Poem for homework as instructed by Mrs. Hulbert...

Follower



My father worked with a horse plough,
His shoulders globed like a full sail strung
Between the shafts and the furrow.
The horses strained at his clicking tongue.

An expert. He would set the wing
And fit the bright-pointed sock.
The sod rolled over without breaking.
At the headrig, with a single pluck

Of reins, the sweating team turned round
And back into the land. His eye
Narrowed and angled at the ground,
Mapping the furrow exactly.

I stumbled in his hobnailed wake,
Fell sometimes on the polished sod;
Sometimes he rode me on his back
Dipping and rising to his plod.

I wanted to grow up and plough,
To close one eye, stiffen my arm.
All I ever did was follow
In his broad shadow around the farm.

I was a nuisance, tripping, falling,
Yapping always. But today
It is my father who keeps stumbling
Behind me, and will not go away.

Seamus Heaney

An essay on Owen's critique of those who lascked sympathy and understanding...

Introduction written by MR.D - paragraphs posted as comments by pairs from 12D

Owen’s critique of those who lacked sympathy and understanding of the plight of soldiers runs as a bitter motif through all the poems in the anthology. Whilst not as vitriolic and acerbic as Sassoon in his active, and public, critique of war profiteers and the ‘red faced’ generals, Owen develops compassion, and the ‘pity of war’ as a more subtle, and emotive attack of those who sat idle, morally or hidden behind the industry of the war effort.

Reflection on Form and Versification....

TASK: Choosing one of the poems you have not submitted either an intended meaning or a reflection on explore how Owen's use of poetic form (type of poem - sonnet, elegy etc...)and versification (stanza form, rhyme and rhythm) supports his intended meaning for that poem.

This should not be an essay - it is still a reflection (no longer than 500 words - some students wrote lengthy reflections and then some students thought they'd do the same, but ended up rambling semi-incoherently through large sections which adds more time to my reading and also means you're doing more work for little actual benefit).

However, I would like to see you using the paragraph structure given to you in lessons (if you don't you will asked to redraft it until you have).

This is the area where some of you have the greatest difficulty, hence why I have left it till towards the end of the unit. I'm quite happy to give guidance, but you'll need to find me at an appropriate time (making an appointment is the easiest)


Mr. D

Tasks....

Please look at the bottom of each reflection as I've started posting TASKS for you to complete. They will attempt to get you to close the gap between your response and the requirement of the initial reflection.

If you don't get a TASK posted it means your reflection was successful - but if you'd like an extension TASK you need to come and see me in person and I'll organise one for you - last time I posted an extension TASK no one completed/submitted it!

Mr. D

Reflection after Mental Cases...

A more difficult reflection this week:

Which is a more painful predicament - hopelessness, humiliation, dependency or dehumanisation? Can you link this reflection to your thoughts on Owen's intended meaning.

You need to post your reflection on the blog no later than a week after you have the lesson on the poem.

Mr. D

Reflection stemming from The Show...

Write a developed paragraph in response to and reflecting on W.B. Yeats 3 lines used to start Owen's poem, The Show. Your response should then be combined with your intended meaning of the poem and submitted as a whole paragraph.

You may find it helpful to find the entire poem, complete poetry circles on the lines or discuss it with other members of the course before writing.

Please submit your response no later than a week after you complete the lesson on the poem.

Mr. D

We have fallen in the dreams the ever-living

Breathe on the tarnished mirror of the world,

And then smooth out with ivory hands and sigh.

If you were wondering how to term these 3 lines:

In literature, an epigraph is a phrase, quotation, or poem that is set at the beginning of a document or component. The epigraph may serve as a preface, as a summary, as a counter-example, or to link the work to a wider literary canon, either to invite comparison or to enlist a conventional context - you should include your thoughts as to which one Yeats' lines are!

Submitting an intended meaning...

Whilst I'm away this week, in the 3 hours you should have had lessons you're required to develop your annotations for each poem covered and develop your initial intended meaning and diction column for those still to be covered, however for homework and study time outside of lesson times I would like you to particularly focus on developing the structure and wording of your intended meanings.

You need to be clear in your mind what Owen's intended meaning is so you can validate or criticise it in your exam. Heading toward Xmas, I'd like you to have a clear intended meaning for each poem, one which you can support with analysis and evaluation (this second part I'll help you with).

With all this in mind, your task is to submit one, developed (this means the language should be appropriate and you've thought about how it reads - not that I want 3 pages - merely a paragraph will suffice), intended meaning (as a comment - click the comment link below) . I'll read this and provide feedback to you. You need to submit this before you return to school (2/11/08). The sooner you get it in to me, the longer your feedback will be! Failure to submit one will be deemed a failure to meet a deadline and the normal procedures will be followed - be warned of the consequences if you have missed 2 previous deadlines!!