Compare and contrast On Judgement Day by Sipho Sepamla and Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka in the theme of racial stereotypes.
Poetry Comparison I am going to compare and contrast two poems that have a common theme of people's assumptions and racial stereotypes. The two poems are 'On Judgement Day' by Sipho Sepamla and '"Telephone Conversation"' by Wole Soyinka. The poet of 'On Judgement Day', Sipho Sepamla, was born in 1932 and died in 2007 on January 9th at 75 years old. He was a contemporary poet, who focused on South African lives, and novelist. Sipho lived most of his life in Soweto. He studied teaching which later led to him publishing a first volume of poetry, 'Hurry up to it!' in 1975. He was active in the Black Consciousness movement and published a second poetry book 'The Soweto I Love' it was banned by the Apartheid regime. He was also a founder of the Federated Union of Black Artists. The poet of '"Telephone Conversation"', Wole Soyinka, is a Nigerian writer, poet and playwright. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, the first African to be so honoured. In 1994, he was designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Goodwill Ambassador for the promotion of African culture, human rights, freedom of expression, media and communication. The poem was later published in a book, 'The Literary/Political Philosophy of Wole Soyinka' by Yemi D. Ogunyemi. The poem is about a telephone conversation which he had with his London landlady in 1962; this is
Consider how relationships are presented in Harmonium by Simon Armitage and Praise Song for My Mother by Grace Nichols
Consider how relationships are presented in "Harmonium" by Simon Armitage and "Praise Song for My Mother" by Grace Nichols In both poems, a sense of nostalgia and reminiscence is conveyed; they are written in the past tense which leads to a state of reflection and acknowledgement. As a reader, one can immediately capture this notion, when reading "Praise Song for My Mother", as the title itself has very traditional African connotations - it marks a celebration or tribute of someone's life. Whereas Armitage titles his poem "Harmonium" which is what the poem is physically about but also is symbolic of the relationship between him and his father. Armitage introduces the poem with an anecdote; this evokes a feeling of reminiscence. It contains very physical descriptions - "Shadowy porch of Marsden Church" - this establishes the setting for the reader and perhaps portrays Armitage as being entranced by the church; he appreciates very minute details. However, when describing the "Farrand Chapelette", it was described using the idiom "gathering dust" which has a double meaning - it was physically accumulating dust but also it was coming of age. In addition, Armitage describes his ultimatum; it could be "bundled off to the skip" or could become his "for a song" - this suggests the church organ is not in satisfactory condition as the idiom bundled of to the skip indicates it would
Comparison of Cynddylan on a Tractor by R.S Thomas and Docker by Seamus Heaney.
Poetry Coursework There are many similarities between the poems "Cynddylan on a Tractor" by R.S Thomas and "Docker" by Seamus Heaney. Seamus Heaney is an Irish Catholic who lived in Northern Ireland for most of his life. He was a lecturer in Belfast during the 1970s at the peak of the Northern Irish Troubles. He was witness to the sectarianism and institutionalised discrimination that was part and parcel of Northern Irish life during this period; the poem "Docker" reflects this. The docker works in the shipyards of Belfast, whose employees were 95% Protestant and where sectarianism was rife. In "Docker", the subject is shown to be someone who cannot separate himself from his work and religion. The two completely control everything he does. However, his god is not the loving God of the Gospels. The docker's god is more like the wrathful pedantic god of the Old Testament. "God is a foreman with certain definite views Who orders life in shifts of work and leisure." But for him God and work are one and the same; the dockyard is his life. "Mosaic imperatives bang home like rivets,... A factory horn will blare the resurrection." These lines also demonstrate Heaney's sympathy for his subject. His commandments or prejudices have been hammered into him "like rivets", his only understanding of religion is through the medium of his work, "a factory horn will blare the
In the poems Catrin and Follower, the parents are presented differently and yet all similar in some ways.
In the poems Catrin and Follower, the parents are presented differently and yet all similar in some ways. In the following poems we see various interesting examples of parent-child relationships. Some are easier to relate to than others but most communicate the stages of parenthood and the challenges posed by becoming responsible for another person. The poets each take different lines on how they perceive/d parenthood and the each in which their children reacted. Catrin begins with the poet's voice speaking to a child. The poem highlights the differences between mother and child and the common problems parents have with their children. The second and third lines create a sense of an uncomfortable atmosphere, with the 'hot, white room' making the place seem clinically white, as she gazes outside watching cars pass. The description of the room adds to the intense, angry atmosphere. Clarke looks out of the window, rather than at her daughter, almost avoiding her gaze as she knows this make weaken her resolve and allow her daughter to do what she wants. The 'remembered' is in the past tense throughout, making it seem as though the person she is talking to is gone, or has changed completely. There is a memory of 'our first fierce confrontation' and a metaphor of 'the tight red rope of love which we both fought over' making her seemed tied to her daughter by an invisible
A Comparison of the ways the Poets in Nothings Changed and Vultures
A Comparison of the ways the Poets in Nothing's Changed and Vultures Convey their feelings about Human cruelty and injustice. Both poets express strong feelings about injustice and cruelty in society in the past and present. The poem Nothing's Changed is written by Tatamkhulu Afrika who is describing what life was like in South Africa while apartheid (separation of blacks and whites) was in place. He also described what his feelings and emotions were like. Afrika uses a contrast between the affluence of the whites and the poverty of the blacks is clearly conveyed in the details of the eating places. 'The whites only inn' is a pun on 'in' to help convey the feeling of injustice and racism of South Africa at the time as only whites could afford to go. A 'working man's cafe' is a black cafe which sells 'bunny chows'- another reference to the injustice and poverty inflicted on the blacks. There is also a contrast between the 'tall purple-flowering amiable weeds' and the 'incipient Port Jackson trees'. The weeds are friendly but because they are weeds they are cut out. However, the Port Jackson trees are not indigenous to South Africa, so they represent the whites and 'incipient', pushing their way in. In the poem Vultures, which is written by Chinua Achebe, Achebe is considering the co-existence of evil and love. He chose disgusting and vile vultures that pick the eyes from
Compare and Contrast the Poems "The Thickness of Ice" and "Twice Shy".
Compare and Contrast: - The Thickness of Ice and Twice Shy The Thickness of Ice is poem about the different stages a couple go through in a relationship. The main themes in this poem are friendship and love and how these two can blend together. The title has been chosen by Loxley to show a positive side to relationships. "The Thickness of Ice" is positive as "Thickness" shows stability and safety. During this poem, "Thickness" is an oxymoron as well. The speaker in this poem is Loxley herself. I think this is true because the poem seems quite personal and sounds like it comes from a female's perspective. It is also emotional and very meaningful. It seems that Loxley is trying to explain to us the different stages a relationship can go through if not taken seriously. In this poem she tells us one way that is the most often way in which a relationship goes in. This is what makes it so powerful and yet sounds so personal. I think she wrote the poem to show us how she felt after a bad experience in a relationship and could also be a warning to all of us about what might happen if people don't "play fair" in a relationship and end up hurting each other. I know this because the language used in the poem is so strong and powerful that we know that she is upset and hasn't got over something or someone. Throughout this poem we can see that she is planning what will happen. This poem
Mid-term Break by Seamus Heaney and In Mrs Tilschers Class by Carol Ann Duffy . Discuss how the poets have described the ending of childhood innocence in at least two poems you have studied.
Mid-term Break by Seamus Heaney and In Mrs Tilscher's Class by Carol Ann Duffy "Poems can capture important moments in our lives" Discuss how the poets have described the ending of childhood innocence in at least two poems you have studied. I am going to analyse two poems which share the theme of the end of the era of childhood and children growing up. The poems are Mid-term Break by Seamus Heaney and In Mrs Tilscher's Class by Carol Ann Duffy. Each of the poets reflects on memories from childhood concerning important events which took place and marked the end of childhood as they knew it. Seamus Heaney is a Northern Irish poet, from a traditional Irish background, which I feel I can relate to. Heaney was born in N Ireland in Co Londonderry and later studied English at Queen's University in Belfast. Throughout his poetry, colloquial words and typical Northern Irish phrases are used, which produce a response not only in a reader like myself who shares his cultural background, but also those from differing cultural backgrounds, as evidenced in the worldwide popularity of his poetry. Carol Ann Duffy is a very successful Scottish poet from Glasgow. She was born in 1955 and is known for writing simple, easily understood pieces of literature. In the past she has given public readings of her own poetry, which have proved popular with the audience, in particular the great
The subject of Night of the Scorpion is literally that a scorpion has stung the mother and actions are taken to deal with it. It is effective because it is also easily understood and the writer refers to it several times like Hughes in Wind.
Poetry Coursework Ted Hughes wrote Wind and he lived from 1930-1980. He is from Yorkshire. Hughes published his first book of poems when he was 27. Hughes lived close enough to nature to know, at first hand, the cruelty that exists beneath the beautiful surface and he presents these facts vividly often-arousing negative emotions. Hughes was brought up in a working class background winning a scholarship to Cambridge University. Whilst at Cambridge Hughes got married to Sylvia Plath within four months. In 1984 he was appointed Poet Laureate, was awarded an OBE and in 1998 the Queen awarded him with Order Of Merit. Nissim Ezekiel wrote Night of the Scorpion and she is from India she was born in Bombay during the British rule in India. She came to England and she is one of the first Indian poets to write in English. As you can see Hughes was born in England but Ezekiel was not. Hughes went to a University in England but Ezekiel did not. Hughes was awarded for his writing but Ezekiel was not. Hughes was recognised for his writing but Ezekiel was not until after he was dead. The title of 'Wind' this is effective because it is simple it has impact and it is bold. In Wind Hughes has used a few metaphors have been used, an example been 'This house has been out at sea all night' this is effective because it makes the house seem isolated; it also makes the house to be surrounded
miracle on st davids day
Appearance and Reality: Compare Miracle on 'St David's Day' with one other poem. Miracle on St David's Day is an optimistic poem relating to the theme of identity. The poem tells the story of a man in a mental institution, who exceeds the expectation of both the nurses and his fellow patients, when he regains the ability to talk. It is based upon the theme of appearance and reality . The poem opens with a quote from Wordsworth's poem. The Daffodils which says that we not only see the beauty of nature but also absorb it through our inward eye. In the first stanza Gillain Clarke describes the idyllic setting: "an after noon yellow and open mouthed." Like the shape of a daffodil and the sun is also personified "treads amongst the trees". She says "It might be a country house," this immediately shows the readers the pleasent appearance of the situtation. However with opening of the second stanza - "I am reading poetry to the insane." Clarke sharply destroyes this appearance and shows the reality that the setting is in fact a mental home. The line "I was reading poetry to the insane." Ends with a certain finality; it is so abrupt that it disturbs the flow of the poem.This serves to empahasise the reality of the situation, as this poem has an autobiographical element. Calrke uses short, sharp scenteces repeatedly throughout the poem to jolt the reader back to reality: In
Compare and contrast the accounts of childhood in 'Half-past Two' and 'Leaving School'. How successful is each poet in depicting a child's experience of the world?
Compare and contrast the accounts of childhood in 'Half-past Two' and 'Leaving School'. How successful is each poet in depicting a child's experience of the world? 'Half-past Two' and 'Leaving School' both explore the thoughts and feelings of young boys. There is a theme of fear evident in both poems. This engages an experience endured by both children that involves the concept of not understanding certain aspects of life, especially the parts that are new and unfamiliar. 'Half-past Two' is set in a typical school and the central character is a young boy. The title of this poem is strongly related to its content and theme. Time plays an important role in this poem and is emphasized when Fanthorpe uses a child-like style of language. "Timetogohomenowtime, TVtime" 'Leaving School' is set in a boarding school. The main character in this poem is also a young boy. Time does not play a big role in this poem but it is still an important aspect. The theme of this poem is the fear of being alone in new school. The type of language used by Williams is similar to that of 'Half-past Two' but there are subtle differences. 'Leaving School' does use a child-like style of language but tit is more formal than that of 'Half-past Two'. The formality of this language reflects the boy's surroundings. "I liked all the waiting we had to do at school but I didn't like the work"