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Island man

Island man. Grace Nichols. Life on a Caribbean Island. Life in London. Imagine…. Differences between life on a Caribbean island and life in London. CULTURE. Guyana: Country on the north coast of South America; One of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere;

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Island man

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  1. Island man Grace Nichols

  2. Life on a Caribbean Island

  3. Life in London

  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. 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 Island Man

  9. What words does he use for each place? • LONDON? • CARIBBEAN

  10. What links these quotations: • ‘the sound of blue surf’ • ‘dull north Circular roar’ • ‘muffling, muffling’ • Look at the second stanza. Which sound stands out? Why has the poet used this sound? • Find two examples of repetition in the poem. What do they have in common? What do they emphasize? • Can you identify any other appeals to the senses in the poem?

  11. Clear link with other traditions This word has many associations, but the predominant image is one of comfort and security Alliteration with the letter 's' very positive image Note the vibrant colours Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge 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

  12. Colour contrast, not vibrant but drab Comes back to sands of a grey metallic soar to surge of wheels to dull North Circular road Change of perspective here a busy road around London muffling muffling his crumpled pillow waves island man heaves himself Another London day Grace Nichols Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge Suggest comparison of a man heaving himself on to an island Stark last line, physically isolated, with no preposition or verb Capital letters but no punctuation in poem

  13. 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

  14. Language

  15. 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.

  16. Island: “blue surf” “wild seabirds” “fishermen” “emerald island” London: “grey metallic soar” “to surge of wheels” “dull North Circular roar” “Another London day” Island Man

  17. 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!

  18. Sample Exam Question • How does “Blessing” and one other poem from this selection, show the importance of culture and cultural background

  19. 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. This will also help you to ANALYSE the poems rather than simply DESCRIBING them. E.g. You don’t get m(any) marks for saying, ‘there is a metaphor in the first stanza’ but you will get credit for writing, ‘the poet compares her use of language to a flower which shows how she feels it is alive and growing’.

  20. ‘Island Man’: Evoking Place • Using ‘Island Man’ as an influence, write a postcard to a friend from either: • a tropical island • a bustling city centre • Describe the place as you have experienced it. Use experience and / or imagination!

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