1. Poems from Different Cultures
Teacher-of-English.com
Love After Love
Poems from Different Cultures

2. Examination Preparation
Slide Contents
Author
Themes
What is it About?
Structure
Language
Examination Preparation
Links

3. The Author

4. Derek Walcott
Derek Walcott was born in St Lucia, in the West Indies, in His mother was African and his father was English. He is a playwright and a painter but is best known as a poet.
In many of his poems he explores his feelings of conflict and isolation, caught between European culture and the folk culture of his native Caribbean.

5. Themes

6. Universal Ideas
Universal themes are ideas which could apply to any time or place. Themes such as good and evil, love and loneliness have been written about by people all over the world for thousands of years. In Love After Love the main theme is loneliness. The poet believes that it is better to be alone and be yourself than compromise who you are by being in a relationship.

7. What is it About?

8. There are three sections to this poem but do you know what they are?
What Happens?
There are three sections to this poem but do you know what they are?
Lines
What is happening?
1 – 5
The poet says that after the break up of a relationship you rediscover who you really are and should be happy.
6 – 11
12 – 15

9. There are four sections to this poem but do you know what they are?
What Happens?
There are four sections to this poem but do you know what they are?
Lines
What is happening?
1 – 5
The poet says that after the break up of a relationship you rediscover who you really are and should be happy.
6 – 11
The poet celebrates by eating and drinking alone to ‘get to know’ himself again.
12 – 15
He recommends removing evidence of previous relationships and to sit back and appreciate your life.

10. Structure

11. Structure
The poem is written in the second person - as if the poet addresses the reader directly. The style is like a self-help book, full of commands such as “sit”, “give”, “eat”, “take” and “feast” and the poet uses repetition (“give”, “love”, “stranger” and “life”) to further emphasise the instructional nature of the poem.
This is a very optimistic poem. It tells us that the time following the breakdown of a relationship should not be one of grief and pain but of self fulfilment and recovery.

12. Language & Imagery

13. Why does the poet use these particular images?
Natural Imagery
Look at the imagery used in the poem.
Why does the poet use these particular images?
Images
Effects of the image
Give wine. Give bread.
A religious reference – suggests a spiritual process or rite of passage.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf
Desperate notes
Peel your own images from the mirror
Feast on your life

14. The poem uses three types of language.
Language Features
The poem uses three types of language.
Ceremonial References to religious ceremonies are repeated. References The self is described as a person within you. to the self The poet says that we neglect our ‘self’ when we love another. Instructive The poet offers advice in a confident and Language assured way.

15. Poetic Techniques Match the technique with the correct definition.
Technique Definition Metaphor the act or process of saying or writing something again Repetition A figure of speech not meant literally Personification the attribution of human qualities to objects

16. Poetic Techniques Match the technique with the correct definition.
Technique Definition Metaphor the act or process of saying or writing something again Repetition A figure of speech not meant literally Personification the attribution of human qualities to objects

17. Poetic Techniques Technique Evidence Effect repetition ‘will’
Think about the poetic techniques discussed on the last slide. Copy down the chart below. Find examples in the poem and write down the effect created.
Technique
Evidence
Effect
repetition
‘will’
Will is repeated three times in the first stanza to emphasise the poet’s feelings of optimism and assurance.
metaphor
personification

18. Feelings and Attitudes
The poet is positive and optimistic.
He thinks that it is important to spend time getting to know yourself.
The poet believes that you would be happier alone than living with someone else and compromising your true self.
He is confident that his advice is good.

19. Examination Preparation

20. The Examination Paper You will have 45 minutes to answer the question.
You will be asked to compare two poems.
You should begin by annotating the question for the key words. This will help you to understand what you are being asked to do.
E.g. Compare ‘Love After Love’ with one other poem which shows how poets use language to convey their thoughts and feelings in their poems.

21. Planning
Spend between 5 and 10 minutes making a plan. This will help you to order your essay logically.
Make a note of any key ideas you are going to include.
Leave at least 5 minutes at the end to read through your work and check for any basic errors.

22. Structure Remember: Write in paragraphs.
Don’t forget to P.E.E! Using a range of quotes that are properly embedded within your answer.
Begin with an introduction and end with a conclusion.
The main body of the essay should follow these five steps to make a good answer:
Write about the theme
Compare the structures of each poem
Compare the use of language in each poem
Compare the feelings of the poets
Write about how the poems make you feel.

23. Refer back to the question repeating the key words from it.
Making Connections
Use a series of comparisons, using connectives to link ideas, both within paragraphs and between paragraphs.
Similarity Connectives
Equally
In the same way
Similarly
Likewise
Just as…also
Contrast Connectives
In contrast
However
Whereas (best used in the middle of a sentence)
On the other hand
Refer back to the question repeating the key words from it.

24. gives the impression that
Analysis
Use the following words to link your Point -> Evidence -> Explain sentences. The use of these words will also help to ensure that your response is analytical.
suggests
implies
gives the impression that
shows
highlights
indicates
To make the same point using a different example, try one of these:
furthers
emphasises
reinforces

25. Recap
When you are comparing poems you will be asked to look for the similarities and the differences.
You should comment on the language they use. What poetic devices are present? Imagery, similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, rhyme etc. What effect do they have on the reader?
You will need to comment on the structure of the poems. How are they set out? Does this add to their overall effect/meaning?
Consider the tone of the poems. What mood has the author created?

26. Links

27. Useful Links ‘Love After Love’ short film: