The document provides an overview and analysis of two poems: Seamus Heaney's "Digging" and Gillian Clarke's "Catrin". It discusses the key assessment objectives for analyzing poetry, including exploring feelings/attitudes, structure/form, language techniques, and comparisons between poems. For "Digging", it notes Heaney's background and how the poem relates rural life and maturation. For "Catrin", it introduces Clarke and how the poem depicts a complex mother-daughter relationship through imagery of conflict and love. Students are guided to examine both poems' language, structure, imagery and their effects on meaning and perception of characters.

2. What is happening in these two pictures? What is your perception of the people, places and ‘events’?

3. Reading: ‘ The Boy with a Cloud in His Hand’

7. ‘ Digging’ By Seamus Heaney

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

9. Attitudes, feelings, ideas:

10. Structure: Line length, stanza length, punctuation… Rhyme or rhythm? Particular poetic form? How is it sequenced? Layout on Page? EFFECT?

12. ‘ Catrin’ By Gillian Clarke

14. Read the poem yourself: Can you find any initial points of comparison with ‘Digging’?

15. Clarke seems to have admiration for her daughter, the words ‘straight, strong, long brown hair’ suggest feelings of respect and convey her beauty. However, the mother seems confused, as she also sees their relationship as a ‘struggle’ and full of ‘fierce confrontation(s)’.

17. Structure: Line length, stanza length, punctuation… Rhyme or rhythm? Particular poetic form? How is it sequenced? Layout on Page? EFFECT?

18. You are… OR

20. The ‘hot white/Room’ is in contrast to the colder, calmer outside. This suggests the intensity of the moment and the beginning of the ‘fierce… struggle’.

22. In both poems, the language used affects our perception of the characters. Heaney’s rugged, harsh language adds to the impression of his father and grand father being strong, hard-working men; the poet vividly describes his father’s ‘straining rump’ as he tirelessly digs. Likewise, Clarke’s use of alliteration and rhyme in ‘your straight, strong, long/Brown hair’ emphasises Catrin’s strength and good looks.