Higher PoetryHigher Poetry‘‘Shooting Stars’ and ‘Visiting Shooting Stars’ and ‘Visiting

Hour’Hour’

Points to rememberPoints to remember Must still include synopsis, but will be shorter Must still include synopsis, but will be shorter

than for prose and drama. Place it in your than for prose and drama. Place it in your introduction.introduction.

Also mention: dramatic monologue, free verse.Also mention: dramatic monologue, free verse. Deal with poems chronologically – don’t jump Deal with poems chronologically – don’t jump

from end back to start and then to the middle.from end back to start and then to the middle. So first point should be taken from 1So first point should be taken from 1stst stanza etc. stanza etc.

Of course you can refer to other areas of the Of course you can refer to other areas of the poem in your analysis. poem in your analysis.

Place quotes in context by explaining were they Place quotes in context by explaining were they come from and paraphrasing.come from and paraphrasing.

Quote large chunks to show context and write out Quote large chunks to show context and write out as they are in the poem (indent). 2-4 lines.as they are in the poem (indent). 2-4 lines.

Task 1 Task 1 Write out the poemsWrite out the poems Annotate them in as much detail as Annotate them in as much detail as

possible.possible.

Groups of 4/5Groups of 4/5 Come up with a plan for the following Come up with a plan for the following

questions. questions. Decide which poem would be most Decide which poem would be most

appropriate.appropriate. You need 3 points, 3 quotes and You need 3 points, 3 quotes and

analysis.analysis.

Everyone must be involved – no spare Everyone must be involved – no spare wheels!wheels!

Question 1Question 1 Choose a poem in which a specific Choose a poem in which a specific

setting is strongly evoked. Show how setting is strongly evoked. Show how the poet creates this sense of place the poet creates this sense of place and/or time, and then discuss the and/or time, and then discuss the relative importance of the setting to relative importance of the setting to the poem as a whole.the poem as a whole.

‘‘Visiting Hour’Visiting Hour’ Powerful openingPowerful opening 22ndnd verse – sense of uncertainty created – setting verse – sense of uncertainty created – setting

reminds us that hospitals are also places of death.reminds us that hospitals are also places of death. Sense of isolation created in final two stanzas. Sense of isolation created in final two stanzas.

Despite being surrounded by people, death is still Despite being surrounded by people, death is still something we face alone. Made all the more something we face alone. Made all the more poignant through setting.poignant through setting.

Thought-provoking ending: setting reminds us of Thought-provoking ending: setting reminds us of the inevitability of death and leaves us with a the inevitability of death and leaves us with a sense of despair. Setting aids this as we are sense of despair. Setting aids this as we are constantly reminded that hospitals are places of constantly reminded that hospitals are places of death as well as healing. Sometimes there is no death as well as healing. Sometimes there is no hope. V. powerful end as we are reminded of our hope. V. powerful end as we are reminded of our own mortality and that of thise around us.own mortality and that of thise around us.

Question 2Question 2 Choose a poem in which there is a Choose a poem in which there is a

sinister atmosphere or person or sinister atmosphere or person or place. Show how the poet evokes this place. Show how the poet evokes this sinister quality and discuss how it sinister quality and discuss how it adds to your appreciation of the adds to your appreciation of the poem.poem.

AtmosphereAtmosphere Opening of the poem: savage and violent acts coupled or Opening of the poem: savage and violent acts coupled or

contrasted with sense of humanity (‘wedding ring’). Also, contrasted with sense of humanity (‘wedding ring’). Also, we have reminders of sheer scale of horror. Sinister and we have reminders of sheer scale of horror. Sinister and hopeless atmosphere.hopeless atmosphere.

Graphic imagery (Rape).Graphic imagery (Rape). Contrast (4Contrast (4thth stanza): ‘April’ vs. ‘die’. Use of sound and stanza): ‘April’ vs. ‘die’. Use of sound and

structure (to slow down pace). Cruelty is unsettling and structure (to slow down pace). Cruelty is unsettling and sinister. Emphasised in next stanza through use of sinister. Emphasised in next stanza through use of anaphora (‘After…’), which highlights contrast. The fact anaphora (‘After…’), which highlights contrast. The fact that we have perhaps forgotten the horrors of the that we have perhaps forgotten the horrors of the Holocaust is sinister.Holocaust is sinister.

Ending: reinforcement of spiritual, cultural identity Ending: reinforcement of spiritual, cultural identity enhances our connection with persona, enhances our enhances our connection with persona, enhances our pity and makes the sinister atmosphere all the more pity and makes the sinister atmosphere all the more apparent as we become emotionally moved by the apparent as we become emotionally moved by the tragedy and horror of the Holocaust.tragedy and horror of the Holocaust.

Question 3Question 3 Choose a poem in which the Choose a poem in which the

speaker’s personality is gradually speaker’s personality is gradually revealed. Show how, through the use revealed. Show how, through the use of content and language of the of content and language of the poem, aspects of the character poem, aspects of the character gradually emerge.gradually emerge.

‘‘Visiting Hour’Visiting Hour’ Reluctant to feel emotions – strong sense of Reluctant to feel emotions – strong sense of

avoidance. Perhaps we are dealing with a avoidance. Perhaps we are dealing with a person who struggles with challenging person who struggles with challenging situations. situations.

Observant, which gradually moves towards…Observant, which gradually moves towards… helpless: think imagery in 5helpless: think imagery in 5thth stanza stanza

emphasising isolation and fragility of life.emphasising isolation and fragility of life. Uncertain and hopeless: Oxymoronic ending.Uncertain and hopeless: Oxymoronic ending.

Question 4Question 4 Choose a poem which helps you to Choose a poem which helps you to

understand a challenging issue.understand a challenging issue. How does the poet help you do this?How does the poet help you do this?

Challenging issue – how difficult it is to deal Challenging issue – how difficult it is to deal with death.with death.

11stst stanza shows a clear avoidance of stanza shows a clear avoidance of emotions, suggesting death is difficult to emotions, suggesting death is difficult to deal with.deal with.

55thth stanza‘Ward 7. … trembles on it’s stalk.’ stanza‘Ward 7. … trembles on it’s stalk.’ Fear of death from both parties. Death is Fear of death from both parties. Death is frightening.frightening.

Final stanza – feeling of helplessness and Final stanza – feeling of helplessness and futility (oxymoron).futility (oxymoron).

Question 5Question 5 Choose a poem in which contrast is Choose a poem in which contrast is

important in developing theme. important in developing theme. Explore the poet’s use of contrast Explore the poet’s use of contrast and show why it is important in and show why it is important in developing a key a key theme of the developing a key a key theme of the poem.poem.

‘‘Shooting Stars’Shooting Stars’ Contrast used to develop theme of Contrast used to develop theme of

human sufferinghuman suffering Savage acts vs. wedding ringSavage acts vs. wedding ring Power of soldiers vs. prisoners Power of soldiers vs. prisoners

(‘ragged gape’/ ‘soldiers laughed’)(‘ragged gape’/ ‘soldiers laughed’) Death vs. springDeath vs. spring Tragic occurrences vs. trivial – time Tragic occurrences vs. trivial – time

moves on, yet we should not forget.moves on, yet we should not forget.

For further revisionFor further revision Learn poems and accompanying Learn poems and accompanying

analysis.analysis. Revise past questions and practise Revise past questions and practise

planning (mind-maps, bullet points)planning (mind-maps, bullet points) Practise timed essays and/or write out Practise timed essays and/or write out

paragraphs.paragraphs.

If you need further assistance on poems If you need further assistance on poems – just ask.– just ask.