Past Questions on Cluster 1 Poems

These are past questions for the Cluster 1 poems. Each answer is worth 27 marks.

Higher Paper:

Compare the ways poets use structure and language to convey meaning in ‘What Were They
Like?’ and one other poem.

Compare how language and layout are used for effect in ‘Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two
Beautiful People in a Mercedes’ with the ways language and layout are used for effect in one
other poem.

Compare the methods poets use to have an impact on their readers in ‘Limbo’ and in one other
poem.

Compare the methods Denise Levertov uses to present a particular culture in ‘What Were They
Like?’ with the methods another poet uses to present a culture or cultures in one other poem.

How does the poet create an image of a place in ‘Night of the Scorpion’? Compare this with the
way an image of a place is created in one other poem.

Compare the ways people are presented in ‘Vultures’ with the ways people are
presented in one other poem.

These are past questions for the Foundation paper:

Compare the ways poets organise their ideas and use language to get across meaning in
‘What Were They Like?’ and one other poem from the Poems from Different Cultures.
Write about:
• the ways the poets organise their ideas to get across meaning
• the ways the poets use language to get across meaning
• similarities between the ways the poets use organisation and language
• differences between the ways the poets use organisation and language
• what you think about the poems.

Compare how language and layout are used for effect in ‘Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two
Beautiful People in a Mercedes’ with the ways language and layout are used for effect in one
other poem of your choice from the Poems from Different Cultures.
Write about:
• how language is used for effect in each of the two poems
• how layout is used for effect in each of the two poems
• similarities between the poets. uses of language and layout
• differences between the poets. uses of language and layout.
Compare the methods the poets use to create a strong effect on their readers in ‘Limbo’ and
in one other poem from the Poems from Different Cultures.
Write about:
• the impact of each poem
• the methods each poet uses
• how these methods are similar
• how these methods are different.

Compare the methods Denise Levertov uses to present a particular culture in ‘What Were
They Like?’ with the methods another poet uses to present a culture or cultures in one other
poem from the Poems from Different Cultures.
Write about:
• the cultures in the two poems
• the methods the poets use to present them
• how those methods are similar
• how those methods are different
• which poem you prefer and why.

How does the poet use words to create pictures of places in ‘Island Man’? Compare this with
the way a picture of a place or places is created in one other poem of your choice from the
Poems from Different Cultures.
Write about:
• where the places are
• what you find out about the places
• similarities between the methods used to present the places in the two poems
• differences between the methods used to present the places in the two poems
• what you think about the places and how they are presented.

Compare the ways people are presented in ‘Night of the Scorpion’ with the ways
people are presented in one other poem of your choice from the Poems from Different
Cultures.
Write about:
• who the people are
• what you find out about the people
• similarities between the methods the poets use to present the people
• differences between the methods the poets use to present the people
• what you think about the people and how they are presented.