1. Objectives for the next 6 weeks Selecting evidence Inferring and developing meaning Identifying and exploring language Commenting on the effects of the writer’s techniques Poetry - relationships Today’s Objectives Introduction to the poem Nettles by Vernon Scannell Focus on the writer’s use of emotive language

2. The Poet... Vernon Scannell (1922 - 2007) published his poetry from the 1950s right up to the last year of his life, but seems to be less well-known than he deserves, despite being the recipient of the Heinemann Award for Literature.

3. Background... His background is fascinating, including serving with the Army in the Middle East and the Normandy Landings. He is mostly a Second World War poet. He joined the army aged 18, and he did fight in WW2. He did desert his soldiers TWICE and he found himself in Northfield Hospital, what we would now refer to as a mental institution, as the Generals believed he was going mad. His background is fascinating, including serving with the Army in the Middle East and the Normandy Landings. He is mostly a Second World War poet. He joined the army aged 18, and he did fight in WW2. He did desert his soldiers TWICE and he found himself in Northfield Hospital, what we would now refer to as a mental institution, as the Generals believed he was going mad.

4. His family... He had six children. Two of those children passed away. One of his sons passed away as a young child. The other passed away in adulthood after being involved in a motorcycle crash. Four of his children, two sons and two daughters are still alive today. What might this have to do with the poem?

5. Ideas in the poem… Choice of task: Read the wordle of the poem ‘Nettles’. Choose 2 words which use emotive language to show love. Choose 2 words which use emotive language to show pain/ suffering. Summarise the poem by connecting several words with connectives.

6. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/poetryrelationships/nettlesact.shtml Nettles My son aged three fell in the nettle bed. 'Bed' seemed a curious name for those green spears, That regiment of spite behind the shed: It was no place for rest. With sobs and tears The boy came seeking comfort and I saw White blisters beaded on his tender skin. We soothed him till his pain was not so raw. At last he offered us a watery grin, And then I took my hook and honed the blade And went outside and slashed in fury with it Till not a nettle in that fierce parade Stood upright any more. Next task: I lit A funereal pyre to burn the fallen dead. But in two weeks the busy sun and rain Had called up tall recruits behind the shed: My son would often feel sharp wounds again. Let’s listen to the poem What are your first impressions of the poem? Complete the following sentences I think the poem is about _______ and _______ I know this from the lines _______ and _______ This makes the reader feel __________

7. Key Question How is the speaker presented in the poem ‘Nettles’ by Vernon Scannell?

8. How does the speaker feel about... His Son? The Nettles?

9. The Speaker in the Poem... How is he presented?

10. Expand on your chosen words… ‘Slashed’ From this I can infer: cut, angry, violent, out of control, knife The word ‘slashed’ is used by the poet to show the way in which the father cuts down the nettles. He ‘slashed in fury’ with the blade which suggests that he is taking all of his anger out on the nettles. He wants to destroy them because they have hurt his beloved son. Example Choose ONE word and answer the following question: How does Scannell use language to show the relationship between father and son?

11. Expand on your chosen words for love and pain/suffering Pair/Share your answers. Read your answers to your table, explaining how the writer uses language to describe the relationship How does Scannell use language to show the relationship between father and son?

12. Writing a response… How is the speaker presented? D grade Quote to demonstrate this? C grade Explain how this quote shows this presentation B grade The father is presented as being caring and protective over his son. This is revealed when he says “We soothed him till his pain was not so raw.” From the verb ‘soothed’, the reader notices how loving the father is because he wants to comfort his child.

13. Plenary The poem initially seems like a straightforward story of the speaker’s young son falling into a bed of nettles and his vain attempt to prevent the boy from ever again experiencing such pain. However, there is a much deeper reading and meaning in this poem. On your tables, discuss what you think the hidden meaning(s) may be. Hint – can you link this to the use of military vocabulary