Poetry

Year 8 English

Banksy protest Art

A poem can say in a few words what a novel can say in one million

Name: Samarth

Produced by Mrs Annette McCubbin

 What is poetry?
Why read it? Does it contribute anything of value to life?
Isn’t it just for intellectuals and angst-ridden university students?

These are valid questions. Poetry is not always easy to understand or relate to. However, it
can contribute something of value to our lives. If you are prepared to wrestle with poetic
techniques, you will learn a lot about our language and its possibilities.

Poetry can be a multitude of things, an expression of one’s inner soul and consciousness.

While you may not know why a poet wrote a poem, or even exactly what the poem
means, it may move you to tears or laughter. You may be struck by the beauty of the
description or language use; or the misery. You may even feel the poet has understood
something about you in a way no one else has.

Purpose: Poetry is a form of expression. Writing poems lets us get out our feelings and
thoughts on a subject while reading them encourages us to connect and find meaning in
our experiences. Sometimes the aim is to make a strong social or political comment.
Poetry can help us encounter ourselves and understand our values and attitudes towards
a subject.

Persona: a character taken on by a poet to speak in a first-person poem,

representing their voice. The poet takes on the voice of a character, a fictional identity,
or a persona. Persona can also be known as a dramatic monologue. A persona is an
image or personality that a person presents in public or a specific setting, in poetry usually
captured through character representation.

Focus Protest Poetry. Activities in this workbook may need to be completed for homework.

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 Poetic Techniques in Action
Use your knowledge and definitions of poetry techniques to complete the following three pages.

Identify which of the following sentences are similes and which are metaphors.

The traffic is mud. Metaphor

She ran like the wind. Simile

My feet are as warm as toast. Simile

Every day is a winding road. Metaphor

Tom is a cheetah on the racetrack. Metaphor

Juliet is the sun. Metaphor

I’m as light as a feather. Simile

Your beauty shines like the sun. Simile

Finish the similes below:

The wet mud was like a dirty mashed potato

The leaves fell like Thor’s hammer, demolishing the ground

The tree waved as though it were a dancing party

The storm was as violent as a plane crash on the deck of an aircraft carrier

Fill in the table with your original metaphors.

Object being described Metaphor

A skyscraper The skyscraper is a ladder reaching into the heavens.

A laptop The laptop is a portal to infinite possibilities

A toaster The toaster is a raging inferno

A clock The clock is a ticking time bomb

The moon The moon is a spec of pure silver

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 Personification is when a thing (an inanimate object or idea) that is not human is given human-like
qualities.

Slowly, the fog,

Hunch-shouldered with a grey face,
Arms wide, advances.

Who or what is being personified in this example?

Fog

The Moon
The moon was but a chin of gold
A night or two ago,
And now she turns her perfect face
Upon the world below.
Emily Dickinson

What is being personified in this poem? Identify the human-like qualities that have been given to this
object. Moon. Perfect face.

Identify the human quality given to each object:

Personification example Human quality

The wind sang her mournful song. Sang

The rain kissed my cheeks as it fell. Kissed

The daffodils nodded their yellow heads at the walkers. Nodded

The darkness wrapped its arms around me. Wrapped

And the sea devours it with its sharp, sharp white teeth. Devours

The wind howled and the trees groaned. Groaned

Identify what poetic technique has been used in the following sentences. HINT: you may want to
get out your class notes to help you.
Example Technique/s

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…as light as a feather. Simile

Snap, crackle and pop! Onomatopoeia

That child is a monkey. Metaphor

Lit up in their sockets Rhyme

the rockets
came out of his trouser pockets.
Sing a song of sixpence. Alliteration

The wind sang her mournful song. Metaphor

Bill’s as tall as the Eiffel Tower. Hyperbole

And the tractor, streaming with sweat, Personification

Raging and trembling and rejoicing.
…sleeping like a baby. Simile

…and his clip clop sandals slapped across the Alliteration

concrete.
The night whirled like a cloak around the shoulders Allusion, rhyme
of the mountains.
Thou still unravished bride of quietness, Assonance
Though foster-child of silence and slow time.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion. Alliteration

Blow wind and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow! Personification

The hose is a green snake on the lawn. Metaphor

The darkness wrapped its arms around me. Simile

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 Figurative Language in Poems

Read the poem, ‘Sketch’ by Carl Sandburg and complete the questions below.

Sketch

The shadows of the ships

Rock on the crest

In the low blue lustre

Of the tardy and the soft inrolling tide.

A long brown bar at the dip of the sky

Puts an arm of sand in the span of salt.

The lucid and endless wrinkles

Draw in, lapse and withdraw.

Wavelets crumble and white spent bubbles

Wash on the floor of the beach.

Rocking on the crest

In the low blue lustre

Are the shadows of the ships.

Questions:
1. Identify an example of personification: explain what is being personified and how. Puts an arm of

sand in the span of salt.

2. Identify an example of hyperbole: explain how it is exaggerated.

3. Identify an example of metaphor: explain the two things being compared.

4. Find two separate examples of alliteration: List the alliterative words.

5. Where is repetition used in this poem? Why do you think that it is used this way?

6. What action is described in the third stanza of the poem?

7. How is imagery used in this poem? What is described?

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 8. What is the mood of this poem? How does it make you feel?

Protest Poetry
Protest poetry is any form of poetry, which aims to find fault or criticise an existing
situation or event. The most effective forms of protest poetry are often songs. These have a
larger impact because they become recognisable, memorable and part of popular culture .

Questions to answer:

1. What do you think the implied meaning of ‘battery’ in the title is?

2. By describing for us the things she has never done, what is the battery hen telling us about her present
existence?

3. There is a humorous side to this poem which stems largely from the use of blunt words and phrases. What
examples can you find?

4. How do you know from the poem that the battery hen’s life is highly regulated? Quote your evidence.

5. The battery hen reveals her feelings to the reader. What evidence can you find to show that she is (a) unhappy,
(b) regretful and (c) frustrated?

6. Write a TEEEL paragraph response: How has Pam Ayres used her poem ‘Battery Hen’ as a form of protest?

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Annotate “Battery Hen” poem - issues, ideas, figurative language, tone, and other poetic
devices

Explain what the poet is protesting. How does it influence your values and opinions?

‘Battery Hen’ by Pam Ayres

Oh. I am a battery hen, I lays them in a funnel,

On me back there's not a germ, Strategically placed,
I never scratched a farmyard, So that I don't kick 'em,
And I never pecked a worm,
And let them go to waste,
I never had the sunshine,
To warm me feathers through, They rolls off down the tubing,
Eggs I lay. Every day. And up the gangway quick,
For the likes of you. Sometimes I gets to thinkin'
"That could have been a chick!"
When you has them scrambled,
Piled up on your plate, I might have been a farmyard hen,
It's me what you should thank for that, Scratchin' in the sun,
I never lays them late, There might have been a crowd of chicks,
I always lays them reg'lar,
After me to run,
There might have been a cockerel fine,
I always lays them right,
To pay us his respects,
I never lays them brown, Instead of sittin' here,
I always lays them white. Till someone comes and wrings our necks.
But it's no life, for a battery hen,
I see the Time and Motion clock,
In me box I'm sat,
Is sayin' nearly noon,
A funnel stuck out from the side,
I 'spec me squirt of water,
Me pellets comes down that,
Will come flyin' at me soon,
I gets a squirt of water,
And then me spray of pellets,
Every half a day,
Will nearly break me leg,
Watchin' with me beady eye,
And I'll bite the wire nettin'
Me eggs, roll away.
And lay one more bloody egg.

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Indigenous Poetry
“Fight Song” by Rachel Platten
Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion

Like how a single word

Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song

Take Back My Life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep

Everybody's worried about me
In too deep
Say I'm in too deep (in too deep)

And it's been two years I miss my home

But there's a fire burning in my bones
Still believe
Yeah, I still believe
And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?

This is my fight song

Take Back My Life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong (I'll be strong)
I'll play my fight song
And I don't care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
Now I've still got a lot of fight left in me

Like a small boat

On the ocean

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Sending big waves
Into motion

Like how a single word

Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion

This is my fight song

Take Back My Life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong (I'll be strong)
I'll play my fight song
And I don't care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
Now I've still got a lot of fight left in me

Annotate the Poem and Answer Questions:

1. What issue is the poet protesting? Define her point of view/argument.

2. Explain how one poetic device is used to comment on a social or political issue.

3. Discuss how at least one poetic device is used to promote a message in the poem.

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“Dear Mr. President” by Pink

Lyrics are a form of poetry, they can provide social commentary about history or be a form of protest.
Usually, they follow a structure of stanzas and chorus with rhythm and rhyme. Pink’s protest song ‘Dear
Mr President’ released in 2005 is an open letter to the then-president of the United States, George W.
Bush. The song criticises several areas of his time in office, including the Iraq War, disapproval of equal
rights for homosexuals, lack of empathy for poor and middle-class citizens, Bush’s strong religious
beliefs, and Bush’s drinking and drug usage in college. Pink has expressed she believes this is one of
the most important songs she has ever written.

Dear Mr. President,

Let me tell you about hard work
Come take a walk with me
Let's pretend we're just two people Minimum wage with a baby on the way
And you're not better than me Let me tell you about hard work
I'd like to ask you some questions Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them
If we can speak honestly away
Let me tell you about hard work
What do you feel when you see Building a bed out of a cardboard box
All the homeless on the street?
Who do you pray for at night
Let me tell you about hard work
Before you go to sleep?
Hard work, hard work, you don't know nothing
What do you feel when you look in the mirror?
about hard work
Are you proud?
Hard work, hard work
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?
How do you sleep at night?
How do you dream when a mother has no chance
How do you walk with your head held high?
to say goodbye?
Dear Mr. President,
How do you walk with your head held high?
You'll never take a walk with me...
Can you even look me in the eye?
And tell me why?

Dear Mr. President,

Were you a lonely boy? Questions to answer:
Are you a lonely boy?
How can you say, no child is left behind? 1. Provide a three-four-sentence summary of this
We're not dumb and we're not blind song and what Pink is protesting about.
They're all sitting in your Selves 2. Identify the tone of this song. Explain, using
When you pave the road to hell examples of the poet’s attitude evident in the
song, and how you came to this decision.
What kind of father would take his own daughter's 3. If you didn’t know anything about the
rights away? American President, and read/heard these
What kind of father might hate his own daughter if lyrics, what would you think of him?
she were gay?
4. Select the line that demonstrates President
I can only imagine what the first lady has to say
Bush’s attitudes towards homosexuals.
You've come a long way, from whiskey and cocaine
5. Select the line that demonstrates Bush’s
How do you sleep while the rest of us cry? policy of anti-abortion.
How do you dream when a mother has no chance 6. What questions are asked in the song that
to say goodbye? urge Bush to think about his actions and
How do you walk with your head held high? doings?
Can you even look me in the eye?

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“Intolerance”
by Oodgeroo Noonuccal

1. Annotate poetic devices

2. Discuss at least two poetic devices and how they promote the poet’s
attitude and message.
(Apply the TEAL paragraph formula and give two examples of evidence
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 Brainstorming for your Protest Poem or Song
Possible topics for your Existing protest poem or song Real life examples/people
protest song or poem associated with this issue
Body shaming

The class divide – rich vs poor

The influence of technology

Abuse of power

Sexism

Global warming

Pollution

Racism

Family issues

Injustice

Homophobia

Misogyny (hatred of women)

Inequality

Homelessness

Human rights abuses

 research one issue that interests you. Find one protest poem and poet to present your tutorial to the class
for poetry Assessment.
 Find out key events and people that are associated with or famous for bringing the issue to the
world’s attention. E.g., Greta Thunberg spoke to the UN about climate change in 2019.
 find some protest poems/ songs, that were written as part of the protest movement associated with
the issues. E.g., ‘Treaty’, by the indigenous band Yothu Yindi, about Aboriginal land rights.
 Annotate your protest poem with at least 5 poetic devices used, then present a close reading through
a multimodal tutorial see Task Brief 3

After the tutorial (not assessed) Write an original poem including:

at least 4 stanzas, 16-20 lines, a meaningful short title,
the rhyming scheme of at least 4 poetic techniques

CLOSE READING ANALYSIS PROTEST POEM PREPARATION

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TITLE OF
POEM________________________________________________________________AUTHOR__________________
__________

SUMMARY
IDEA/ISSUE:____________________________________________________________________________________
_______

________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________

FIND POETIC DEVICES AND FILL IN THE ANALYSIS CHART

Poetic Quotation Explain in your own words (quote and use of

Technique convention)

Simile

Metaphor

Sensory Imagery
(see, hear, smell,
taste, touch)

Personification

Alliteration

Assonance

Onomatopoeia

Repetition

Form/structure

Rhyming pattern

To aid your tutorial presentation, consider your response to these questions:

1. Summarize one main idea or lesson that you believe the song/poem has taught you?
2. Identify if there is a persona in the poem, explain.
3. Where did you find the protest attitude .idea in the song/poem? Describe what these
ideas /messages are. (link to political or social issues)
4. Identify 5 quotes as evidence to support 5 poetic techniques.
5. What do these quotes mean in your own words? Explain symbolism and
representation, and link to your topic sentence/question
6. Overall, what poetic techniques did the poet effectively use to reveal their ideas, argue
their point of view and promote their message?
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