Answering the Final Question ‘Lucozade’ and ‘Divorce’ Scottish Set Texts Jackie Kay Answering the Final Question ‘Lucozade’ and ‘Divorce’

The Final Question The final question is worth 8 marks. It will ask you to compare or contrast the poem you have in front of you with at least one other you have studied by the same writer. Your answer should be set out in bullet points and should follow a set structure. The following slides provide guidance on how to do this.

Answering The Final Question Commonality: Refer to another poem or poems and say what it has / they have in common / in contrast with the given poem. (2) (e.g. theme, central relationship, importance of setting, use of imagery, development in characterisation, use of personal experience, use of narrative style, any other key feature…)

Answering The Final Question Extract: Refer to the extract you have been given in relation to the question. (2) (1 x relevant reference to technique / idea / feature (1) + 1 x appropriate comment (1))

Answering The Final Question 3. Other 1: Refer to a second poem / extract in relation to the question. (2) (1 x relevant reference to technique / idea / feature (1) + 1 x appropriate comment (1)) 4. Other 2: Repeat stage 3 for the second or a third poem. (2)

Answering The Final Question Summary 1. Commonality: refer to another poem or poems and say what it has / they have in common / in contrast with the given poem. (2) 2. Extract: refer to the extract / poem you have been given in relation to the question. (2) 3. Other 1: refer to a second poem / extract in relation to the question. (2) 4. Other 2: repeat stage 3 for the second or a third poem. (2)

Comparing and Contrasting ‘Lucozade’ and ‘Divorce’

‘Lucozade’ Told from the perspective of a 16-year-old persona visiting his/her mother in hospital. Explores ideas about death. ‘Divorce’ Monologue written in the voice of an adolescent. Addressed to his/her parents, threatening to divorce them. Explores themes of generational conflict. Light-hearted in tone.

Stylistic and Thematic Connections ‘Lucozade’ ‘Divorce’ First person monologue Age of speaker Gender of speaker Parent–child relationship Symbolism / significant central images Domestic setting / concerns Element(s) of humour Theme of age Theme of time Theme of illness / sickness / death Rite of passage / defining life moment ✔ ✔ teenager teenager not certain female ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

The final question in the set text questions on ‘Lucozade’ (2014 Nat 5 exam) is as follows: Identify at least one theme from this poem. Using close textual reference, show how the theme (or themes) is explored in this poem, and in at least one other poem by Jackie Kay. (8) ‘close textual reference’ means that you have to QUOTE from the poems. What does this mean? This means you have to write about the poem which is in the exam paper, and at least one other poem, in this case “Divorce’.

The final question in the set text questions on ‘Lucozade’ (2014 Nat 5 exam) is as follows: Identify at least one theme from this poem. Using close textual reference, show how the theme (or themes) is explored in this poem, and in at least one other poem by Jackie Kay. (8) What does this mean? You have to write about a common THEME in the poems. We are going to compare the poems and see what theme(s) they have in common.

Comparing the Poems ‘Lucozade’ ‘Divorce’ Explores the nature of relationships between parents and children Explores the nature of relationships between parents and children Persona is visiting her ill mother in hospital Juvenile persona who is clearly angry with her parents and is determined to arrange a divorce from them Conveys the message that family bonds can cause great emotional pain and conflicting feelings Conveys the message that family bonds can cause great emotional pain and conflicting feelings Persona is scared about what is going to happen to her mother Persona asserts her independence and contempt for any role her parents might play in her life

Parent / child relationships - Quotes ‘Lucozade’ ‘Divorce’ 1 quote needed 2 quotes needed “I am scared my mum is going to die on the bed next to the sad chrysanthemums.” “I would be better off in an orphanage.” “You are rough and wild, I don’t want to be your child. All you do is shout And that’s not right.”

Answering the final set text question Refer to another text and say what it has in common / in contrast with the given text. (2) Refer to the extract you have been given in relation to the question. (2) Refer to the second text in relation to the question. (1 x relevant reference to technique / idea / feature (1) + 1 x appropriate comment (1)) Repeat step 3 for N5. (2)

Here is a sample answer.

1. Refer to another text and say what it has in 1. Refer to another text and say what it has in common / in contrast with the given text. (2) Both ‘Lucozade’ and ‘Divorce’ explore the theme of relationships between parents and children. The persona in ‘Lucozade’, probably a teenage girl, is visiting her sick mother in hospital and is upset and worried about her. In contrast, the teenage persona in ‘Divorce’ is clearly angry with her parents and is determined to arrange a divorce from them. 1 1

2. Refer to the extract you have been given in 2. Refer to the extract you have been given in relation to the question. (2) In the first stanza of ‘Lucozade’ the person tells us “I am scared my mum is going to die on the bed next to the sad chrysanthemums.” 1 This simple confessional statement connects the mother to the flowers, which are traditionally associated with illness and hospitals. Her fear for her mother shows their closeness and it is suggested that she, like the flowers will ‘wilt and die’. 1

3. Refer to the second text in relation to the question. (1 x relevant reference to technique / idea / feature (1) + 1 x appropriate comment (1)) Repeat x1 In contrast, the teenage girl in ‘Divorce’ states 1 “I would be better off in an orphanage.” This reveals that she would prefer it if her parents were dead rather than have to put up with them. This melodramatic statement reminds us of the kind of thing teenagers say when fighting with their parents and we can imagine her stomping off and slamming the door behind her. There is obvious tension and resentment between the child and her parents. 1

4. Refer to the second text in relation to the question. (1 x relevant reference to technique / idea / feature (1) + 1 x appropriate comment (1)) She later says of her parents: “You are rough and wild, I don’t want to be your child. All you do is shout and that’s not right.” 1 This is ironic as it is the speaker who is coming across as rough and wild at this point and the accusative tone suggests it might be being shouted at the parents. “Wild” here also makes us think of an unruly child and we think it might be something that the parents have accused the girl of being. It might also be role reversal, where the parents act like children and their daughter must take on the role of responsible adult. 1

Here is the whole answer

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Commonality Text 1 Quote & comment Both ‘Lucozade’ and ‘Divorce’ explore the theme of relationships between parents and children. The persona in ‘Lucozade’, probably a teenage girl, is visiting her sick mother in hospital and is upset and worried about her. In contrast, the teenage persona in ‘Divorce’ is clearly angry with her parents and is determined to arrange a divorce from them. In the first stanza of ‘Lucozade’ the person tells us “I am scared my mum is going to die / on the bed next to the sad chrysanthemums.” This simple confessional statement connects the mother to the flowers, which are traditionally associated with illness and hospitals. Her fear for her mother shows their closeness and it is suggested that she, like the flowers will ‘wilt and die’. In contrast, the teenage girl in ‘Divorce’ states “I would be better off in an orphanage.” This reveals that she would prefer it if her parents were dead rather than have to put up with them. This melodramatic statement reminds us of the kind of thing teenagers say when fighting with their parents and we can imagine her stomping off and slamming the door behind her. There is obvious tension and resentment between the child and her parents. She later says of her parents: “You are rough and wild, / I don’t want to be your child. All you do is shout / and that’s not right.” This is ironic as it is the speaker who is coming across as rough and wild at this point and the accusative tone suggests it might be being shouted at the parents. “Wild” here also makes us think of an unruly child and we think it might be something that the parents have accused the girl of being. It might also be role reversal, where the parents act like children and their daughter must take on the role of responsible adult. Commonality ✔ ✔ ✔ Text 1 Quote & comment ✔ ✔ Text 2 Quote & comment ✔ ✔ Text 2/3 Quote & comment ✔

Now it’s your turn. Use the grid you have been given to answer the following question: With close textual reference, show how the ideas and/or language of this poem are similar OR different to at least one other poem by Jackie Kay that you have read. Use ‘Divorce’ as the extract text Use ‘Lucozade’ as the other text

Stylistic and Thematic Connections ‘Lucozade’ ‘Divorce’ First person monologue Age of speaker Gender of speaker Parent–child relationship Symbolism / significant central images Domestic setting / concerns Element(s) of humour Theme of age Theme of time Theme of illness / sickness / death Rite of passage / defining life moment ✔ ✔ teenager teenager not certain female ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔