1. Year 9 exam Section B: Poetry
You will be assessed for reading and for writing in this section.
30 minutes.
Unseen poem.
You will need to focus on
a) the ideas and feelings in the poem
b) how these ideas are presented

2. ‘Island Man’
By Grace Nichols

4. London or Caribbean?
blue surf wild seabirds grey metallic soar sun surfacing defiantly dull North Circular roar sands emerald island surge of wheels another London day fishermen pushing out to sea pillow waves

5. Words which describe the Caribbean
Words which describe London

6. The language of ‘Island Man’
Analysing colours
1. Pick out the colours and mind map what each one suggests to you.
2. How do the colours show the contrast between London and the Caribbean?

7. The language of ‘Island Man’
‘emerald island’
‘surge of wheels’

8. The language of ‘Island Man’
‘crumpled pillow waves’
‘wild seabirds’

9. Today’s Objective:
To use our ideas on the poem ‘Island Man’ in order to plan and write an exam practice answer.

11. ‘Island Man’
Title?

12. Structure

13. Exam question Read the poem ‘Island Man’
Exam question Read the poem ‘Island Man’. What do you think the poet is saying about different places? How does she present her ideas?

14. Planning How to organise your ideas. . . . 1. What is this poem about?
What ideas and feelings does the writer have about this subject?
2. How does the writer use language to present these ideas? Explore at least two examples.
3. How does the writer use structure to present these ideas? Explore at least one example.
4. What is your view of this poem? What do you think about what is being said, and how successful do you think it is?