Title: by Vernon Scannell Look at the images below. Write the name of the plant, and then make a note of four words that describe your immediate thoughts upon viewing the image. Name Use a thesaurus to find new and exciting vocabulary. 1 Avoid the words good, bad, happy, sad and nice. These 2 are tired, overused words and do not express exactly how you 3 feel.
Learning Objectives To respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations To explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers presentation of ideas, themes and settings
Imagine you are out walking with a young brother, sister or child of about four years of age. As (s)he runs and plays, (s)he trips up and falls into a bed of nettles List six words to describe your emotions. Try to find new words. Use a thesaurus. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. P A I R Take two minutes to discuss your feelings and the vocabulary chosen with a partner. Make a note of any new vocabulary that grabs your attention.
The Poet...
Background...
His family... What might this have to do with the poem?
Themes within his poetry... War Violence Danger Bitterness The Power of Nature
How is the speaker presented in the poem Nettles by Vernon Scannell.
My son aged three fell in the nettle bed. 'Bed' seemed a curious name for those green spears, That regiment of spite behind the shed: It was no place for rest. With sobs and tears The boy came seeking comfort and I saw White blisters beaded on his tender skin. We soothed him till his pain was not so raw. At last he offered us a watery grin, And then I took my billhook, honed the blade And went outside and slashed in fury with it Till not a nettle in that fierce parade Stood upright any more. And then I lit A funeral pyre to burn the fallen dead, But in two weeks the busy sun and rain Had called up tall recruits behind the shed: My son would often feel sharp wounds again.
How is the speaker presented in the poem Nettles by Vernon Scannell.
How does the speaker feel about... His Son? The Nettles?
The Speaker in the Poem... How is he presented?
How do you know... How is the speaker presented? (P) Quote to demonstrate this? (Q) Explain how this quote shows this presentation (E)
Title: A Critical Look at Nettles Starter: What do I remember about the poem? 1. 2. 3. To respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations To explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers presentation of ideas, themes and settings
My son aged three fell in the nettle bed. 'Bed' seemed a curious name for those green spears, That regiment of spite behind the shed: It was no place for rest. With sobs and tears The boy came seeking comfort and I saw White blisters beaded on his tender skin. We soothed him till his pain was not so raw. At last he offered us a watery grin, And then I took my billhook, honed the blade And went outside and slashed in fury with it Till not a nettle in that fierce parade Stood upright any more. And then I lit A funeral pyre to burn the fallen dead, But in two weeks the busy sun and rain Had called up tall recruits behind the shed: My son would often feel sharp wounds again.
Underline all of the words related......to war in the poem. By using war imagery within the poem, how are the nettles presented?
Chatterbox. In pairs, discuss the following... 1. Do any words grab your attention? 2. Are there more nouns, verbs or adjectives? What is the effect of this? 3. Look at the repeated words. Are there any that you think are significant? 4. Look at the words linking to PAIN. Are any more significant than others? How? 5. What is the mood and atmosphere? What creates this? 6. What do you think the poem is about?
You can use a mixture of words and images in your illustrations 1 white blisters beaded on his tender skin. 2 those green spears / That regiment of spite behind the shed; 3 the busy sun and rain / Had called up tall recruits behind the shed; 4 not a nettle in the fierce parade / Stood upright any more. 5 he offered us a watery grin, 6 I lit / a funeral pyre to burn the fallen dead.
Complete the table below techniques examples alliteration sibilance personification rhyme metaphor military vocabulary use of colour mid-line break
Title: Exam questions using Nettles Starter: Which 3 lines are your favourite? 1. 2. 3. To respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations To explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers presentation of ideas, themes and settings
2012 JC From the poetry you have studied choose a poet whose work impressed you. (a) What topics or themes does the poet deal with in the poetry that you have studied? Support your answer with reference to the work of your chosen poet. (15) (b) Explain why you find the work of your chosen poet impressive. Give reasons for your answer with reference to his or her poetry. (15)
Examiner s Hint: Technical terms, device spotting, counting lines and alphabetising rhyme schemes are only of any use if they support your understanding of the poems and the comparisons between them and you show this. So, there is very little point in saying: Scannell uses a metaphor in line of the poem. There is also very little point in saying: In the metaphor, he compares to. The above, although useful in focusing your thoughts, will not earn you many marks in terms of the assessment objectives and they will only be of use if you also do the following.
To earn the marks, you must: use appropriate quotations; analyse and explain the use of any technical terms and poetic devices; show your understanding and detail your personal response; make comparisons. link all of the above to the wider content of the poem.
Look back: Learning Objectives To respond to texts critically and imaginatively; select and evaluate relevant textual detail to illustrate and support interpretations To explain how language, structure and form contribute to writers presentation of ideas, themes and settings
From the poetry you have studied choose a poet whose work impressed you. (a) What topics or themes does the poet deal with in the poetry that you have studied? Support your answer with reference to the work of your chosen poet. (15) In Nettles we see... The son is presented as... 3. The What father are some is... of the key themes? There is a universal theme about... 1. What happens in the poem obvious meaning? 2. What are some of the deeper meanings? 4. How are children and parents presented?
From the poetry you have studied choose a poet whose work impressed you. (b) Explain why you find the work of your chosen poet impressive. Give reasons for your answer with reference to his or her poetry. (15) What is the extended metaphor here? What words particularly show this metaphor? What are some of the very clear images? How does the poet create these images? What do the nettles represent in life? How would the poem be spoken?
Imagery and Tone: P.Q.E Scaffolding The father s need to protect his son is seen as a battle. Key words that connect to war are... The word particularly stands out to me because it creates a strong image of... It has connotations of (associations of/reminds me of)... Another word/phrase that displays a strong feeling is This demonstrates to the reader that the father feels... towards his son. It could also suggest... The tone of the poem is and which shows us that... I think the nettles represent... My interpretation (understanding) of the last line is...
From the poetry you have studied choose a poet whose work impressed you. (b) Explain why you find the work of your chosen poet impressive. Give reasons for your answer with reference to his or her poetry. (15) Language Structure Final impressions
Language What do you notice about the verbs or nouns related to the boy? What examples are there of alliteration? What are the more gentle words and images? How are these created?
Language: P.Q.E Sentence starts Some of the other words that are interesting to describe the boy are... The verb... creates the impression of... Scannell has also included... For example... The effect on the reader is... I think what Scannell here is really trying to say is...
My son aged three fell in the nettle bed. 'Bed' seemed a curious name for those green spears, That regiment of spite behind the shed: It was no place for rest. With sobs and tears The boy came seeking comfort and I saw White blisters beaded on his tender skin. We soothed him till his pain was not so raw. At last he offered us a watery grin, And then I took my billhook, honed the blade And went outside and slashed in fury with it Till not a nettle in that fierce parade Stood upright any more. And then I lit A funeral pyre to burn the fallen dead, But in two weeks the busy sun and rain Had called up tall recruits behind the shed: My son would often feel sharp wounds again.