Sir, laughter is bitter to the burned mouth. Were they inclined to quiet laughter? Did the people of Viet Nam Use lanterns of stone? Sir, their light hearts turned to stone. It is not remembered whether in gardens Stone lanterns illumined pleasant ways. Did they use bone and ivory, Jade and silver, for ornament? It is not remembered. Remember, Most were peasants; their life Was in rice and bamboo. When peaceful clouds were reflected in the paddies And the water buffalo stepped surely along terraces, Maybe fathers told their sons old tales. When bombs smashed those mirrors There was time only to scream. Did they hold ceremonies To reverence the opening of buds? There is an echo yet of their speech which was like a song. It is reported that their singing resembled The flight of moths in the moonlight. Who can say? It is silent now. Did they distinguish between speech and singing? Had they an epic poem? Perhaps they gathered once to delight in blossom, But after the children were killed There were no more buds. A dream ago, perhaps. Ornament is for joy. All the bones were charred. 9 Sir, laughter is bitter to the burned mouth. 3 Were they inclined to quiet laughter? 1 Did the people of Viet Nam Use lanterns of stone? 7 Sir, their light hearts turned to stone. It is not remembered whether in gardens Stone lanterns illumined pleasant ways. 4 Did they use bone and ivory, Jade and silver, for ornament? 11 It is not remembered. Remember, Most were peasants; their life Was in rice and bamboo. When peaceful clouds were reflected in the paddies And the water buffalo stepped surely along terraces, Maybe fathers told their sons old tales. When bombs smashed those mirrors There was time only to scream. 2 Did they hold ceremonies To reverence the opening of buds? 12 There is an echo yet of their speech which was like a song. It is reported that their singing resembled The flight of moths in the moonlight. Who can say? It is silent now. 6 Did they distinguish between speech and singing? 5 Had they an epic poem? 8 Perhaps they gathered once to delight in blossom, But after the children were killed There were no more buds. 10 A dream ago, perhaps. Ornament is for joy. All the bones were charred.

What do these images tell us about the poem?

Understand the background to What Were They Like? Objectives By the end of today’s lesson you will be able to: Understand the background to What Were They Like? Understand the issues that What Were They Like? explores

What Were They Like? Denise Levertov

Culture Vietnam: America: South East Asian country ravaged by war in the 1960’s and 70’s with America Poor, predominately agriculture based economy America: Rich, powerful Western nation Thought of as peace-keepers in world politics by intervening where they feel it is appropriate

Surface Meaning A question and answer session about the impact of the Vietnam War on the people of Vietnam

What were they like? Did the people of Vietnam use lanterns of stone? Dealing with the facts of Vietnamese life Each question is numbered and has a numbered answer What were they like? Did the people of Vietnam use lanterns of stone?   Did they hold ceremonies to reverence the opening of buds?   Were they inclined to quiet laughter?   Did they use bone and ivory, jade and silver, for ornament?   Had they an epic poem?   Did they distinguish between speech and singing?   Reverence means celebrate Pseudo journalistic style; cold like the reportage of the war itself

the lanterns illumined pleasant ways.   1. Sir, their light hearts turned to stone. It is not remembered whether in gardens the lanterns illumined pleasant ways.   2.Perhaps they gathered once to delight in blossom, but after the children were killed, there were no more buds.   3. Sir, laughter is bitter to the burned mouth.   4. A dream ago, perhaps. Ornament is for joy. All the bones were charred.   5. It is not remembered. Remember, most were peasants; their life was in rice and bamboo. When peaceful clouds were reflected in the paddies And the water buffalo stepped surely along terraces, maybe fathers told their sons old tales. When bombs smashed those mirrors there was time only to scream.   6.There is an echo yet Of their speech which was like a song. It was reported their singing resembled the flight of moths in moonlight. Who can say? It is silent now. Denise Levertov The poet turns each positive to a negative Polite, careful impersonal language Alliteration to show seething anger Repetition of this shows a cold clinical attitude Rice fields Evocative description of lifestyle and culture The horror of war What mirrors? Short sentences for strong impact A sad desolate ending Recollected beauty shows anguish, not anger

Structure 2 stanzas 1st stanza = questions 2nd stanza = answers Can be read normally from line 1 to the end or by following the numbers to link each questions with its relevant answer Sounds like conversation between everyday person (American) and a polite anti-war protestor (“Sir …”)

Imagery Simile: Metaphor: “their speech which was like a song” “their singing resembled the flight of moths in moonlight” Metaphor: “their light hearts turned to stone”

Ideas: Attitudes: Feelings: Everything has changed for the Vietnamese people after the war (beauty and peace turned to sadness, grief and destruction) Attitudes: The peaceful simple lives of the Vietnamese people was shattered by the horror of war that the Americans brought with them Anti-war, pro peace Anti-American (despite poet being American) Feelings: No direct anger or recrimination towards Americans, but sense of sorrow and loss due to the horror of war and its impact Sadness Loss “Matter of fact” style Contempt for war

Before the War After the War

Write A diary account before and after Newspaper reports before and after Prose work on before and after