Objectives:Objectives:

To understand the nature of the To understand the nature of the Literature exam, with a focus on Literature exam, with a focus on PoetryPoetry

To understand the key AOsTo understand the key AOs To begin to explore Seamus To begin to explore Seamus

Heaney’s ‘Digging’Heaney’s ‘Digging’

What is happening inthese two pictures?

What is your perceptionof the people, places

and ‘events’?

Reading:Reading:

‘‘The Boy with a Cloud in His The Boy with a Cloud in His Hand’Hand’

Approach:Approach:

Feelings, attitudes and ideasFeelings, attitudes and ideas Structure and formStructure and form Language (poetic devices and effect)Language (poetic devices and effect) Focus on similarities and differencesFocus on similarities and differences POP and further thoughtsPOP and further thoughts

The AOs:The AOs:

Critical, sensitive response to the Critical, sensitive response to the poems using textual evidencepoems using textual evidence

Explore how language, structure and Explore how language, structure and forms contribute to meaningforms contribute to meaning

Consider different approaches and Consider different approaches and interpretationsinterpretations

Explore and evaluate relationships and Explore and evaluate relationships and comparisons within and between the comparisons within and between the poemspoems

Heaney:Heaney:

Born to RC farming family in Born to RC farming family in Northern Ireland in 1939Northern Ireland in 1939

Poetry concerns rural life, how Poetry concerns rural life, how people change as they mature, and people change as they mature, and deathdeath

Tried to relate thoughts and feelings Tried to relate thoughts and feelings about how he felt about political about how he felt about political events in NI without becoming events in NI without becoming propagandistpropagandist

‘‘Digging’Digging’

By Seamus HeaneyBy Seamus Heaney

So, it’s just about a bloke So, it’s just about a bloke digging then?digging then?

Attitudes, feelings, ideas:Attitudes, feelings, ideas:

Structure:Structure:

Line length, stanza length, punctuation…

Rhyme or rhythm?Particular poetic form?

How is it sequenced?

Layout on Page?

EFFECT?

Language focus:Language focus:

AlliterationAlliteration Assonance (internal rhyme – where Assonance (internal rhyme – where

the vowel sound rhymes)the vowel sound rhymes) OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

You must NOT just ‘identify’ – you You must NOT just ‘identify’ – you MUST COMMENT ON MUST COMMENT ON EFFECT/IMPACT!EFFECT/IMPACT!

‘‘Catrin’Catrin’

By Gillian ClarkeBy Gillian Clarke

Gillian Clarke:Gillian Clarke:

Born 1937 in CardiffBorn 1937 in Cardiff Teaches creative writing at the Teaches creative writing at the

University of GlamorganUniversity of Glamorgan Many of her poems reflect on Many of her poems reflect on

cultural identity, family relationships cultural identity, family relationships and natureand nature

Read the poem Read the poem yourself:yourself:

Can you find any initial points Can you find any initial points of comparison with ‘Digging’?of comparison with ‘Digging’?

Clarke seems to have Clarke seems to have admiration for her admiration for her

daughter, the words daughter, the words ‘straight, strong, long ‘straight, strong, long brown hair’ suggest brown hair’ suggest

feelings of respect and feelings of respect and convey her beauty. convey her beauty.

However, the mother However, the mother seems confused, as she seems confused, as she

also sees their also sees their relationship as a ‘struggle’ relationship as a ‘struggle’

and full of ‘fierce and full of ‘fierce confrontation(s)’.confrontation(s)’.

Attitudes, feelings, ideas:Attitudes, feelings, ideas:

A poem of CONFLICTA poem of CONFLICT A poem about LOVEA poem about LOVE A poem about CONFUSIONA poem about CONFUSION

Structure:Structure:

Line length, stanza length, punctuation…

Rhyme or rhythm?Particular poetic form?

How is it sequenced?

Layout on Page?

EFFECT?

You are…You are…

OR

Language focus:Language focus:

A short paragraph, choosing from:A short paragraph, choosing from: References to SOUND (eg: References to SOUND (eg:

onomatopoeia or alliteration)onomatopoeia or alliteration) DESCRIPTION and the images DESCRIPTION and the images

createdcreated METAPHORS – what is the METAPHORS – what is the

impact/effect of the more symbolic impact/effect of the more symbolic language?language?

The ‘hot white/Room’ is in The ‘hot white/Room’ is in contrast to the colder, contrast to the colder, calmer outside. This calmer outside. This

suggests the intensity of suggests the intensity of the moment and the the moment and the

beginning of the ‘fierce… beginning of the ‘fierce… struggle’.struggle’.

Cross reference:Cross reference:

Now, using appropriate terms for Now, using appropriate terms for similarities and differences…similarities and differences…

Extend your response to incorporate Extend your response to incorporate commentary on ‘Digging’commentary on ‘Digging’

The ‘focus’ should be the same, but The ‘focus’ should be the same, but the effect will no doubt be differentthe effect will no doubt be different

In both poems, the language used In both poems, the language used affects our perception of the affects our perception of the

characters. Heaney’s rugged, harsh characters. Heaney’s rugged, harsh language adds to the impression of language adds to the impression of his father and grand father being his father and grand father being

strong, hard-working men; the poet strong, hard-working men; the poet vividly describes his father’s vividly describes his father’s

‘straining rump’ as he tirelessly ‘straining rump’ as he tirelessly digs. Likewise, Clarke’s use of digs. Likewise, Clarke’s use of alliteration and rhyme in ‘your alliteration and rhyme in ‘your

straight, strong, long/Brown hair’ straight, strong, long/Brown hair’ emphasises Catrin’s strength and emphasises Catrin’s strength and

good looks.good looks.

For the following images:For the following images:

Link it with the poemLink it with the poem Explore why it is an important imageExplore why it is an important image Offer Offer alternative interpretationsalternative interpretations