Poetry tips and model answers

Hi folks,

One last Lit post.

I wanted to reassure you about a couple of things in terms of the comparison question on Love and Relationships (Section B):

1. Do I have to tack on some context when I'm discussing the poems?
2. How do I structure my comparison?

Here are my answers to these questions:

1) No! AO3 is 'exploration of ideas/perspectives/contextual factors shown by specific, detailed links between context/text/task'. It is not just context. The key 'idea' is in the question. So, according to AQA, if you answer the question properly, if you ZOOM OUT and think about the big ideas and perspectives in the poems, you will be hitting AO3. Chill out and answer the question.

2) I used to have a very particular structure for the poetry comparison. I think it's still useful and do-able:

     1) Intro - basic comparisons (with key word in Q)

     2) Starting with ideas (based on key word in question) - Poem A and Poem B

     3) Starting with methods (consider this a 'sweep-up' of things you haven't mentioned yet, 

          esp. structure) - Poem A and Poem B

     4) Conclusion

HOWEVER, it is worth pointing out that comparison is no longer an assessment objective in itself, and AQA are quite relaxed now about how the comparison works, as long as you write about two poems and make links between them. Here's what they said in last year's examiner's report:

So, here's my advice now:

• stay sharply focused on the key word/idea in the question
• make sure you discuss the writers' methods, especially metaphor and structure
• think about the journey of each poem (beginnings/middles/ends)
• move between the poems making connections, BUT...
• don't move between the poems too often - give yourself time and space to develop your ideas in detail
• if you get stuck and don't know how to begin: write about Poem A first, then make links back as you write about Poem B

Finally, here are some 'model answers' which I have written this year. I've added comments in the margin to point out what I'm doing. You'll find three poetry essays on this doc: a comparative essay, an unseen poetry essay and a methods comparison. To view the annotations, click full screen, and then click on the individual comments and it will highlight the bit that I'm referring to. Alternatively, download a copy and view it more clearly in Word.

Any questions - get in touch.

GOOD LUCK!


Mr M

Climbing My Grandfather: Notes

Hi,

These notes on Climbing My Grandfather are presented without comment. Click to zoom.

Thanks, Danielle!

Share your poetry notes

Hi folks,

Remember, your revision will be much more effective if you use your existing notes and materials to create something new by transforming them into something else. 'Distilling a poem' is one way of doing this; you look at your notes, select the most important things to remember, then present it in a way that is organised and visually pleasing.

Don't forget dual coding. Combining words with relevant images, diagrams, colours etc. makes the information more memorable.

If you've created any good notes, why not share them with the class as an example? Remember though, the process of creating your own materials is a powerful learning tool in itself. 

Here's some examples, courtesy of Liberty (thanks!!!):

Please bung your email address into the 'Follow by Email' bar for updates when there's a new post.

Happy revising!


Mr M

AIC and Poetry Revision

Hi all,

Here are some final resources to look through prior to Paper 2:

Priestley's methods and message

Act-by-act quotations for each character in An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls - Character Lectures (aiming for top grades):

• Mr Birling
• Eric Birling
• Sheila Birling

(You can find links for the other characters alongside the above blogposts)

AIC Essential Quotes

AIC - The Knowledge

AIC Knowledge Organiser

Structuring a response - featuring Mr Birling

AIC on Quizlet

All my AIC blogposts

Context vid:

Poetry: L&R Quotes

In case you missed one: notes on the poems

Poetry plan: Romantic Obsession

Poetry Guide Book

Love and Relationships on Quizlet

All my old poetry posts



Let me know if you need anything!


Mr M

Unseen Poem 2 - Stick to methods

Hi,

A quick reminder about the second unseen question:

• it's only worth 8 marks
• you only have around 15 minutes to do it
• it is only assessed on AO2 (comparing the writer's methods)

The question will be in this format:

In both ______ and ______ the speakers describe _________. What are the similarities and/or differences between the ways the poets present these attitudes? 

[8 marks]

My advice is:

• Read poem 2, just thinking about methods (language and structure)
• Note down anything you notice and look for similarities and differences with poem 1
• Write 2-3 Both/However paragraphs.

Typical comparisons might be:

• Both poems use an extended metaphor to get across _________________. (Discuss how the use of metaphor is similar in the poems by commenting on quotes) However, (Discuss differences and interpretations  of the two metaphors)

• Both poems use rhyme. In ______, (discuss the effect of the rhyme in poem 1 and compare to poem 2). However, in ______, the structure is much more regular. Perhaps this represents _____________________.

• Both poets use powerful verbs.... However
• Both poems feature a motif/symbolism of nature.... However...

Easy peasy.

Mr M

Unseen poem 1 - The Three Tick Method

Hello all,

You should all know this by heart, but here's a quick reminder just in case.

You have two unseen poems to deal with in the exam. Check here to make sure you know your timings.

For the first unseen poem (24 marks, 30 minutes), I advice that you use this method. You can expect:

• A fairly straight forward poem
• An extended metaphor or pattern of imagery to interpret
• A question which requires you to discuss a) ideas, attitudes, feelings; and b) the writer's methods (language and structure)

So, how should you approach a new poem in exam conditions?

By using the Three Tick Method! I nicked this idea from a well known American edublogger and writer. Here's how it works:

1) Create three tick boxes in the top corner of the paper like this: 

2) Read the poem. Make a few notes about the mood/tone. (Perhaps at the beginning and end?) Tick the first box.

3) Re-read the poem. Make a few notes about techniques (Go for the most obvious ones - eg. metaphor, rhyme, structure). Tick the second box.

4) Re-read the poem. Make a note about the 'main idea' (perhaps the theme or meaning of the poem). Tick the final box.

Now you are ready to write. This process takes 4-5 minutes and gives you a way into the poem. You'll find more to say as you go. Feel free to add further notes as you go.

A single reading is not always enough to 'get' a poem. This way, you'll hit the ground running when you do start to write. Don't be afraid to spend this time thinking and annotating first. 25 minutes is plenty of time for this answer.

Why not give it a go? 

Love After Love 

The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other's welcome,

And say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was yourself.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you

all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.


Derek Walcott

Mr M

Poetry reminders

Hi,

I recently sent you both of the specimen paper 2s via email. Make sure you are familiar with the paper and the timings.


Remembers for the poetry comparison (section B):

• when comparing ideas/attitudes/feelings, you should still analyse and interpret your quotes
• when comparing the writer's methods, you should still comment on interpretations of meanings (ideas/feelings/poet's message etc.) Perhaps do structure before language to ensure that you don't forget it.

In effect, you are using two different starting points for making comparisons to ensure that you hit the requirements of the marking criteria. You are looking at the comparison from two different angles .

Just keep doing what you've been doing through the course. Zoom in and zoom out.

Remind yourself of poetic devices here or here.

You're nearly there: keep going!


Mr M

Romanticism Explained

Hi,

A key context for you to understand for the poetry is the literary context of Romanticism.

In the 'Love and Relationships' poetry cluster, the following poems can be considered as 'Romantic' poems:

• When We Two Parted by Lord Byron
• Love's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley

However, as the following videos explain, Romanticism has affected much of the poetry we've read. In fact, it has had a profound effect on humanity; we are all, to some extent, children of the Romantics. Check out the vids:

Mr M

Poetry: Revision Acrostics

Hi,

I was a bit ashamed to utter the word 'acrostic' in a Y11 lesson today, but I think the idea of using an acrostic as a mnemonic to sum up the key things you want to remember about a poem might be useful.

Here's the one I made today:

Give it a go. If you give me your acrostic, I'll put it up here!

Well done to those of you who have already memorised a poem. I'm very impressed.


Mr M

Before You Were Mine - Thoughts by Carol Ann Duffy

Hi Y10 (and Y11),

You can find Carol Ann Duffy's explanation of her poem, Before You Were Mine here.


Enjoy.

Mr M

Half-term revision

Oh hi,

This half-term, I just want you to read and revise! You have four exams to prepare for, so leaving it until after Christmas will leave you with too much to cram into your head in just over a term. Spacing out practice and interleaving revision is proven to help with long-term memory.

With that in mind, here's the advice that I gave you before the summer:

Suggested summer revision activities:

1.    Re-read An Inspector Calls

2.    Revise key quotes on Quizlet

3.    a) Re-read Great Expectations, or…

b) Re-read key chapters from Great Expectations (see below) and annotate text

4.  Re-read the six poems studied so far in the poetry anthology

Useful websites:

·       www.wemmickspostbox.blogspot.co.uk (all other links can be found here)

·       http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/

·       www.sparknotes.com/lit/greatex/

·       http://www.victorianweb.org/

·       http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/

·       http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/victorianbritain/

·       https://quizlet.com/class/2101970/

Key chapters (Great Expectations)

·       Chapters 1-5 (Pip and the convict)

·       Chapter 8 (Miss Havisham and Satis House)

·       Chapter 11 (the pale young gentleman)

·       Chapter 14 (growing up at the forge)

·       Chapters 19 and 20 (leaving for London)

·       Chapter 27 (Joe’s visit)

·       Chapter 29 (the return of Estella)

·       Chapter 35 (Mrs Joe’s funeral)

·       Chapter 39 (Return of the convict)

·       Chapter 42 (Magwitch’s story)

·       Chapter 44 (Satis House: Pip’s declaration of love)

·       Chapter 48 and 49 (Molly’s story; back to Satis House)

·       Chapter 53 (Encounter with Orlick) and 54 (the steamer)

·       Chapter 56 (the trial)

·       Chapter 57 (Pip’s illness) and 59 (the ending)

It might be a good idea to try to find an audiobook version of Great Expectations to help you. If you find one somewhere, please let me know so I can share a link. I'd still advise you to re-read key chapters however. Seeing the text makes a difference.

Don't forget An Inspector Calls either. You could easily re-read it in a couple of hours. 

In my next post, I'll share some great sites for helping you study Macbeth. In the meantime, don't forget about this. 


Happy half-term,

Mr M


PS. I know you're reading this, Beth.

 

Bonus poem

Hi,

If you liked 'Climbing My Grandfather', you might also like this belter:

On A Portrait Of A Deaf Man

The kind old face, the egg-shaped head,
The tie, discretely loud,
The loosely fitting shooting clothes,
A closely fitting shroud.

He liked old city dining rooms,
Potatoes in their skin,
But now his mouth is wide to let
The London clay come in.

He took me on long silent walks
In country lanes when young.
He knew the names of ev'ry bird
But not the song it sung.

And when he could not hear me speak
He smiled and looked so wise
That now I do not like to think
Of maggots in his eyes.

He liked the rain-washed Cornish air
And smell of ploughed-up soil,
He liked a landscape big and bare
And painted it in oil.

But least of all he liked that place
Which hangs on Highgate Hill
Of soaked Carrara-covered earth
For Londoners to fill.

He would have liked to say goodbye,
Shake hands with many friends,
In Highgate now his finger-bones
Stick through his finger-ends.

You, God, who treat him thus and thus,
Say "Save his soul and pray."
You ask me to believe You and
I only see decay.

John Betjeman

Why not try the three-tick method on this one?

Mr M