The 10 Mark Question

Success Criteria Learning Intention To understand how to structure the final question for poetry questions. To be able to structure your own answer to an unseen question. To be able to choose relevant material from the seen and unseen poems. Success Criteria

How to answer the Q… Use the headings: General Comment (2 marks) Exam poem (2 marks) Other poem (6 marks)

(1) General Comment Write a sentence for each poem to show how it ties in with the question.

(2) Exam Poem Quote a relevant example from your exam poem. Pick out the techniques used in the quote. Explain what they show us and link this back to what the question is asking. Do exactly the same again using another quotation from this poem.

(3) Other Poem Do exactly the same as the Exam poem but do it six times. You can focus on one or two other poems. NOTE: Remember to always link back to the question at the end of each bullet point.

Question Discuss how the poet uses striking words and imagery to explore a deeper theme in “In Mrs Tilscher’s Class” and at least 1 other Duffy poem.

My Answer General Comment In “In Mrs Tilscher’s Class”, Duffy uses striking imagery such as the comparison of the children to tadpoles and the personification of the bell to illustrate the theme of growing up In “War Photographer”, Duffy uses the description of the war zone and the memory of the man dying to illustrate the theme of the horror of war In “Valentine”, Duffy uses the imagery of the onion as a symbol of the good and bad side of love to highlight the theme of love.

My Answer General Comment In “Visiting Hour”, MacCaig uses striking imagery such as the description of the smell of the hospital and the comparison of the illness to a cave to illustrate the theme of loss In “Aunt Julia”, MacCaig uses the imagery of memories of his aunt and his sadness that she is dead to illustrate the theme of loss. In “Brooklyn Cop”, MacCaig uses the imagery of the cop as a gorilla and the potential for him to be dangerous to highlight the theme of good vs. bad

“inky tadpoles changed from commas into exclamation marks” Exam Poem “inky tadpoles changed from commas into exclamation marks” This metaphor compares the children to tadpoles/frogs and shows how they change as they grow up. Just as a tadpole develops into a frog and changes its appearance so too the children develop physically and mentally as they grow up. The creates the effect of emphasising how the children change as they develop through childhood. This illustrates the theme of growing up as it clearly emphasises the changes the children go through and how they become more complex and developed as they become older. “the air tasted of electricity.” This metaphor compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ……………………………………………………….

“The hospital smell/combs my nostrils” Exam Poem “The hospital smell/combs my nostrils” This metaphor compares smell to a comb brushing through the poet’s nose and shows the power of the smell. Just as a comb would pass through the strands of hair so too the smell touches every part of the speaker’s nose. The creates the effect of emphasising the fact that he cannot escape the smell. This illustrates the theme of loss as it clearly emphasises how much he dislikes this location and cannot escape how negative it is. “white cave of forgetfulness” This metaphor compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ……………………………………………………….

“running children in a nightmare heat” Other Poem "half formed ghost” This metaphor compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ………………………………………………………. “running children in a nightmare heat”

Other Poem "But I hear her still, welcoming me/with a seagull’s voice” This metaphor compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ………………………………………………………. “the absolute darkness”

“Not a red rose or a satin heart” Other Poem “spools of suffering” This striking word choice of tells the reader ……………………….… ………………………….... The word choice of “……………….…………..” suggests…………………………………………………. The use of alliteration creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ………………………………………………………. “Not a red rose or a satin heart”

Other Poem “getting angry, getting angry, with so many questions, unanswered” This striking word choice of tells the reader ……………………….… ………………………….... The word choice of “……………….…………..” suggests…………………………………………………. The use of repetition creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ………………………………………………………. “Built like a gorilla but less timid, thick fleshed, steak coloured” This simile compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ……………………………………………………….

“It is a moon wrapped in brown paper” Other Poem “it will blind you with tears like a lover” This simile compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ………………………………………………………. “It is a moon wrapped in brown paper” This metaphor compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ……………………………………………………….

“He is a gorilla to whom “Hiya, honey” is no cliche” Other Poem “Who would be him, gorilla with a nightstick?” This metaphor compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... The use of rhetorical question creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ………………………………………………………. “He is a gorilla to whom “Hiya, honey” is no cliche” This metaphor compares …………….to ………………….. and shows …………………………………………………. Just as a ……………………….. so too ……………………………………………….. The creates the effect of ……………………………………………... This illustrates the theme of …………………………………. as it clearly emphasises ……………………………………………………….

Poem Summary Brooklyn cop MacCaig portrays the imposing presence of a New York policeman. In doing so, MacCaig considers the fragile nature of society and the challenges that it can pose. Hotel Room 12th Floor From his hotel room in New York during a trip in the mid-sixties, MacCaig considers the nature of society, and whether it has come as far as its technological advances would suggest. Basking Shark This poem compares the evolutionary paths of basking sharks and humans. The sharks’ lives remain relatively unchanged for millions of years, but humans lead vastly changed lives. Aunt Julia This poem evokes Norman MacCaig's warm memories of his Aunt Julia. She lived in a croft on a small island in the Outer Hebrides, speaking no English, only her native Gaelic language. Assisi Norman MacCaig's poem describes a visit to the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. The basilica's role as a landmark is contrasted with the Christian ideals behind its construction. Visiting Hour Visiting Hour describes a visit to someone who is dying in hospital. The speaker tries to maintain his composure in order to prevent revealing his worry and fears to the person he is visiting.

Poem Summary The Way My Mother Speaks In this poem the poet/persona is on a train that "goes down England". The journey is both literal and metaphorical, as here Duffy is concerned with the transition between childhood and adulthood In Mrs Tilscher’s Class Duffy explores the theme of childhood and growing up in this poem. She describes the joys of primary school before the children are exposed to a more frightening adult world. Valentine This poem expresses love and affection in the form of a conceit whereby the symbol of love being offered by the persona is an unconventional onion. War Photographer This poem addresses the peculiar challenge faced by war photographers, whose job requires them to record terrible, horrific events without being able to help them directly. Mrs Midas Mrs Midas is a poem written from the viewpoint of the wife of the mythological King Midas from Metamorphoses. King Midas was granted a wish whereby everything he touched would turn to gold. Originally This autobiographical poem sees Duffy considering and exploring the sense of isolation and confusion felt when she moved as a child from Scotland to England.