Simon Armitage - About His Person

Simon Armitage - About His Person
Starter How far would you be prepared to go for the woman or man you love?

Lesson Objective To explore Simon Armitage’s poem About His Person, discover the poem’s hidden meaning and imagine ourselves in the life of this ‘Person’.

Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand. A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Mini Task 1: Write down: What sort of poem this is. Who is speaking. What you think he is telling you What this list of objects tells you What this list of objects doesn't tell you. What has happened to the person the objects belonged to. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Mini Task 1: Write down: What sort of poem this is. This is a list poem, but it reads like a formal report. Who is speaking. A police officer, as this is the sort of unemotional report a police officer would have to deliver to a Coroner's court. What you think he is telling you. He is describing the objects found on or near the body of a dead man. What this list of objects tells you The list tells you something about the last 7 days of this man’s life. What this list of objects doesn't tell you. Why/how he has died, Simon Armitage leaves that for you to work out. What has happened to the person the objects belonged to. He has killed himself. Vocab. Coroner: an official who holds inquests into violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths.

Simon Armitage - About His Person The Story of the Poem
Mini Task 2: What is the ‘story ‘ of the poem? Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Simon Armitage - About His Person The Story of the Poem
Mini Task 2: What is the ‘story ‘ of the poem? The body of a man has been discovered and on or around his body are a collection of objects which by themselves make little sense, but when put together build up a picture of the last days of this man’s life and perhaps offer an explanation as to why he has killed himself. The form of the poem is a monologue/list and this might well be a police office in a coroner’s court describing what they found on this body. We assume that this character is a man and he has killed himself. In the UK a coroner's court would have to decide the cause of death; natural causes, misadventure (accident) unlawful killing (murder) or suicide. Simon Armitage gives us the clues and asks us to ‘play detective’ and work out why this man has died. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Simon Armitage - About His Person Structure
Mini Task 3: How is the poem composed or structured? Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Simon Armitage - About His Person Structure
Mini Task 3: How is the poem composed or structured? Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything. 10 Two line stanzas. Each Stanza is a rhyming couplet. Line length varies from 4-12 syllables. There are several examples of alliteration. Enjambment is used several times.

Simon Armitage - About His Person Clues
Mini Task : 4 Write down one ‘clue’ from each stanza that help tell you what the poem is about. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Mini Task : 4 - a Write down one ‘clue’ from each stanza that help tell you what the poem is about. . Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly.  He has money on him so he has not been mugged. A library card  Would have his name, so his identity is known. on its date of expiry.  Expired – finished – over . A postcard,  The picture shows a place where someone (his wife) is staying . unwritten  No note on the postcard. Stamped … but franked  But it has been sent through the post. diary slashed from 24th March-1st April. Nine days erased. The days since she left? brace of keys  Two Keys for the same lock. She has returned her house keys to him. watch, self-winding  A watch that is wound by movement. stopped.  There has been no movement for at least 12 hours.

Mini Task : 4 - b Write down one ‘clue’ from each stanza that help tell you what the poem is about. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything. A final demand.  You must do something (like pay a bill) or else! In his own hand  The demand is written by him – it may read ‘come back or……’ note of explanation.  A suicide note! Carnation….beheaded  A flower worn by men at weddings…..has he cut his throat? In his fist a shopping list  A list of things he must do before he kills himself. giveaway photograph  A small photo of his wife. heart of a locket  His wife’s heart shaped locket. A love token she has returned. No gold or silver  No jewellery, not even a wedding ring. a ring of white unweathered skin  A ring of white skin where his wedding ring used to be. That was everything No it isn’t. There is more to this story than a list of items found on a body. 12

Simon Armitage - About His Person Key Feature Imagery
Mini Task 5: The key feature of this poem is imagery. In the poem, Simon Armitage creates a series of ‘snapshots’ that describe the objects found on this body and help us build up a picture of the last days of his life. List one ‘image’ from each stanza. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Mini Task 5: List one ‘image’ from each stanza. Money & a library card. A stamped, unwritten postcard. A slashed pocket diary. 2 Keys and a stopped watch. A handwritten ‘suicide’ note. A shopping list. A wallet containing a small photograph and a locket. The ‘ring finger’ of his left hand. A white mark on the skin of his ring finger. Mini Task 6: From these images can you work out why has he killed himself? Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Mini Task 6: Why has he killed himself? His wife has left him and by sending back her house keys, the locket and a blank postcard he knows he is not coming back, even after he sent her a suicide note, which she also returned! Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Simon Armitage - About His Person Timeline
Mini Task : 7 From the objects in the poem piece together the final few days of this tragic life. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Simon Armitage - About His Person Timeline
Mini Task : 7 From these objects piece together the final few days of this tragic life. On or around March 24th this man’s wife left him She sent him a postcard with no message from where she has moved to. She has also returned her set of house keys and a locket the man had given her. The man has written her a note demanding she return ‘or else’. She has sent the note back to him. Because he has money on him the man has not been mugged. There is a suicide note and a diary with a week ‘slashed’ out. The is a shopping list of things he has to do before he kills himself. He has also removed and got rid of his wedding ring. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

The poem in Detail - Rhyme Mini Task 8: On your copy of the poem underline or highlight the parts of the poem that rhyme. (Don’t do the whole word unless the whole word rhymes.) Mini Task 9: What happens in Stanza 4 and the final couplet? Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

The poem in Detail - Rhyme Mini Task 8: On your copy of the poem underline or highlight the parts of the poem that rhyme. (Don’t do the whole word unless the whole word rhymes.) Mini Task 9: What happens in Stanza 4 and the final couplet? Stanza 4 chimes on the ‘opp/ock’ sound A brace of keys for a mortise lock An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. The last couplet chimes on the ‘in’ sound: a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

The poem in Detail - Enjambment Mini Task 10: On Your copy of the poem use arrows to show where you think the Enjambment is. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

The poem in Detail - Enjambment Mini Task 10: On Your copy of the poem use arrows to show where you think the Enjambment is. Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil  from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand  in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation,  but beheaded. In his fist  a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger  a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

The poem in Detail - Enjambment Mini Task 11: On Your copy of the poem underline or highlight where you think the Alliteration is. Mini Task 12: What is the effect of the poetic devices that Simon Armitage uses in this poem? Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

The poem in Detail - Enjambment Mini Task 11: On Your copy of the poem underline or highlight where you think the Alliteration is. Mini Task 12: Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything. Because of the rhyme scheme, alliteration and enjambment, this poem has a strong rhythm .

About His Person Your response
Mini Task 14: Write the diary entries for this man for Wednesday March 24th to Wednesdy 1st April. [Note: April 1st is also known as ‘April Fools Day’] Remember to use the clues to help you write your entries and try to show how the emotional pressure has built up on this man so that he feels his only way out is to take his own life. Some crisis points to consider are: The postcard The keys His demand The Locket The shopping list The ring Five pounds fifty in change, exactly. A library card on its date of expiry. A postcard, stamped, unwritten, but franked. A pocket-size diary slashed with a pencil from March twenty-fourth to the first of April. A brace of keys for a mortise lock. An analogue watch, self-winding, stopped. A final demand in his own hand A rolled up note of explanation planted there like a spray carnation, but beheaded. In his fist a shopping list. A giveaway photograph stashed in his wallet, a keepsake banked in the heart of a locket. No gold or silver. But crowning one finger a ring of white unweathered skin. That was everything.

Simon Armitage - About His Person

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