poems from other cultures revision task

8/8/2019 Poems From Other Cultures Revision Task

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Poems from Other CulturesPoems from Other Cultures

a comparative approacha comparative approach

Work your way through this resource to giveWork your way through this resource to give

you the tools to approach DCAT questionsyou the tools to approach DCAT questionsin the exam.in the exam.


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How do poets use language to show culture in Search for MyHow do poets use language to show culture in Search for My

Tongue and Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan?Tongue and Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan?

Use SMILE to help you answer these questions:Use SMILE to help you answer these questions:

SS structurestructure

1. Why is the Gujarati (Indian language) being placed at1. Why is the Gujarati (Indian language) being placed atthe heart of the poem significant?the heart of the poem significant?

....

2. What does the irregular structure of the lines suggest2. What does the irregular structure of the lines suggest

about the poets message?about the poets message?


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MM-- meaningmeaning

3. What does Sujata Bhatt mean when she says3. What does Sujata Bhatt mean when she says

You ask me what I mean/ By saying I have lostYou ask me what I mean/ By saying I have lost

my tongue?my tongue?....

4. What does Moniza Alvi feel about belonging to4. What does Moniza Alvi feel about belonging to

two cultures?two cultures?

....


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II -- imageryimagery

5. What is the central (most important) metaphor5. What is the central (most important) metaphor

of Search for My Tongue?of Search for My Tongue?

....

6. Give two examples of similes in Presents from6. Give two examples of similes in Presents from

My Aunts in PakistanMy Aunts in Pakistan

..


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LL -- languagelanguage

7. What is the key feature of language that you7. What is the key feature of language that you

would pick out from Search?would pick out from Search?

....8. Write down three examples of descriptive8. Write down three examples of descriptive

language used in Presents from My Aunts inlanguage used in Presents from My Aunts in

PakistanPakistan

....


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EE -- effectseffects

9. What is the effect of the metaphor it blossoms9. What is the effect of the metaphor it blossoms

out of my mouth?out of my mouth?

....10. Comment on the effectiveness of descriptive10. Comment on the effectiveness of descriptive

language used in Presents.language used in Presents.

....


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Now answer the comparativeNow answer the comparative

question:question:How do poets use language to show culture inHow do poets use language to show culture in

Search for My Tongue and Presents from MySearch for My Tongue and Presents from My

Aunts in Pakistan?Aunts in Pakistan?

You need to use a POETIC paragraph to structure yourYou need to use a POETIC paragraph to structure yourresponseresponse remember to cover SMILE in your answer.remember to cover SMILE in your answer.

Look on the following page for an example paragraph toLook on the following page for an example paragraph tohelp you start your own response.help you start your own response.


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POETICPOETIC

PointPoint make a point about the poemmake a point about the poem

OpinionOpinion how effective is this technique/pointhow effective is this technique/point

Evidence/exampleEvidence/example use a quoteuse a quote

TechniqueTechnique refer specifically to a technique e.grefer specifically to a technique e.gstructure, language, presentation, imagerystructure, language, presentation, imagery

IdeasIdeas make a comment about the poets ideas andmake a comment about the poets ideas and

feelingsfeelings ComparisonComparison use a connective to compare to anotheruse a connective to compare to another

poempoem


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Sample POETIC paragraphSample POETIC paragraph(P) In Search for My Tongue the poet uses language to illustrate the conflict(P) In Search for My Tongue the poet uses language to illustrate the conflict

arising from having two tongues or languages. (O) This shows her concernsarising from having two tongues or languages. (O) This shows her concernsabout forgetting her own culture when she is living in a foreign country. (E)about forgetting her own culture when she is living in a foreign country. (E)This is shown when she saysThis is shown when she says

I ask you, what would you do/ if you had two tongues in your mouth,/ and lostI ask you, what would you do/ if you had two tongues in your mouth,/ and lostthe first one, the mother tongue,/ and could not really know the other,/ thethe first one, the mother tongue,/ and could not really know the other,/ the

foreign tongue.foreign tongue.(T) The poets use of questioning shows (I) her own sense of confusion at(T) The poets use of questioning shows (I) her own sense of confusion atbelonging to two cultures. By referring to two tongues she forces the readerbelonging to two cultures. By referring to two tongues she forces the readerto think about the physical and emotional idea of having two tongues in yourto think about the physical and emotional idea of having two tongues in yourmouth/life. (C) Similarly in Presents (P) language is used to show a sense ofmouth/life. (C) Similarly in Presents (P) language is used to show a sense ofconfusion at belonging to two cultures. (O) Alvi is struggling to come toconfusion at belonging to two cultures. (O) Alvi is struggling to come toterms with a sense of dual identity. (E) This can be seen when she says:terms with a sense of dual identity. (E) This can be seen when she says:

The presents were radiant in my wardrobe./ My aunts requested cardigans/ fromThe presents were radiant in my wardrobe./ My aunts requested cardigans/ fromMarks and Spencers.Marks and Spencers.

(T) The poets use of juxtaposition, putting her Pakistani presents next to the(T) The poets use of juxtaposition, putting her Pakistani presents next to thevery English presents of cardigans, reflects her feelings towards belonging tovery English presents of cardigans, reflects her feelings towards belonging totwo cultures at the same time. (I) The technique is effective because ittwo cultures at the same time. (I) The technique is effective because itemphasises the contrasting cultures and gives us a sense of what she mustemphasises the contrasting cultures and gives us a sense of what she must

feel.feel.

poems from other cultures revision task

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