Another useful YouTube clip for English teachers which explains the most popular literary devices.
Midterm Homework
Work to be completed – October Midterm
Unseen Poetry – Study poetry booklet – Complete Graphic Organiser
After studying the poetry booklet, apply techniques and please complete 2006 (page 176) and 2007 (page 151) in your exam papers.
How Many miles to Babylon by Jennifer Johnston – Mock Paper 2012
Study notes on all main characters – Alec/Jerry/Alicia/Frederick/Major Glendinning and Bennett
I will be checking all work on Monday November 5th
Don’t waste your week please
Unseen Poetry – Study poetry booklet – Complete Graphic Organiser
After studying the poetry booklet, apply techniques and please complete 2006 (page 176) and 2007 (page 151) in your exam papers.
How Many miles to Babylon by Jennifer Johnston – Mock Paper 2012
Study notes on all main characters – Alec/Jerry/Alicia/Frederick/Major Glendinning and Bennett
I will be checking all work on Monday November 5th
Don’t waste your week please
Figurative Language!!!
A really catchy little tune to help you remember personification, alliteration, assonance and hyperbole - I'm singing it in my head as I write (How sad I am) ;-) Guarantee it will help you in the unseen poetry section!!!!!!
Unseen Poetry- How to Approach This Section
(20 Marks)
Timing (15 minutes)
Unseen Poetry- How to Approach This Section
Read the poem two or three times. Then try to grasp its meaning - what is the theme, what is the tone, what is the poet trying to say here - message? By studying the structure and language of the poem, you will gain an insight into the poem's meaning. The more times you read the poem, the more you will understand its meaning.
Contemporary poetry is sometimes difficult to interpret. It can often have several meanings or on the other hand, its meaning can be unequivocal(clear). The poet doesn't want it to have any particular meaning preferring instead the reader takes his/her own interpretation. You must try to be as open and non-judgemental as possible when answering the unseen poetry section.
The poet communicates thoughts, emotions and ideas to the reader through a particular choice of words and structure. The objective of the poem can differ. Sometimes the poem might challenge readers' perceptions of how they view things and help them see things in a different light.
Try the following before attempting to answer the questions:
Write on the paper what you believe to be the main idea or ideas of the poem approaching it stanza by stanza.
Underline the key words or phrases repeated throughout the poem.
Identify poetic techniques/devices and what they add to the poem.
Think about why the stanzas/lines are structured in a particular way.
Explore the relationships throughout the poem.
See if there are any recurring themes in the poem, and determine what the poet is trying to say by writing about these.
Who is the speaker in the poem? Is it the poet, or is it the poet taking on another voice?
Who is the poet speaking to? Is it him/herself, is it a particular person, or is it the reader?
What can we tell about the poet from studying the poem?
Language - When studying the language of a poem there are certain elements to look out for:
Tone:
What is the poem's tone? (sad, happy, reflective, morose, philosophical.)
Rhythm: Is there a musical quality to the poem, does it rhyme, does it follow a particular rhythm or is the rhythm fragmented?
Techniques: Does the poet use writing techniques to enhance the language, e.g., alliteration (the repetition of consonants) and assonance (the repetition of vowels).
Imagery: What imagery does the poem use and how does
it shape your meaning of the poem.
Symbolism: Does the poet use symbolism to illustrate his/her views and is it effective.
Words:
These are the essence of a poem and it is important you are aware of key words and expressions and how they form your understanding and appreciation of the poem.
Grammar and punctuation: Poets differ in how they express themselves. Sometimes words are not enough in themselves and poets might use unorthodox grammar or different punctuation to get their points across. Be aware of this.
Sound: Read the poem a couple of times over listening to the sounds. Depending on the sound a poem can be sensual or sad or maybe angry
or happy. See what emotions the poem has on you through listening to it.
(20 Marks)
Timing (15 minutes)
Unseen Poetry- How to Approach This Section
Read the poem two or three times. Then try to grasp its meaning - what is the theme, what is the tone, what is the poet trying to say here - message? By studying the structure and language of the poem, you will gain an insight into the poem's meaning. The more times you read the poem, the more you will understand its meaning.
Contemporary poetry is sometimes difficult to interpret. It can often have several meanings or on the other hand, its meaning can be unequivocal(clear). The poet doesn't want it to have any particular meaning preferring instead the reader takes his/her own interpretation. You must try to be as open and non-judgemental as possible when answering the unseen poetry section.
The poet communicates thoughts, emotions and ideas to the reader through a particular choice of words and structure. The objective of the poem can differ. Sometimes the poem might challenge readers' perceptions of how they view things and help them see things in a different light.
Try the following before attempting to answer the questions:
Write on the paper what you believe to be the main idea or ideas of the poem approaching it stanza by stanza.
Underline the key words or phrases repeated throughout the poem.
Identify poetic techniques/devices and what they add to the poem.
Think about why the stanzas/lines are structured in a particular way.
Explore the relationships throughout the poem.
See if there are any recurring themes in the poem, and determine what the poet is trying to say by writing about these.
Who is the speaker in the poem? Is it the poet, or is it the poet taking on another voice?
Who is the poet speaking to? Is it him/herself, is it a particular person, or is it the reader?
What can we tell about the poet from studying the poem?
Language - When studying the language of a poem there are certain elements to look out for:
Tone:
What is the poem's tone? (sad, happy, reflective, morose, philosophical.)
Rhythm: Is there a musical quality to the poem, does it rhyme, does it follow a particular rhythm or is the rhythm fragmented?
Techniques: Does the poet use writing techniques to enhance the language, e.g., alliteration (the repetition of consonants) and assonance (the repetition of vowels).
Imagery: What imagery does the poem use and how does
it shape your meaning of the poem.
Symbolism: Does the poet use symbolism to illustrate his/her views and is it effective.
Words:
These are the essence of a poem and it is important you are aware of key words and expressions and how they form your understanding and appreciation of the poem.
Grammar and punctuation: Poets differ in how they express themselves. Sometimes words are not enough in themselves and poets might use unorthodox grammar or different punctuation to get their points across. Be aware of this.
Sound: Read the poem a couple of times over listening to the sounds. Depending on the sound a poem can be sensual or sad or maybe angry
or happy. See what emotions the poem has on you through listening to it.