Poetry from Different Cultures - Revision

Search For My Tongue By Sujata Bhatt

Summary This poem is about the poets personal experiences moving to another country, where she had to learn a different language and culture. The poet is exploring her identity by discussing the language she speaks. She points out that lifes difficult to be part of 2 cultures. The poem has two sections: The 1st section shows the difficulty of the two languages where as the 2nd section is positive and discusses how she can speak both languages. Themes Cultural Identity belonging to two different cultures and the problems, and asking if the poet belongs to either culture. The importance of language it is important to personal identity and helps people feel part of a culture Poetic Techniques 1st Person the poet had written about herself Unusual layout/form distinct middle section (The Gujarati Lines) used to make the Gujarati stand out and highlight the importance Repetition tongue represents language, rot represents anger poet feels Metaphor to emphasize how language grows and develops she uses a plant as a metaphor for her tongue Imagery Tongue language Plants metaphor to describe language e.g. bud shoot the language improves Dream that her mother tongue grows back. 2nd meaning desire or dream

Unrelated Incidents By Tom Leonard

Summary Its about attitudes to accents and dialects and how people are characterized by the way they speak. Accent the way we say words Dialect particular words used in one part of the country Its based on a daily event, which is the reading of the six o clock news. The poet writes as if he was a newsreader with a heavy Scottish accent to make the point that just because he isnt speaking standard English (no accent) doesnt mean he is not worthy of respect or trustworthy. The poet is changeling the idea that different accents are stupid. There is a lot of snobbery about accent and people stereotype them. The poem is set in a mans thoughts. Written like speech on an autocue machine in a news studio. Themes Cultural Identity the poet is discussing being treated differently just because of the way he speaks, he thinks people patronize him. Importance of langue personal, identifies part of you, but you can be judged on the way you use it. Standard English speakers are regarded as having status and authority. Injustice and Prejudice in society people are making judgments about him just because of his accent Truth poet questions where we would believe newsreaders with accents Poetic Techniques 1st Person the poets talking about himself speaking in 1 specific accent Unusual layout/form written in sort phrases to look like and autocue machine this highlights the difference between his accent and what we would expect to see Phonetic writing means writing words how they sound rather than spelled. Show the difference between the two. Aggressive language e.g. scruff, belt up these show the poets anger at people who look down on non- Standard English accents Punctuation Tom does not use punctuation to emphasize the difference.

Half Caste By John Agard

Summary This poem is an objection to the use of the word half caste which means of mixed race. The poet does not like the word half because he think it implies that half is less than full and so half caste people are inferior. He treats the subject humorously but the message underneath is serious and his anger is obvious. John jokingly suggests that if half caste means mixture, then all mixtures should be called half caste e.g. mixing paints makes a half caste picture. The joke is that this is silly and the result of each mix is not half but whole. The poet is referring to the English society who say the term Half caste. Themes Cultural Identity john is angry at the word half-caste being used to describe his mixed race identity. Importance of language written in the natural rhythm of his speaking dialect (Caribbean) to show that he values this form of language Injustice and Prejudice in society people are making judgments about him just because of his racial identity. The poem is making a political argument. Racism people being treated differently because of the their skin color or accent Poetic Techniques 1st person the poet has chosen to write in the first person as its about him being labeled with the term half caste Unusual layout/form the poem is written as a dramatized monologue (speech meant to be performed usually on stage by an actor). This is used because it is a good way to comment on society as it is direct in tone and uses the second person you to make the reader consider the issues being discussed. Punctuation not much punctuation used as its supposed to sound like speech Repetition the constant use of the word half and putting it in many contexts emphasizes the stupidity of the idea of half caste Humorous Images e.g. standing on one leg, casting half a shadow are used to highlight how ridiculous the word half caste is.

Love After Love By Derek Walcott

Summary This poem is open to interpretation about what kind of love is being discussed. Nobody can say for sure so make up your own mind, as long as you have reasons this is true. Some possible meanings are; Love of another person we deny our true selves in order to love someone else, and later in life we rediscover ourselves Self discovery ambitions and career choices may make us think we should be someone else and we need to discover who we actually are/ Religion and Christianity the poet might actually be discussing love for Jesus as Christians believe god created Jesus in the image of a human and we can recognize him within ourselves There are many more possibilities, but you will get higher marks in you can show that you understand there is not just one definitive answer but several possibilities so try and understand at least 2. This poem is set in a metaphorical (imagery not real) house (In your mind). It is set in our own past present and future. Themes Identity the poet is struggling to work out who he really is and is trying to develop his own personal identity. The importance of being happy with who you are. Value of the past and previous experience in your background forming who you are. Extended metaphor the whole poem uses the metaphor the whole poem uses the metaphor of a house to represent exploring your own mind. Poetic Techniques Religious language bread and wine are used in Christian services to represent Jesus. The poet is using them to give a formal but sincere and caring tone to the poem. Instructions the poet has written as if the poem was a serious of instructions on how to accept yourself. This makes you think carefully about your feelings and yourself Metaphors as well as the house metaphor. That runs throughout the poem, there are other metaphors.Mirrors is the way we see ourselves and look back at the past and feast on the past is a metaphor suggesting, life is a banquet to be enjoyed Enjambment the sentences run onto many lines. The poet has written like this too reinforce the idea that life is a series of events that run together Imagery House metaphor the poet is thinking of the mind as a house with a door, mirror, bookshelves, photos etc. This makes you think of your own mind and how well you know yourself and your own bookshelves (memories)

This Room By Imtaiz Dharker

Summary This poem is another ambiguous (unclear about the meaning) poem. Possible meanings are; The items in the room are trying to escape. They are looking for space and light and air which symbolize freedom. The poet is discussing how we should welcome the chance to break away from the predictable and the restraints society places on people The poem celebrates the fact that life is unpredictable The room may be a metaphor for culture. The room itself is culture and the furniture within it, represents the religion, language, race and social customs of that culture. All these things crate nightmares and dark corners which represent ignorance, hatred, racism etc and the poet is celebrating the possibility of a world free from prejudice when the room explodes into free space. The poem is set in a house, from which the contents are trying to escape the house is also a metaphor for the poets thoughts about her life and the person she has become. Themes Contrasting cultures and prejudice different cultures are different rooms and unless they break out, they wont understand each other Extended Metaphor the whole poem uses the metaphor of the room Freedom and change freedom is important and should be celebrated. Change can have a positive impact on your life and personal growth Poetic Techniques Present Tense the poem is written in the present tense to give a sense that things are happening now, to add excitement Free verse there is no structure this is to emphasize that freedom is important Personification the room is described as a person who is full of energy Alliteration e.g. chairscrash through clouds the harsh c sounds, emphasize the idea of breaking free by escaping Onomatopoeia e.g. crash and clang these words enhance the sound affects of the poem to highlight the pleasure of being alive The poem appeals to more than one sense to involve the reader more fully in breaking free Enjambment lines run into each other to reinforce movement Imagery uses space, light and air to represent freedom when the objects escape

Not My Business By Niyi Osundare

Summary This poem is about how people are treated unfairly by the authorities and what could happen if nobody helps. It discusses the danger of a culture where people worry only about themselves. Three characters in the poem are treated unfairly but people dont care as they are not directly affected. However. At the end of the poem, the poet becomes the target of unfair treatment as the jeep comes for him. The message of the poem is that we cant just ignore injustice because eventually it affects everyone. It is a poem with a moral, set in Nigeria. Themes Injustice and prejudice in society people are being treated unfairly. The poet is making a polictal argument Self preservation turning a blind eye as long as you are OK is not wise because if you dont help anyone, no one will help you Poetic Techniques 1st person to make the poem more personal this is happening to specific people rather than being a general idea Violent language e.g. stuffed and beat they are used to widely describe what is happening. This highlights the house of the scene for the reader Repetition the chorus (what business ) is repeated to build up tension as it becomes obvious to the reader that the poet will be taken Similes e.g. soft like clay effectively describe how bad the beatings are Alliteration waiting, waiting its in the last line of the poem, and highlights how dangerous the situation is Personification the jeep is given a belly which makes it seem more monstrous and frightening. Also the authorities are not named they are referred to as then or them. This emphasizes how often the come and how scary they are. However, the characters in the poem are given names to make them seem more real to the reader and to make the reader feel sympathy for them.

Ignorant people dont believe whats happening and dont stop it Arrogant the government because they just take people

Presents from My Aunts In Pakistan By Moniza Alvi

Summary This poem is about a girl who belongs to two cultures, because she was born in Pakistan but lives in England. The girl is sent traditional clothes from Pakistan but would rather wear English clothes as she feels Pakistani clothes are too beautiful. She remembers the story about her journey to England and hearing about war in Pakistan. She imagines herself in Pakistan, but she is on the outside looking in this is to show how she feels and not really fitting in. The poem is set in England, but uses images from Pakistan Themes Cultural Identity the poet is discussing the frustration she feels about belonging to two cultures and not feeling that she fits in either. How our cultural background shapes who we are Political comments the poet refers to a conflict over land in Pakistan Poetic Techniques 1st person the poet is sharing her personal experiences with the reader Narrative long and detailed, like a story this makes us feel her emotions Colour imagery help us picture the Asian culture- lots of adjectives and images to give the reader a mental picture of what the poet is describing e.g. clothes Positive and negative language is used throughout to contrast the two and show the problems when they meet

Hurricane Hits England By Grace Nichols

Summary This poem is about a hurricane, which is frightening but also makes the poet remember hurricanes in her homeland - the Caribbean. The hurricane represents her confused feelings about belonging to two cultures. At the end of the poem, she realizes that despite the confusion, what matters is being alive. The poem is set in England but it also discusses the Caribbean through the memories of the poet. Themes Cultural Identity the poet is explaining how she feels about belonging to two cultures Nature the poem uses the strong image of a hurricane to represent the poets inner battles Poetic Techniques Switching from 3rd person to 1st the poet has chosen to write in the third person when talking about the hurricane in England. This shows she doesnt feel she fits in. Then she uses the first person to talk about the Caribbean to show she feels like she fits. Negative Language e.g. howling and rage, these are used to show both the storm and her fear at living in a new land Religious Chants the last two stanzas I am and Come to This shows the poets respect for nature and the hurricane and the feelings it creates in her Pathetic Fallacy the weather represents the poets conclusion about where she fits in

Links between Each Poem

Moral Mood Change Love after Love Not My Business 1st Person Injustice & Prejudice in Society Search for My Tongue Unrelated Incidents Half - Caste Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan Identity Search for My Tongue Unrelated Incidents Half - Caste Love after Love Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan Hurricane Hits England Racism Half - Caste Not My Business Not Much Punctuation Unrelated Incidents Half - Caste Unusual Layout Search for My Tongue Unrelated Incidents Half - Caste Religious Aspect Love after Love Hurricane Hits England This Room Not My Business Enjambment Love after Love This Room Negative Language Unrelated Incidents Not My Business This Room Not My Business Alliteration Unrelated Incidents Half - Caste Not My Business Imagery Search for My Tongue Love after Love This Room Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan Metaphors Search for My Tongue Love after Love This Room Personification Half Caste Not My Business Search for My Tongue

Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan Repetition Search for My Tongue Half - Caste Not My Business

Importance of Language Search for My Tongue Unrelated Incidents Half - Caste

What to Include In Each Answer

PQEE
Point Quote Explanation Effect on Reader
What Should Be In Each Answer ? Define the Key Term if applicable (e.g. culture) Technique Structure Language Themes Feelings Conclusion personal opinion, judgments WRITING IN GREEN; Even if the questions about say culture you still write about all these things, but link them back to the question. Key Points Write about as many techniques as you remember Compare directly not all on one poem, and then all on another poem so like not a paragraph about each poem, put a sentence with bits of both poems.

The Five Main Things to Include About Each Poem

Remember To Link Each Thing Back to the Question. Search for My Tongue Technique; The poet uses many different techniques, to show a wide variety of feelings and to draw attention to different aspects. She writes about her own personal experience, this is shown by her writing the word I. Also, repetition is used frequently throughout the poem; one example of where the poet uses this specific device is the word tongue. The word is said in place of the word language. As well as these devices, there are also metaphors within the piece of poetry, to emphasize how language grows and develops, Sujata Bhatt uses a plant as a metaphor for her tongue, and tongue means language. In the first section of the poem, there is a lot of negative language, this is too show the anger the poet feels Structure; The poem is written in three sections. In the first section, the poet expresses the difficulty for her to know too languages, and that she is forgetting the one she feels belongs to her most, her mother tongue. The second section, is written in Gujarati, and when translated means the same as the first and third section, so the first part of the 2nd section means the same as the first section, and the last part of the 2nd section means the same as the third section. Lastly the third section is positive and shows that Sujata still remembers her mother tongue, her home language. Language; The word tongue has three different meanings in the piece of poetry. On line two, where the poet writes the phrase lost my tongue, this is used in an informal way, to mean that somebody is tongue tied, and unsure on what to say. Throughout the poem the word tongue is used as a metaphor for language one example of where the poet does this is; And if you lived in a place you had to speak a foreign tongue. As well as them, the word tongue also has the meaning that it is part of the body, and the part of which you use to speak. Themes; This poem has two main themes; the first is the importance of language Feelings; Unrelated Incidents Technique; Structure; Language; Themes; Feelings;

Half Caste Technique; Structure; Language;

Themes; Feelings; Love after Love Technique; Structure; Language; Themes; Feelings; This Room Technique; Structure; Language; Themes; Feelings; Not My Business Technique; Structure; Language; Themes; Feelings;

Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan Technique; Structure; Language; Themes; Feelings; Hurricane Hits England Technique; Structure; Language; Themes; Feelings;

Opening Paragraphs
YOU ONLY NEED AN INTRODUCTION TO THE EXAM QUESTIONS SUBJECT, IF THE SUBJECT CAN HAVE VARIOUS MEANINGS SUCH AS CULTURE. Identity Identity is the way a person presents themselves, who they are and their background. In Unrelated Incidents, the poet, writing about himself, feels very strongly about his identity and defends it in his poem. In Search for my tongue, the writer also feels strongly about her identity but is confused. Unusual Layout Hurricane Hits England has an unusual layout, where all stanzas are different lengths this shows the unpredictability of the hurricane and the poets feelings. As well as this poem, Search For My Tongue also has an unusual layout, with a distinctive middle section which is written in Gujarati. Phonetics The poet of Half Caste uses phonetics throughout the poem, too show he is proud of where he comes from and his mixed race background, as the phonetic writing resembles his Caribbean background. Unrelated Incidents also uses phonetic writing to sow how the words would sound on the paper emphasizing the Glaswegian accent. Imagery This room uses imagery, the poet says words like; space and light to represent freedom when the objects escape. Love after Love also uses imagery; this is when the house which is a metaphor for the mind, and the contents of the room symbolizes memories Culture Culture is made of many things, which are; religion, language and lifestyle, e.g. the type of music you listen too. Presents from my aunts in Pakistan has a strong relation to culture, where the poet discusses her frustration, about belonging to two cultures, and feeling as if she belongs in neither. Culture is also a aspect of the poem Half Caste where the poet is angry at being labeled as half caste just because he is mixed race. Extended Metaphor Search for My Tongue has a extended metaphor as the writing about plants which is a metaphor to describe language last throughout the poem. Also Love after Love has the extended metaphor of the house which represents the mind.

Glossary for Poetry

Gujarati language of Sujata Bhatt Phonetic writing the word, the way it sounds Imagery paint a picture in the readers mind Repetition repeating words/phrases Autocue news reading machine layout of Unrelated Incidents Accent the way people sound when they speak Adjectives describing words Adverbs describe the verb, e.g. running fast Alliteration e.g. Ravis Rotting Red Ravioli Contrast a strong difference between two things Dialect words and grammar used by different groups Diction vocabulary harsh diction negative language, positive diction positive language Metaphor an image created by referring to something as something else Onomatopoeia words that sound like their meaning CRASH Pathetic Fallacy when the surroundings reflect the mood of the character Personification giving an object human qualities Stanza verse Tone attitude of the poem