Poetry – Structuring An Answer

Approaching the Question 4 pages minimum Refer to 4 poems in detail Identify the different aspects of the question – what exactly am I being asked? All aspects (parts) of the question must be covered in each section of your answer You MUST have an introduction (brief and to the point) and conclusion Remember, the emphasis is on answering the question asked

Use accurate and apt quotes to back up your points Avoid waffle – unless it backs up your position on the question and/or is relevant to this, leave it out Plan carefully what you will cover in each section of your answer and what poems and quotes you will use to back up your points NB: Titles of poems must ALWAYS be in inverted commas, as must all quotes Refer to the poet by surname OR first and surname, but NEVER by first name only; eg Bishop or Elizabeth Bishop

General Outline of Structure Introduction Brief and to the point Refer to the terms (wording) of the question Take a position on the question & outline the poems you will use in your answer Section 2: First point Depending on the question, focus on either one poem or one aspect of the poet’s work Keep your focus on the question asked Make a strong opening statement, back it up with quotes and examples from the poem/s, and conclude with a reference to the question asked

Section 4: Third point (as above) Section 5: Fourth point (as above) Section 3: Second point Depending on the question, focus on either one poem or one aspect of the poet’s work Keep your focus on the question asked Make a strong opening statement, back it up with quotes and examples from the poem/s, and conclude with a reference to the question asked Section 4: Third point (as above) Section 5: Fourth point (as above)

Section 6: Conclusion Restate the main idea of your essay – use the terms of the question and your position on it Summarise the points you have made without completely repeating yourself Leave the reader with an interesting final impression Perhaps include a reference to the impact of the poet’s work on you or an interesting quotation about the poet or from one of her poems

Marking P: Clarity of purpose C: Coherence of delivery Engagement with the set task (answering the question asked); 30% C: Coherence of delivery Structuring your answer; 30% L: Efficiency of language use Quality of expression, management and control of language; 30% M: Mechanics Spelling and grammar; 10%

Example: 2013 “Bishop’s carefully judged use of language aids the reader to uncover the intensity of feeling in her poetry.” To what extent do you agree with the above statement? Consider: What exactly am I being asked to focus on? How does Bishop’s language convey the strength of feeling in her work? Do I agree with the statement and to what extent? Totally, wholeheartedly, to a certain extent, not at all etc

What poems best illustrate Bishop’s carefully judged use of language and intensity of feeling? Carefully-judged use of language evident in all the poems we have studied Best for intensity of feeling: “In the Waiting Room” – horror, confusion, disgust etc “The Fish” – admiration, triumph, fascination, pride etc “Questions of Travel” – lack of stable home etc “The Prodigal” – shame, lack of stable home, pain etc OR any others of your choice What quotes can I use to show where Bishop’s language use aids us to uncover the intensity of feeling in the poems? NB – the poet’s feelings, not ours!

Marking Scheme Reward responses that show clear evidence of engagement with “carefully judged use of language” and “intensity of feeling” (though not necessarily equally) in Bishop’s poetry. Allow that “aids the reader to uncover” may be addressed explicitly or implicitly. Code UL for carefully judged use of language Code IF for intensity of feeling Material might be drawn from the following: precise language highlights memorable/emotional encounters with places/people/animals absorbing reflections/preoccupations revealed through a wide range of tones/moods clearly-defined personal experiences suggest hidden depths of emotion control of emotions and the presence/absence of moralizing about childhood, nature and death moments of insight/epiphany heightened by vivid detail, striking imagery/symbolism

Three possible approaches to this question: Examine each poem (one per section), showing how Bishop’s use of language (UL) in that poem conveys the intensity (strength) of feeling (IF)– poem-by-poem approach OR 2. Take four examples of her use of language, eg microscopic description, confessional style, simple language, interesting metaphors and similes (one per section) and in each section, show examples of how these convey the feelings in a number of poems Eg: First point: Confessional style used in “In the Waiting Room” (UL) to convey her internal emotional struggle (IF)(quote) and in “The Fish” to convey her admiration of the fish’s endurance (quote)

OR 3. Take four examples of the intensity of feeling in her poems and show how her language use creates this Eg: First point: Bishop’s sense of the lack of a stable home (IF) in her life comes across strongly in a number of her poems. Her use of rhetorical questions in “Questions of Travel” conveys this strongly as she wonders “Should we have stayed at home, wherever that may be?” (UL) - elaborate NB: If using approaches 2 or 3, ensure that you cover at least four poems in the course of your answer

Sample Opening I agree wholeheartedly that Elizabeth Bishop’s carefully judged use of language aids the reader to uncover the intensity of feeling in her work. Her minute descriptions, interesting and unusual similes, confessional style and many other features of her language use help to convey a wide variety of emotions, from distress and confusion to admiration and triumph. This skill is evident throughout her work, but I believe it can be particularly well illustrated in “The Fish”, “In the Waiting Room”, “The Prodigal” and “Questions of Travel”.