Making effective comparisons and connections between poems. KS4 > Poetry > Poems from different cultures further resources (AQA A)

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1 tweakit resource guide KS4 > Poetry > Poems from different cultures further resources (AQA A) How it works Try this! And this! Try this! Or this! Then this! And now for something completely different! It works as a handout for the students use it when you first introduce the poems. Or as revision. Works both ways. Make a display of the connectives big, multi-coloured posters on the classroom wall which are not only educational but decorative. Mine are under my PEE display. These are particularly useful at any time paper 1 comparison responses need these connectives too. Give them an impress the examiner vocab sheet with the connectives and the analysis words on. Tell them that examiners have to give credit for these types of analysis. Reward them with chocolate (or grapes if you re a Healthy School) when they remember to do it. Reward yourself with chocolate and grapes when you ve marked their newly improved exam answers. Give them the model paragraph without the annotations and ask them to find the bits from the exemplar. Then show them the annotated version. Got a whiteboard? Whiz it! They know the theory. Now get them to have a go. I do, and I understand Well, not quite. This works for the Different Cultures poems now adapt the model for the Literature poems, and the short stories, and the A Level comparison coursework. The possibilities are endless. Alison Smith

2 For English, you will only have to compare two poems. For English Literature, you will need to compare four in total. The principles for comparing more than one text are the same, however. What is given credit? Your answer will need to consist of: 1. Examples from the text in the form of short quotations woven into your points of comparison. (I call these embedded quotations.) 2. Comparison connectives introducing 3. A series of analytical points of comparison, which are, in turn, introduced using 4. Phrases designed to prompt this type of analysis. 5. An understanding of the techniques poets use. 6. Repetition of the key words in the question. All these ingredients of a good answer work together, but let s focus particularly on numbers 2, 3 and 4 since this is the meaty piece of your answer. You need to ensure you compare the texts in focus. As you know, this basically means identifying points of similarity and contrast. You will need to draw upon the following comparison connectives: Similarity connectives Equally In the same way Similarly Likewise Just as also Contrast connectives In contrast However Whereas (best used in the middle of a sentence) On the other hand Conversely The best answers will blend the subtleties of similarity and contrast (whilst both poems highlight in one this is achieved through a series of striking images, whereas in the other, alliteration is used to evoke etc. The best comparisons deal with the way poems are written (number 5, above) and keep returning to the key words of the question (number 6) doc Page 1 of 4

3 But how do you make sure your answer is analytical? These words and phrases encourage you to make your point analytical: suggests implies gives us the impression that shows highlights indicates If you want to make the same point using a different example, use furthers emphasises reinforces So, let s look at a model paragraph and highlight its strengths, according to the list above. This is a question based on the Different Cultures Cluster One poems: Compare the ways in which contrast is used in Island Man and Two Scavengers Model paragraph, focused on the ending of each poem: Both poets end their poems using powerful images. In Island Man a metaphor is used to show the way in which the real world and the contrasting world of the man s dream are together in one person. The man s crumpled pillow waves are the folds in the pillow he leaves behind as he heaves himself out of bed. The alliteration reinforces the huge effort he makes, and maybe this is suggesting that the contrasting dreamy small emerald island is where he would rather stay. The fact that the sound of blue surf is in fact the grey metallic soar of the dull North Circular roar suggests that we are all, perhaps, made up of contrasts. Similarly, a metaphor is also used in the final three lines of Two Scavengers Look again at the ingredients of a good answer and identify them in this paragraph so far. How would you complete the paragraph? doc Page 2 of 4

4 Key for the model paragraph: Examples from the text in the form of short quotations woven into your points of comparison. (I call these embedded quotations). Comparison connectives introducing A series of analytical points of comparison, which are, in turn, introduced using Phrases designed to prompt this type of analysis. An understanding of the techniques poets use. Repetition of the key words in the question. Both poets 2 end their poems using powerful images 5. In Island Man a metaphor 5 is used to show the way in which 4 the real world and the 3 contrasting 6 world of the man s dream are together in one person. The man s 3 crumpled pillow waves 1 are the folds in the pillow he leaves behind as he 3 heaves himself 1 out of bed 3. The alliteration 5 reinforces 4 the huge effort he makes 3, and maybe this is suggesting 4 that the 3 contrasting 6 dreamy 3 small emerald island 1 is where he would rather stay 3. The fact that the sound of blue surf 1 is in fact the grey metallic soar 1 of the dull North Circular roar 1 suggests 4 that we are all, perhaps, made up of 3 contrasts 6. Similarly 2, a metaphor 5 is also used 2 in the final three lines of Two Scavengers doc Page 3 of 4

5 Anthology Poetry Reminders The skills for writing about poetry in the English Paper Two and the English Literature examinations are basically the same: You are asked to draw a series of connections, comparing and contrasting two or more poems. This means identifying similarities and differences; best answers will be more subtle (whilst both poems highlight in one this is achieved through a series of striking images, whereas in the other, alliteration is used to evoke etc. Answers need to contain: A series of comparisons, using connectives (In contrast, whereas, similarly A strong link between how poems are written (form, structure, imagery, rhythm, rhyme, aural qualities and your interpretation of the meaning. This link is best achieved by using a range of phrases which prompt analysis (shows, suggests, gives us the impression, highlights, reinforces A range of quotations, embedded grammatically. Different Cultures Poems There are a number of themes you can trace when you consider the subjectmatter of these poems: Identity is perhaps the main theme which binds the poems together but how is identity explored? Voice and language Living in between Division Can you add to this list? It is best to think about each poem not in isolation, but in relation to the others. Usually you have a choice regarding which poem you compare with the named poem doc Page 4 of 4