Refer to D.H. Lawrence’s ‘Last Lesson of the Afternoon’ and B. Patten’s ‘Dead Thick.’ Compare and contrast where appropriate. In your concluding comments, say which you prefer and why.

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English Coursework

Task: Refer to D.H. Lawrence's 'Last Lesson of the Afternoon' and B. Patten's 'Dead Thick.' Compare and contrast where appropriate. In your concluding comments, say which you prefer and why.

'Last Lesson of the Afternoon' and 'Dead Thick' are to poems by D.H Lawrence and Brian Patten respectively. 'Last Lesson of the Afternoon' expresses a mood of bitter desperation at the thanklessness of an English teachers' work and details his thoughts as he yearns for the conclusion of the lesson. He conveys his thoughts in a unique and entertaining way. Patten also uses an English teacher as his subject in 'Dead Thick'. The teacher is very hypocritical and seems to be answering a series of questions. The title 'Dead Thick' illuminates the teachers' ironic lack of intelligence as a teacher and his lack of passion is evident.

In 'Last Lesson of the Afternoon' the teachers weariness, 'I can haul them and urge them no more' and negative state of mind, 'No longer now can I endure the brunt of the books...' are highlighted throughout by the choice of verbs. He seems to be totally exasperated and seems only to be in the job for