Island Man

Slide 1: Island man Grace Nichols

Slide 3: Life on a Caribbean Island

Slide 4: Life in London

Slide 5: Imagine…

Slide 6: Differences between life on a Caribbean island and life in London

Slide 7: CULTURE Guyana: • Country on the north coast of South America; • One of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere; • Gained independence from Britain in 1966.

Slide 8: SURFACE MEANING •A man who used to live on a Caribbean island still dreams of this place even now when he lives in London.

Slide 9: Island Man Morning Comes back to sands and island man wakes up of a grey metallic soar to the sound of blue surf to surge of wheels in his head to dull North Circular roar the steady breaking and wombing muffling muffling wild seabirds his crumpled pillow waves and fishermen pushing out to sea island man heaves himself the sun surfacing defiantly from the east Another London day of his small emerald island he always comes back groggily groggily

Slide 10: Island Man Clear link with This word has (for a Caribbean island man in London who other traditions many still wakes up to the sound of the sea) associations, but the predominant Morning image is one of Alliteration And island man wakes up comfort and with the letter To the sound of blue surf security 's' In his head The steady breaking and wombing very positive wild seabirds image and fisherman pushing out to sea Note the the sun surfacing defiantly vibrant from the east colours of his small emerald island he always comes back groggily groggily Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge

Slide 11: Colour contrast, not Comes back to sands vibrant but drab of a grey metallic soar Change of to surge of perspective here wheels to dull North Circular road a busy road around muffling muffling Repetition, as if he London his crumpled pillow waves cannot believe it, or is reluctant to island man heaves himself acknowledge Suggest comparison of a Another London day man heaving Stark last line, himself on to an physically island isolated, with no preposition or Capital letters verb Grace Nichols but no punctuation in poem

Slide 12: IDEAS, ATTITUDES, FEELINGS • Ideas: – Comparing the simple beautiful way of life on a Caribbean island to the noise and rush of a modern city – When far away from home some people will over idealise it – Never forget where you come from • Attitudes: – Island man does not seem to feel at home in London therefore there is a sense of being out of place and not belonging – The opportunities of London are far removed from the beauties of the Caribbean • Feelings: – Homesick – Idealising the past / previous home – Regret – Dull repetitive nature of present working life

Slide 13: Language • sands / of a grey metallic soar Metaphor (London as an unpleasant beach) Personification • the sun surfacing defiantly • to dull North Circular roar Alliteration • sun surfacing • Stanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge (like the sounds of the sea) Repetition • groggily groggily • muffling muffling

Slide 14: Island Man • There is no punctuation in the poem. Why? What image does the Island man have in his head? How does the poet’s choice of language reflect that image? • There are more capital letters on the second part of the poem. Why? Think of the formality of capital letters.

Slide 15: Island Man Island: London: • • “blue surf” “grey metallic soar” • • “wild seabirds” “to surge of wheels” • • “fishermen” “dull North Circular roar” • “emerald island” • “Another London day”

Slide 16: Back to exams… • The question will name ONE poem, you must choose the other • Use the wording of the question at the beginning and end of EVERY paragraph • Relate everything you write to the question The more points you make the higher the grade!

Slide 17: Sample Exam Question •How does “Blessing” and one other poem from this selection, show the importance of culture and cultural background

Slide 18: Planning a response to the question on poetry from other cultures When planning an answer to the question on poems from other cultures do not consider one poem and then another and then try to make comparisons in your conclusion. You should be comparing (discussing similarities) and contrasting (considering differences) the poems throughout your essay. This will also help you to ANALYSE the poems rather than simply DESCRIBING them. E.g. You don’t get m(any) marks for saying, ‘there is a metaphor in the first stanza’ but you will get credit for writing, ‘the poet compares her use of language to a flower which shows how she feels it is alive and growing’.

Slide 19: Language / ‘Blessing’ ‘Island Man’ Themes/Techniques What is the subject of each poem? Describe the poet’s tone and attitude. How does the poet use rhythm to suit the subject matter? How does each poet bring the environment / place to life? How are the people presented in each poem? (Look at how the poet describes their actions, for example.) How does each poet use imagery? Does each poet use unconventional forms? If so, why? (e.g. lack of punctuation, short line lengths, and unusual layout).

Slide 20: ‘Island Man’: Evoking Place Using ‘Island Man’ as an influence, write a postcard to a friend from either: a tropical island a bustling city centre Describe the place as you have experienced it. Use experience and / or imagination!