The poem consists of a single stanza of 24 lines
The poem consists of a single stanza of 24 lines. The lines are pentameters (they have 10 syllables each). This poem is a dramatic monologue, which was written by Simon Armitage. The narrator in this poem is Robin, the Boy Wonder, the loyal side kick to Batman. Robin firsts presents Batman in this poem as a real super hero: he is described at the start in the alliterative phrase "Batman, big shot," (line 1)- This might have got the audience thinking that Batman was someone who Robin would have looked up to and admire. But then there is a twist! Robin publicises some of Batman's secrets, so that the audience sees the 'super hero' in a new light. As we read on, Batman's status is diminished. We hear that he "ditched" (line 4) Robin and had an affair with a "married woman" (line 10). This shows us that Batman was very disloyal and UN trustworthy, towards Robin who was to be seen as a close friend, even brotherly like "he was like an elder brother" .(line 8) But we learn in the poem that Robin was always treated like second best, and not a loyal side kick. As the poem unravels it's self even more we find out that Robin was not appreciated at all "I'm not playing ball boy any longer" (line 14) this shows us that Batman treated Robin like more of a drudger than a friendly partner. This also shows us that Robin does not want to serve Batman any more. By the end of the poem
Simon Armitage´s poems, ‘Poem´ and ‘About His Person´
Two of Simon Armitage´s poems, 'Poem´ and 'About His Person´ are written about someone who has, for unspecified reasons, passed away or gone. One is in the style of a eulogy and looks back on the life of its persona, presenting contrasting views of it, while the other examines the articles found on a man after his death. Both give the readers some impression of the personas, but are somewhat ambiguous, inviting us to form our own mental pictures of the people and judge them for ourselves. The man in 'Poem´ seems to have a split personality. Each of the first three stanzas is made up of four lines - the first three dealing with good things he did and the fourth mentioning a drawback, something bad. For example the third and fourth lines of the first stanza read, 'And he always tucked his daughter up at night And slippered her the one time that she lied.´ Although there are more good than bad things mentioned, the bad is cleverly positioned at the end of the line and this seems to make it overshadow and even cancel out all of the positive actions mentioned. In the context of a eulogy the three positive lines could be what is being said with the last line representing the thoughts of those present at the funeral. Simon Armitage does not conclude on the life of this man, but finishes the poem with: 'Here´s how they rated him when they lookef back; Sometimes he did
Comparison of 'Poem' and 'About His Person'.
Comparison of 'Poem' and 'About His Person' Two of Simon Armitage´s poems, 'Poem´ and 'About His Person´ are written about someone who has, for unspecified reasons, passed away or gone. One is in the style of a eulogy and looks back on the life of its persona, presenting contrasting views of it, while the other examines the articles found on a man after his death. Both give the readers some impression of the personas, but are somewhat ambiguous, inviting us to form our own mental pictures of the people and judge them for ourselves. The man in 'Poem´ seems to have a split personality. Each of the first three stanzas is made up of four lines - the first three dealing with good things he did and the fourth mentioning a drawback, something bad. For example the third and fourth lines of the first stanza read, 'And he always tucked his daughter up at night And slippered her the one time that she lied.´ Although there are more good than bad things mentioned, the bad is cleverly positioned at the end of the line and this seems to make it overshadow and even cancel out all of the positive actions mentioned. In the context of a eulogy the three positive lines could be what is being said with the last line representing the thoughts of those present at the funeral. Simon Armitage does not conclude on the life of this man, but finishes the poem with: 'Here´s how they rated him
Mother any Distance by Simon Armitage
Mother any Distance This poem is written by Simon Armitage in which he talks about the relationship between him and his mother and the great affect she had on his life. "you come to help me measure windows, pelmets, doors...". This shows that his mother helped him a lot whenever he needed someone to help him. The quote also shows us that he's moving into a new house because you would usually need to carry out these measurements when moving in, but even after he will be moving into a new house and away from her security, she is still there for him. This emphasizes that they have a strong and healthy relationship. He also talks about how he feels as he is moving further away from him mother. "...unreeling years between us.". he shows that he still feels attached to her even though he is moving away but at the same time he claims that he feels free and has to have his own responsibility. Now that he is moving houses, he feels a very big space between his mother and himself. "..prairies of the floors...". This shows that he is venturing a long distance without her, which conveys the idea that he is growing up and he is carrying responsibility over himself. "...unreeling years between us..." shows that he is still attached to her although he is moving away. This shows that what she has taught him in life will always be a part of him, and that there is a very strong connection
Cataract Operation Simon Armitage
Cataract Operation Simon Armitage Title The title refers to the removal of a dull film from the eyes. This is a poem about sight and awareness. Structure Another poem of twenty lines, being made up of ten couplets. Again the poet plays with rhyme as in the pun "hens" and "lens". Language The poem is rife with cliché, metaphor and puns. The poem starts with a very distinctive simile: "The sun comes like a head through last night's turtleneck." This not only gives the reader a comical image of the sun coming up but links this time of day with waking up and hurrying to dress up in yesterday's clothes. By changing everyday ordinary things into extraordinary images, the poet creates a vivid picture and a sense of movement. He does this through his choice of words, his use of colloquial expressions and his use of metaphor. Notice how he describes the pigeon. The expression "turns tail" is particularly effective because it suggests that the pigeon is turning and "taking flight", all in one quick movement. Comparing the tail to a magician fanning out a pack of cards also works well because it expresses the magic of a brief moment when the pigeon opens out its tail feathers. The theatrical metaphor is continued with "a pantomime of damp, forgotten washing" which now plays out the entertainment, where these ordinary things are transformed. So, as the wind stirs the washing,
How does Armitage expose the inadequacies in the characters of his poems?
How does Armitage expose the inadequacies in the characters of his poems? For this question I am going to focus on the poems 'About his Person' and 'Poem' In poem the man that it is about has the tendency to be an opportunist thief 'and twice he lifted ten quid from her purse'. This shows how he does not have much of a conscience. This is re-affirmed by the fact that he did it twice and did not regret the evil deed. The man also has a short temper. For example he lost his cool with his wife and punched her in the face just because she laughed once. This poem also shows us that he is also inadequate in that he has a violent side to him. Armitage re-emphasizes this in the last line of the first stanza with the word 'slippered'. The plosives in this word make it sound hard and violent. Just like the character in the poem. The man also suffers from alcohol abuse 'and every week he tipped up half his wage' this means that every week he wasted away half his wage on alcohol, instead of spending it on things to sustain his family. As well as inadequacies the man is also a good man in that he cares about his mother and occasionally praises his wife and he tucks his daughter in at night. The character in 'About his person' has similar inadequacies to the man in the first poem. He also has a short temper, this shown by the way he has 'slashed' his diary, possibly in fury. He also