IGCSE Poetry coursework Autumn term 2015

Hand in date: Thursday 15 October AT THE START OF THE LESSON Class time – four periods in an IT room: Thursday 1 October Thursday 8 October

40% of IGCSE Approximately 1500 words – you are not penalised if you exceed the limit – no mark for ‘quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar’ Ensure that you focus on the three anthology poems: ‘Half Past Two’, ‘Hide and Seek’ and ‘Piano’ Link the other three poems to any of the three anthology poems: Extract from ‘The Prelude’, ‘Mrs Tilscher’s Class’ and ‘Digging’

How to achieve an A*

‘show a highly detailed knowledge of the poems and use only relevant material in the answer.’ -Know the narrative –refer to stanzas, refer to lines, quote specifically, pull out key words and phrases and write specifically about why you have chosen them. Don’t say ‘this shows’ without explaining why. Show you working out. -Everything must return to the question about change.

‘Show a sensitive, mature and critical understanding, and appreciation of meaning.’ Write about shades of meaning; consider two or more interpretations How do your ideas link to the idea of change Change is inevitable and once it is understood, life becomes less emotional and less challenging Develop the overview – don’t just focus on one poem – what does it mean?

‘show evidence of a sophisticated appreciation of use of language and style, including the ability to use technical vocabulary, demonstrating analytical and interpretative skills’ Form and structure – contribution to meaning Simile, metaphor, enjambment, couplet, half-rhyme, full rhyme, alliteration, assonance, sibilance Don’t just spot – explain the effect on the reader How do the poet’s choices create and influence tone and meaning?

‘write with focus on the coursework assignment, demonstrating an informed, well argued personal response.’ Always have the question at the forefront of your mind Always think about how childhood is represented What does it mean to you Can you identify examples that you think show skill by the poet? Are there any images that you think are very good or that have resonated with you?

Piano ‘B’ grade: In ‘Piano’ the poem starts off in a happy and pleasant way, as shown in the quote ‘Softly, in the dark, a woman is singing to me’ and ‘Pressing the small poised feet of a mother who smiles as she / Sings.’ These create a sense of change.

A* In ‘Piano’ the poem begins with a calm and relaxed tone, as shown in the quote ‘Softly, in the dark, a woman is singing to me’. Here, the adverb ‘Softly’ comes before any other description, thus establishing the tone immediately. And even though it is ‘dark’, frequently a metaphor for confusion, the poet seems to welcome this memory of the ‘woman’. As the poem unfolds, it is clear that the woman is the poet’s mother. By singing to the persona, it is evident that, like a child, the poet is the woman’s focus of the attention.

A* He describes his mother in a very feminine way. He writes: ‘Pressing the small poised feet of a mother who smiles as she / Sings.’ Her delicate feet enhance her femininity. And his focus on her feet as she plays the pedals underlines this young child’s wonder at what his mother can do. The use of enjambement emphasises that the she is singing. Indeed, the verb ‘sings’ is in the present tense showing that the memory is current and evocative.

Write a lot about a little

Define each poem’s message in a couple of sentences. Can you veiw each poem as an extended metaphor? PoemExtended metaphor Half Past TwoThe poem is an extended metaphor for a child’s developing awareness that ‘time’ controls your life. PianoThe poem is an extended metaphor for the way in which memories and regrets can emotionally destroy a person regardless of how long ago they occurred. Hide and SeekThe poem is an extended metaphor for the highly competitive world of children’s games when a victory can only be validated if someone else loses.

Complete the table below… PoemExtended metaphor ‘The Prelude’ ‘Digging’ ‘Mrs Tilscher’s Class’