blue’ on the 11th September 2001…

5. What’s the poem about? • The poem is spoken by a victim of the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001 • He describes being in one of the burning buildings. He is talking to someone watching this on TV. • He is pleading for help, but it’s useless. He is going to die. L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

6. The reader is watching the events on TV. Alliteration- emphasises the distance from the people on the ground. You have picked me out. Through a distant shot of a building burning you have noticed now that a white cotton shirt is twirling, turning. Gentle, calm movements- this is misleading. L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

7. Repetition- emphasises the regular movement. In fact I am waving, waving. Small in the clouds, but waving, waving. Does anyone see a soul worth saving? He thinks that people are able to help, but they won’t. L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

8. He is expecting to be rescued. Repetition-But no one is coming to save him So when will you come? Do you think you are watching, watching a man shaking crumbs or pegging out washing? Ordinary action contrasts the serious events. L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

9. Energetic words to describe the flames I am trying and trying. The heat behind me is bullying, driving, but the white of surrender is not yet flying. I am not at the point of launching, diving. A reminder that he has been waving a white shirt. Has his hope been surrendered? L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

10. Usually a peaceful image, but it shows that he is high up in the sky. A bird goes by. The depth is appalling. Appalling that others like me should be wind-milling, wheeling, spiralling, falling. Out of control movement. L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

11. Are your eyes believing, believing there in the gills I am still breathing. Suggest a fish gasping for air. L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

12. Onomatopoeia- the noise of the emergency vehicles. He is desperate. But tiring, tiring. Sirens below me are wailing, firing. My arm is numb and my nerves are sagging. Do you see me, my love. I am failing, flagging. He was waving a flag for help, but now he has lost hope. His loved ones, are they watching on TV? L.O To examine the form, structure and language in the poem ‘Out of the Blue’

13. Find a quotation to match the images

14. F.S.L • Form- its like a elegy, a sad poem about someone who has died. The poem is full of rhyming words. This helps to create the sadness • Structure- in the final four stanzas the voice is more urgent as the danger gets closer and the hope is fading. He becomes more desperate. • Language- ‘ing’ verbs (present continuous) gives the feeling that the tragedy is happening – like watching it on TV. • The narrator is asking for help but cant understand why he isn't being rescued.

15. Answer these questions 1. What is significant about the narrator waving a white shirt? 2. What does the narrator describe he can see and how does he react? 3. Why effect does the poet have addressing you as a reader directly? 4. The narrator feels insignificant. Why? 5. There are 2 meanings of 'flagging'. Why does Simon Armitage use this as the last word of the poem?