Island man

Grace Nichols

Life on a Caribbean

Island

Life in London

Imagine…

Differences between life on a Differences between life on a Caribbean island and life in LondonCaribbean island and life in London

CULTURECULTURE

Guyana:Guyana:

•Country on the north coast of Country on the north coast of South America;South America;

•One of the poorest nations in the One of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere;Western hemisphere;

•Gained independence from Gained independence from Britain in 1966.Britain in 1966.

SURFACE MEANINGSURFACE MEANING

•A man who used to live A man who used to live on a Caribbean island on a Caribbean island still dreams of this still dreams of this place even now when place even now when he lives in London.he lives in London.

Island ManIsland Man

MorningMorningand island man wakes upand island man wakes upto the sound of blue surfto the sound of blue surfin his headin his headthe steady breaking and wombingthe steady breaking and wombing

wild seabirdswild seabirdsand fishermen pushing out to seaand fishermen pushing out to seathe sun surfacing defiantlythe sun surfacing defiantlyfrom the eastfrom the eastof his small emerald islandof his small emerald islandhe always comes back he always comes back groggily groggily

groggilygroggily

Comes back to sandsComes back to sandsof a grey metallic soarof a grey metallic soar

to surge of to surge of wheelswheels

to dull North Circular roarto dull North Circular roar

muffling mufflingmuffling mufflinghis crumpled pillow waveshis crumpled pillow wavesisland man heaves himselfisland man heaves himself

Another London dayAnother London day

Island Man

(for a Caribbean island man in London who still wakes up to the sound of the sea)

MorningAnd island man wakes upTo the sound of blue surfIn his headThe steady breaking and wombing

wild seabirdsand fisherman pushing out to seathe sun surfacing defiantlyfrom the eastof his small emerald islandhe always comes back groggily

groggily

Clear link with other traditions

Alliteration with the letter 's'

This word has many associations, but the predominant image is one of comfort and security

very positive image

Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge

Note the vibrant colours

muffling muffling

his crumpled pillow waves

island man heaves himself

Another London day

Grace Nichols

Comes back to sandsof a grey metallic soar

to surge of wheelsto dull North Circular road

Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge

Stark last line, physically isolated, with no preposition or verb

Suggest comparison of a man heaving himself on to an island

Capital letters but no punctuation in poem

a busy road around London

Change of perspective here

Colour contrast, not vibrant but drab

IDEAS, ATTITUDES, IDEAS, ATTITUDES, FEELINGSFEELINGS• Ideas:Ideas:

– Comparing the simple beautiful way of life on a Caribbean Comparing the simple beautiful way of life on a Caribbean island to the noise and rush of a modern cityisland to the noise and rush of a modern city

– When far away from home some people will over idealise itWhen far away from home some people will over idealise it– Never forget where you come fromNever forget where you come from

• Attitudes:Attitudes:– Island man does not seem to feel at home in London Island man does not seem to feel at home in London

therefore there is a sense of being out of place and not therefore there is a sense of being out of place and not belongingbelonging

– The opportunities of London are far removed from the The opportunities of London are far removed from the beauties of the Caribbeanbeauties of the Caribbean

• Feelings:Feelings:– HomesickHomesick– Idealising the past / previous homeIdealising the past / previous home– RegretRegret– Dull repetitive nature of present working lifeDull repetitive nature of present working life

Metaphor Metaphor • sands / of a grey metallic soar sands / of a grey metallic soar (London as an unpleasant beach)(London as an unpleasant beach)

PersonificatioPersonificationn

• • the sun surfacing defiantlythe sun surfacing defiantly

• • to dull North Circular roarto dull North Circular roar

AlliterationAlliteration • • sun surfacingsun surfacing

• • Stanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge Stanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge (like the sounds of the sea)(like the sounds of the sea)

RepetitionRepetition • • groggily groggilygroggily groggily

• • muffling mufflingmuffling muffling

LanguageLanguage

Island ManIsland Man

• There is no punctuation in the poem. There is no punctuation in the poem. Why? What image does the Island Why? What image does the Island man have in his head? How does the man have in his head? How does the poet’s choice of language reflect that poet’s choice of language reflect that image?image?

• There are more capital letters on the There are more capital letters on the second part of the poem. Why? Think second part of the poem. Why? Think of the formality of capital letters.of the formality of capital letters.

Island ManIsland Man

Island:Island:

• ““blue surf”blue surf”

• ““wild seabirds”wild seabirds”

• ““fishermen”fishermen”

• ““emerald island”emerald island”

London:London:

• ““grey metallic grey metallic soar”soar”

• ““to surge of to surge of wheels”wheels”

• ““dull North Circular dull North Circular roar”roar”

• ““Another London Another London day”day”

Back to exams…Back to exams…

• The question will name ONE poem, you The question will name ONE poem, you must choose the othermust choose the other

• Use the wording of the question at the Use the wording of the question at the beginning and end of EVERY paragraphbeginning and end of EVERY paragraph

• Relate everything you write to the Relate everything you write to the questionquestion

The more points you make the The more points you make the higher the grade!higher the grade!

•How does “Blessing” How does “Blessing” and one other poem and one other poem from this selection, from this selection, show the importance show the importance of culture and cultural of culture and cultural backgroundbackground

Sample Exam QuestionSample Exam Question

Planning a response to the question Planning a response to the question on poetry from other cultureson poetry from other cultures

When planning an answer to the question on When planning an answer to the question on poems from other cultures do not consider poems from other cultures do not consider one poem and then another and then try to one poem and then another and then try to make comparisons in your conclusion. You make comparisons in your conclusion. You should be comparing (discussing similarities) should be comparing (discussing similarities) and contrasting (considering differences) the and contrasting (considering differences) the poems throughout your essay.poems throughout your essay.

This will also help you to ANALYSE the poems rather than simply DESCRIBING them. E.g. You don’t get m(any) marks for saying, ‘there is a metaphor in the first stanza’ but you will get credit for writing, ‘the poet compares her use of language to a flower which shows how she feels it is alive and growing’.

Language / Themes/Techniques

‘Blessing’ ‘Island Man’

What is the subject of each poem?

Describe the poet’s tone and attitude.

How does the poet use rhythm to suit the subject matter?

How does each poet bring the environment / place to life?

How are the people presented in each poem? (Look at how the poet describes their actions, for example.)

How does each poet use imagery?

Does each poet use unconventional forms? If so, why? (e.g. lack of punctuation, short line lengths, and unusual layout).

‘Island Man’: Evoking Place

Using ‘Island Man’ as an influence, write a postcard to a friend from either:a tropical islanda bustling city centre

Describe the place as you have experienced it. Use experience and / or imagination!