1. Vernon Scannell Essay Task
Exploring the theme of guilt

2. The essay task:
Discuss how the theme of guilt is explored in either ‘A Case of Murder’ or ‘Nettles’. You should refer to the use of poetic techniques in your essay.

3. Introduction Introduce the poem & poet
Explain what your essay is about
Explain briefly what the poem is about

4. Reference to guilt in the poems:
A Case of Murder
Nettles
The boys reaction once he has killed the cat
The boy’s parents feel bad because their son is very hurt and upset
The fact that the boy cannot look at, or touch, the dead cat
They don’t feel as though they can protect him
The dead cat in the cupboard grows bigger and gets louder in the boy’s head, representing his guilt
No matter what they do, bad things will keep happening
The boy hides the dead cat in the cupboard
The boy is very young and vulnerable and can’t protect himself
The boy was left home alone and is only 9 years old, so his parents should feel guilty
The nettles are vicious and strong.

5. How the theme of guilt develops:
A Case of Murder
Nettles
The young boy is left alone, aged 9 & vulnerable
The little boy is only 3 and vulnerable
The nettles are harsh and they hurt him
He hates the cat
He lashes out without thinking of the consequences
He is too young to know to avoid them
His parents are left feeling guilty as they were unable to protect him
He is left feeling guilty about what he has done

6. POINT > EVIDENCE > COMMENT
Main Body of Essay
You need to go through the poem, line by line, and pick out quotes which you can link to the theme of guilt.
POINT > EVIDENCE > COMMENT
The boy’s father feels bad about what has happened to his son and reacts angrily: “I took my billhook, honed the blade / And went outside and slashed in fury with it.” The word ‘fury’ shows us just how upset the father was feeling about the hurt his son had experienced. ‘Slashed’ also suggests a violent, aggressive reaction and again conveys the strength of the father’s emotion.