2. This is a poem about...

3. This is a poem about love and regret. Paris, a city traditionally associated with love and romance, is the poem’s setting but Fenton substitutes the clichés of love poetry with the description of two people in a shabby Parisian hotel room. The persona/voice describes the lover, the room and his confused emotions. The poem is light-hearted but also sensuous.

4. How you read a poem is as important as what you read. In pairs, do some experimental readings with the following emotions: AngerPleadingBoredom ScornSadnessLove AngerPleadingBoredom ScornSadnessLove

5. You will either be given a THEME or a QUOTE from the poem. Quotes It is your job to find a theme to match up with. Quotes It is your job to find a theme to match up with. Themes It is your job to gather as many quotes that explore your theme as possible. Themes It is your job to gather as many quotes that explore your theme as possible. Remember – you will need to justify your choices!

6. Working in groups: Your group will be given a stanza of the poem and a list of techniques to look for. Your job is to find each technique, highlight it and then annotate it with the EFFECT it creates. Remember: it’s no good to merely be able to pick out or use a technique; you have to be able to recognise the effect of using that technique. e.g.

7. Look at the words used to describe the hotel room. What do these words have in common? Could they be used to describe the relationship? How has Fenton connected the hotel room and the relationship between the people in the poem?

8. Imagery The relationship and the hotel room have many things in common…. The phrase …. Suggests…. The persona/voice feels… The images of…. In the poem convey… Imagery The relationship and the hotel room have many things in common…. The phrase …. Suggests…. The persona/voice feels… The images of…. In the poem convey…

9. The poem is made up of five stanzas. There is rhyme at the end of the lines, and some internal rhyme (rhyme within the lines). The poem also uses repetition of words and structure in a number of places for effect. What effect do you think Fenton is trying to achieve with the use of repetition?

10. TechniqueEvidenceEffect Metaphor“I’m a hostage” Repetition First Person Refrain