1. ‘The Habit of Light’
LO) To explore how Clarke uses language and imagery to create a vivid character

2. What words and ideas do you associate with this concept?
light

3. The Habit of Light by Gillian Clarke
In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass, her polished furniture, her silver and glass. At dawn she’d draw all the curtains back for a glimpse of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered in an opulence of beeswax and light. In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows, in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing, she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes, her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, brining the palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright with her habit of colour, her habit of light.

4. Gillian Clarke
This poem is a elegy (serious, meditative poem, usually concerned with the theme of death) where domestic routine is celebrated as a kind of sacrament (ritual/rite = custom). The poem celebrates the poet’s dead mother.

5. Structure
14 lines – an informal sonnet, Clarke lovingly details the woman’s life in moments of remembered light – even down to ‘palest potatoes’.
Clarke says ‘the poets voice is physical – it’s not just a metaphor for style, but the sound, the breath. The heard voice and the ‘voice’ of the poet on the page are connected.
Character description is built through sense of place.
Relationship – with the character and her home (sense of place)

6. 1st Quatrain In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps
Past tense indicates a memory. Highly descriptive language demonstrates a cherished house.
1st Quatrain
In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps
in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass,
her polished furniture, her silver and glass.
At dawn she’d draw the curtains back for a glimpse
Alliteration
Works hard to create a pristine house
Proud
Many adjectives are used throughout the poem to describe the setting/ mother. The poem also makes use of adjectives that describe ‘lightness’ such as ‘polished’.
Imagery- objects that cast light or that are shiny.

7. 2nd Quatrain of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered
Adjective that suggests light and grandeur
Alliteration helps to create magical atmosphere.
2nd Quatrain
of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered
in an opulence of beeswax and light.
In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred
on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt
Shows possession.
Creates mysterious/ beautiful atmosphere
House proud - pristine
Large steel stove
Alliteration reinforces enjoyment of preparing food.
The personification used is emotional. Almost as if memory of kitchen is as alive as the memory of her mother.
Sentient = emotional

8. 3rd Quatrain of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows,
in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing,
she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes,
her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, bringing
Personification
Rooted history
Elegance
Details fruit and veg shows uses natural resources to be self sufficient. ‘rows’ suggests v organised.
(apron) self sufficient
Could be both literal and a metaphor for the mother singing in the garden.

9. Last rhyming couplet
The palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright
With her habit of colour, her habit of light.
Positive vibrant images of her mother.
Alliteration
Repetition shows emphasis reflects double meaning:
can be used to describe the mother’s routine & expectation that all things were kept clean and shining.
The word ‘habit’ describes a religious robe nuns and priests wear. So, could be stating that mother is dressed in colour and in light which may be a religious metaphor for the mother’s passing on. Or maybe her religious dedication to keeping the house clean.

10. Words in the poem which suggest light
Words that help to create a SENSE OF PLACE
In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass, her polished furniture, her silver and glass. At dawn she’d draw all the curtains back for a glimpse of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered in an opulence of beeswax and light. In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows, in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing, she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes, her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, brining the palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright with her habit of colour, her habit of light.

11. In your exercise books:
‘Habit of Light’ Q1: What is the mother like? List at least 3 things. Q2: How do you know? Explain The character is built through the description of a sense of place. We know about her from her surroundings and how she keeps her house.

12. Q3. How has the poet created a relationship between the character and her home.
Use PEA in your answer.

13. Q4. How are the references to light in the poem significant?
Use PEA in your answer.
The reference to light in the poem are significant because…..
Light imagery adds to the sense of place and description of character. Light reflects the domestic routine of the character.

14. How does Clarke use language and imagery to create a vivid character?
Introduction Language Structure Conclusion

15. Plenary
To understand the ways in which Clarke has used language and imagery to create a vivid character.
To grasp the connection between the character and her home, considering how the description of her home sheds light on the person who lives there.
To respond to the sense of warmth and light and to the feeling of pride and love of home created in the poem.