1. Prayer Before Birth Thursday, 20 September 2018
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014

2. You have listened to the screencast
You have 5 minutes to work with a neighbour to produce a short presentation about the poem based on the information and notes taken in the homework.
2 students will be chosen at random to present and to respond to questions.
You should take notes
who will it be?
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014

3. OK… Thank you.
Why did MacNeice write this poem? What was he responding to in the world around him?
Let’s assume that his feelings about the state of the world in 1940s
So, time to look for clues!
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014

4. Contextual response
With a partner, make a quick list of ideas that someone might be responding to in the 1940s – an awareness of History will help here!
When this is complete…
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014

5. Make a table for this task…
Contextual element
Quotation in poem
Comment /explanation
The rise of Hitler
War
“In blood-baths roll me”
Cruelty
“… would dragoon me into a lethal automaton…”
Hoping for a peaceful future
“Rehearse me in the parts I must play”
1 table will work on each row and we will feedback…;
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014

6. SLIME Structure: What do you notice abut the opening of each stanza?
Can you find any obvious pattern of organisation at stanza level?
Why is the final stanza so abrupt?
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014

7. IMAGERY Powerful and strong! Each stanza is full of rich vocabulary.
How many similes can you find?
How many metaphors?
Can you comment on the difference in effect of a simile and a metaphor?
HOME LEARNING:
Choose your favourite metaphor and create a piece of art to represent it. You have 1 week for this task. Upload a photo of your work to Edmodo AND record a brief commentary on the piece, using the AUDIOBOO app on Edmodo.
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014

8. Language: Look carefully at the many lists in this poem.
What ways does MacNeice find to draw attention to them and to link the ideas in your minds?
What can you say about the sentence structure used in the longer stanzas? Remember that you have to comment and offer an explanation!
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014

9. Meaning and Effect
We are back to the original question: Why did MacNeice write this poem?
Look at the short stanzas in the poem and see if you can suggest an answer.
This might give you a meaning… however, how does the poem make you feel?
What do you think MacNeice was trying to convey? Does he succeed?
Jonathan Peel UCGS 2014