Those Bastards in their Mansions

Those Bastards in their Mansions Simon Armitage

Those Bastards in their Mansions Starter Activity: Prediction: View Point What type of poem Do you think this will be from the title? Consider… Tone Style Ideas, feelings & attitudes

Those Bastards in their Mansions What questions arise from this poem?

Those Bastards in their Mansions • Read through the poem and highlight any words that you do not understand. • What is the age and gender of the speaker within the Poem? • How do you come to this conclusion?

Those Bastards in their Mansions • Copy and complete this chart to show what evidence you can find to show the speaker’s attitude:

Those Bastards in their Mansions Prometheus: Prometheus was a Greek hero and a Titan, (a race between Gods and Men.) Prometheus stole fire from the Gods to give to men so that they could be the most powerful animals on earth. As a punishment he was chained to a rock to have his liver pecked out each day by an eagle. Each night his liver was restored so that the punishment could be repeated the next day. Prometheus is often seen as a hero and a symbol of people who rise up and fight against tyranny and cruelty.

Those Bastards in their Mansions • Consider these 4 questions in relation to the myth of Prometheus. • Why might the lords and ladies see the speaker as a Prometheus figure? • Why might the ‘ordinary’ people view him as a Prometheus figure? • Why does the speaker not want to be viewed as this type of figure? • What advantage does he think he has over Prometheus?

Those Bastards in their Mansions How does Armitage make the reader feel sympathy for the ordinary people in the poem? Read the following question and its response: First, Armitage contrasts the ordinary ‘streets and houses’ with the ‘palaces and castles’. Secondly, He writes that the ordinary people do not have ‘heat and light’ to show what a miserable existence they have. Lastly, he states that they are in ‘cuffs And shackles’, in other words they are prisoners Or even slaves. • With a partner identify how this question has been answered. • What are the strengths of the response? • Could it be improved?

Those Bastards in their Mansions You have 10 minutes in your group to answer your set question. Be prepared to read out your written response! GROUP 1 What does Armitage make the reader feel towards the lords and ladies? How does he do this? GROUP 2 Does Armitage make the reader feel as if the speaker is a romantic freedom fighter on the side of the common people using A gun as he has no alternative or a terrorist trying to destroy society By killing in a ruthless but cowardly way? Could there be an alternative reading of the speaker and if so what?

Those Bastards in their Mansions • Within the 1st stanza Armitage uses a lot of ‘d’, ‘t’ and ‘s’ sounds, for example in the 1st line: ‘Thosebastardsin theirmansions:’ • Highlight or identify where else this has occurred within the 1st stanza. • Why has Armitage used so many of these sounds and what is the over all effect?

Those Bastards in their Mansions Puns are used within the poem. • What 2 meanings might the words ‘lifted’ (line 5) and ‘grilled’ (line 12,) have? • Re read the poem. Summarize the meaning of the 1st 3 stanzas. You may only use up to 10 words per stanza! • Why do you think the last stanza is a single line?

Those Bastards in their Mansions Group 3 A celebration of Freedom fighters Group 1 An attack on terrorists? Why might some people think this poem is: Group 2 A clever twist on a Greek myth Group 4 A study of a ruthless killer.

Those Bastards in their Mansions What Duffy Poem Would you Compare ‘Those Bastards in Their Mansions’ With?

Those Bastards in their Mansions • ‘Those Bastards in their Mansions’ and ‘Havisham’ are both dramatic monologues. • Do they have anything else in common?

Those Bastards in their Mansions • Consider: • What or who do they hate? • What is their reason for hatred? • What do they do because of this hatred? • What words do they use to express their hatred? • What do they plan to do next? Those Bastards HAVISHAM

Those Bastards in their Mansions The word ‘shriek’ is used in both ‘Those Bastards in their Mansions’ and ‘Before you were Mine.’ What does this word tell us about the speakers’ thoughts and feelings in both poems? Copy and complete the following sentences: In ‘’Those Bastards in their Mansions’ the terrorist claims the lords and ladies are shrieking because…. The word ‘shriek’ has a harsh and unpleasant sound and the effect on the reader is…. However in, ‘Before you were Mine,’ Duffy’s mother and her friends shriek because…

Those Bastards in their Mansions