Higher Poetry ‘Shooting Stars’ and ‘Visiting Hour’

Points to remember Must still include synopsis, but will be shorter than for prose and drama. Place it in your introduction. Must still include synopsis, but will be shorter than for prose and drama. Place it in your introduction. Also mention: dramatic monologue, free verse. Also mention: dramatic monologue, free verse. Deal with poems chronologically – don’t jump from end back to start and then to the middle. Deal with poems chronologically – don’t jump from end back to start and then to the middle. So first point should be taken from 1 st stanza etc. Of course you can refer to other areas of the poem in your analysis. So first point should be taken from 1 st stanza etc. Of course you can refer to other areas of the poem in your analysis. Place quotes in context by explaining were they come from and paraphrasing. Place quotes in context by explaining were they come from and paraphrasing. Quote large chunks to show context and write out as they are in the poem (indent). 2-4 lines. Quote large chunks to show context and write out as they are in the poem (indent). 2-4 lines.

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

Groups of 4/5 Come up with a plan for the following questions. Come up with a plan for the following questions. Decide which poem would be most appropriate. Decide which poem would be most appropriate. You need 3 points, 3 quotes and analysis. You need 3 points, 3 quotes and analysis. Everyone must be involved – no spare wheels! Everyone must be involved – no spare wheels!

Question 1 Choose a poem in which a specific setting is strongly evoked. Show how the poet creates this sense of place and/or time, and then discuss the relative importance of the setting to the poem as a whole. Choose a poem in which a specific setting is strongly evoked. Show how the poet creates this sense of place and/or time, and then discuss the relative importance of the setting to the poem as a whole.

‘Visiting Hour’ Powerful opening Powerful opening 2 nd verse – sense of uncertainty created – setting reminds us that hospitals are also places of death. 2 nd verse – sense of uncertainty created – setting reminds us that hospitals are also places of death. Sense of isolation created in final two stanzas. Despite being surrounded by people, death is still something we face alone. Made all the more poignant through setting. Sense of isolation created in final two stanzas. Despite being surrounded by people, death is still something we face alone. Made all the more poignant through setting. Thought-provoking ending: setting reminds us of the inevitability of death and leaves us with a sense of despair. Setting aids this as we are constantly reminded that hospitals are places of death as well as healing. Sometimes there is no hope. V. powerful end as we are reminded of our own mortality and that of thise around us. Thought-provoking ending: setting reminds us of the inevitability of death and leaves us with a sense of despair. Setting aids this as we are constantly reminded that hospitals are places of death as well as healing. Sometimes there is no hope. V. powerful end as we are reminded of our own mortality and that of thise around us.

Question 2 Choose a poem in which there is a sinister atmosphere or person or place. Show how the poet evokes this sinister quality and discuss how it adds to your appreciation of the poem. Choose a poem in which there is a sinister atmosphere or person or place. Show how the poet evokes this sinister quality and discuss how it adds to your appreciation of the poem.

Atmosphere Opening of the poem: savage and violent acts coupled or contrasted with sense of humanity (‘wedding ring’). Also, we have reminders of sheer scale of horror. Sinister and hopeless atmosphere. Opening of the poem: savage and violent acts coupled or contrasted with sense of humanity (‘wedding ring’). Also, we have reminders of sheer scale of horror. Sinister and hopeless atmosphere. Graphic imagery (Rape). Graphic imagery (Rape). Contrast (4 th stanza): ‘April’ vs. ‘die’. Use of sound and structure (to slow down pace). Cruelty is unsettling and sinister. Emphasised in next stanza through use of anaphora (‘After…’), which highlights contrast. The fact that we have perhaps forgotten the horrors of the Holocaust is sinister. Contrast (4 th stanza): ‘April’ vs. ‘die’. Use of sound and structure (to slow down pace). Cruelty is unsettling and sinister. Emphasised in next stanza through use of anaphora (‘After…’), which highlights contrast. The fact that we have perhaps forgotten the horrors of the Holocaust is sinister. Ending: reinforcement of spiritual, cultural identity enhances our connection with persona, enhances our pity and makes the sinister atmosphere all the more apparent as we become emotionally moved by the tragedy and horror of the Holocaust. Ending: reinforcement of spiritual, cultural identity enhances our connection with persona, enhances our pity and makes the sinister atmosphere all the more apparent as we become emotionally moved by the tragedy and horror of the Holocaust.

Question 3 Choose a poem in which the speaker’s personality is gradually revealed. Show how, through the use of content and language of the poem, aspects of the character gradually emerge. Choose a poem in which the speaker’s personality is gradually revealed. Show how, through the use of content and language of the poem, aspects of the character gradually emerge.

‘Visiting Hour’ Reluctant to feel emotions – strong sense of avoidance. Perhaps we are dealing with a person who struggles with challenging situations. Reluctant to feel emotions – strong sense of avoidance. Perhaps we are dealing with a person who struggles with challenging situations. Observant, which gradually moves towards… Observant, which gradually moves towards… helpless: think imagery in 5 th stanza emphasising isolation and fragility of life. helpless: think imagery in 5 th stanza emphasising isolation and fragility of life. Uncertain and hopeless: Oxymoronic ending. Uncertain and hopeless: Oxymoronic ending.

Question 4 Choose a poem which helps you to understand a challenging issue. Choose a poem which helps you to 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 with death. Challenging issue – how difficult it is to deal with death. 1 st stanza shows a clear avoidance of emotions, suggesting death is difficult to deal with. 1 st stanza shows a clear avoidance of emotions, suggesting death is difficult to deal with. 5 th stanza‘Ward 7. … trembles on it’s stalk.’ Fear of death from both parties. Death is frightening. 5 th stanza‘Ward 7. … trembles on it’s stalk.’ Fear of death from both parties. Death is frightening. Final stanza – feeling of helplessness and futility (oxymoron). Final stanza – feeling of helplessness and futility (oxymoron).

Question 5 Choose a poem in which contrast is important in developing theme. Explore the poet’s use of contrast and show why it is important in developing a key a key theme of the poem. Choose a poem in which contrast is important in developing theme. Explore the poet’s use of contrast and show why it is important in developing a key a key theme of the poem.

‘Shooting Stars’ Contrast used to develop theme of human suffering Contrast used to develop theme of human suffering Savage acts vs. wedding ring Savage acts vs. wedding ring Power of soldiers vs. prisoners (‘ragged gape’/ ‘soldiers laughed’) Power of soldiers vs. prisoners (‘ragged gape’/ ‘soldiers laughed’) Death vs. spring Death vs. spring Tragic occurrences vs. trivial – time moves on, yet we should not forget. Tragic occurrences vs. trivial – time moves on, yet we should not forget.

For further revision Learn poems and accompanying analysis. Learn poems and accompanying analysis. Revise past questions and practise planning (mind-maps, bullet points) Revise past questions and practise planning (mind-maps, bullet points) Practise timed essays and/or write out paragraphs. Practise timed essays and/or write out paragraphs. If you need further assistance on poems – just ask. If you need further assistance on poems – just ask.