1 GCSE English Paper 2 Poetry Revising for Cluster 1? You need to know…

2 ‘Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Mercedes’ by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

3 The Writer… Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a 1950s American poet. Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a 1950s American poet. In Two Scavengers... he writes about the differences that he has noticed in society. In Two Scavengers... he writes about the differences that he has noticed in society.

4 What the poem is about… The poem deals with one moment in time. The poem deals with one moment in time. It is a snapshot of society taken “at nine a.m. downtown San Francisco”. It is a snapshot of society taken “at nine a.m. downtown San Francisco”. The poem takes place in the present and describes what it is that the poet sees. The poem takes place in the present and describes what it is that the poet sees.

5 What the poem is about… continued The unusual layout of the poem suggests that it follows the poet’s thought processes as he watches the scene before him. The unusual layout of the poem suggests that it follows the poet’s thought processes as he watches the scene before him. The details build up gradually. The details build up gradually. The lack of main verbs and full stops makes it seem as if the poet is just noticing things. The lack of main verbs and full stops makes it seem as if the poet is just noticing things.

6 The structure of the poem… The poem is divided into three sections. The poem is divided into three sections. The first sets the scene (lines 1 – 9). The first sets the scene (lines 1 – 9). The second adds details (lines 10 – 30). The second adds details (lines 10 – 30). The final section reflects on what this tells the poet about society as a whole. The final section reflects on what this tells the poet about society as a whole.

7 The mood of the poem… It is not an emotional poem; rather it focuses on the details that set the two groups of people apart. It is not an emotional poem; rather it focuses on the details that set the two groups of people apart. Nothing actually happens during the poem which concentrates on two groups of people. Nothing actually happens during the poem which concentrates on two groups of people.

8 Similarities and differences between the characters… There are similarities between the characters (look at how they look). There are strong differences between them. There are similarities between the characters (look at how they look). There are strong differences between them. The garbagemen look “down / as from a great distance” into the Mercedes; the occupants of which seem not to notice. Why do you think they don’t appear to notice the garbage men? The garbagemen look “down / as from a great distance” into the Mercedes; the occupants of which seem not to notice. Why do you think they don’t appear to notice the garbage men? The poet observes that there are differences in class between the garbagemen in their “red plastic blazers” and the “elegant couple” in their luxury car. The poet observes that there are differences in class between the garbagemen in their “red plastic blazers” and the “elegant couple” in their luxury car. The garbage men are “grungy” and “hunched” while the couple in the Mercedes are “coifed” and clearly well off. The garbage men are “grungy” and “hunched” while the couple in the Mercedes are “coifed” and clearly well off.

9 The language… Look closely at the language used in the poem. Look closely at the language used in the poem. Pick out some more examples which observe the social differences. Pick out some more examples which observe the social differences. The language of the poem reflects American culture of the time through the use of words such as “hip” and “grungy”. The language of the poem reflects American culture of the time through the use of words such as “hip” and “grungy”. There is a clear political message in this poem. Ferlinghetti suggests that “everything is always possible”. However there is a “small gulf / in the high seas / of this democracy”. Who is everything possible for? Is everything possible for the garbage men? There is a clear political message in this poem. Ferlinghetti suggests that “everything is always possible”. However there is a “small gulf / in the high seas / of this democracy”. Who is everything possible for? Is everything possible for the garbage men? In a democracy, everyone is equal. Is this true in this poem? In a democracy, everyone is equal. Is this true in this poem?

10 You could compare this poem with: ‘Two Scavenger…’ (politics / unusual presentation ) ‘Two Scavenger…’ (politics / unusual presentation ) ‘Nothing’s Changed’ (politics / change) ‘Nothing’s Changed’ (politics / change) ‘Limbo’ (unusual presentation) ‘Limbo’ (unusual presentation) ‘Vultures’ (the nature of evil) ‘Vultures’ (the nature of evil)