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Teacher-of-English.com This Room Poems from Different Cultures

Slide Contents Author Themes What is it About? Structure Language Examination Preparation Links

The Author

Imtiaz Dharker Imtiaz Dharker was born in 1954 in Pakistan but was brought up in Glasgow where her family moved when she was less than a year old. She spends her time between India and Britain and has written four books of poetry. The main themes of her writing include home, geographical and cultural displacement, communal conflict and gender politics. Dharker is also a documentary film-maker and an accomplished artist .

Themes

Universal Ideas Universal themes are ideas which could apply to any time or place. Themes such as good and evil, love and loneliness have been written about by people all over the world for thousands of years. This Room is about a special moment in life when things change for the better. The poet is optimistic and tells us we should make the most of opportunities which come our way.

Change This poem is about an unexpected change in the life of the poet. Imtiaz Dharker does not explain what the change is but it is obviously a positive one which brings great joy and excitement. We get the idea that whatever the change is it brings with it personal growth that affects her life in a very significant way.

What is it About?

Changing Rooms Think about the word room. What comes to mind? Jot down your thoughts. You may have thought about… • Your home, your bedroom or a particular room in your house. • Your room is a private place where your belongings and personal possessions are kept. • Rooms can divide people from one another. • Rooms have walls that confine us and doors which allow us to shut out others from ourselves.

This Room describes a special event in the poet’s life.There are three main parts to the poem. Do you know what they are? The first one has been done for you What Happens?

Check your understanding • How does the first stanza create a sense of destruction? • How does the poet convey feelings of positivity and optimism in the second stanza? • What happens to the pots and pans in stanza three? • What direction are the household objects moving in? What is the significance of this? • How does the poet feel? • Is this poem written in first, second or third person? What is the effect of this? • What do you think the room represents? • What do you think the special event could be? Explain your answer.

Structure

Structure The poem contains five stanzas of different lengths. Copy and complete the chart below to show how the poet conveys her feelings as the poem develops. Why do you think the final stanza is made up of just one line?

Language

Language • The poem begins with an image of the room ‘breaking’ and ‘cracking’. What does this image remind you of? Why is this an appropriate image? • What do you associate with rooms? • What could the room symbolise? • What could the ‘furniture of our lives’ be? • How does the pace of the poem change in stanza three? • Which words in stanzas three and four convey joy and elation? • What is the significance of the word ‘outside’ in the final line of the poem?

Imagery Look at the following images from the poem. What effect do the images create?

Poetic Techniques TechniqueDefinition Metaphor The use of the same sound at the start of words Alliteration A figure of speech not meant literally Onomatopoeiaattributing human qualities to objects personificationA word which imitates the sound it represents Match the technique with the correct definition.

Poetic Techniques Think about the poetic techniques discussed on the last slide. Copy down the chart below. Find examples in the poem and write down the effect created.

Feelings and Attitudes The poet is excited, this is a special moment in her life when things change for the better. She is excited and overjoyed as it is so unexpected. By the end of the poem she feels happy, relieved and free.

ExaminationPreparation

The Examination Paper • You will have 45 minutes to answer the question. • You will be asked to compare two poems. • You should begin by annotating the question for the key words. This will help you to understand what you are being asked to do. E.g. Compare ‘This Room’ with one other poem in which the poets use language to convey their thoughts and feelings.

Planning • Spend between 5 and 10 minutes making a plan. This will help you to order your essay logically. • Make a note of any key ideas you are going to include. • Leave at least 5 minutes at the end to read through your work and check for any basic errors.

Structure A good answer should: • Write in paragraphs. • Don’t forget to P.E.E! Using a range of quotes that are properly embedded within your answer. • Begin with an introduction and end with a conclusion. The main body of the essay should follow these five steps to make a good answer: • Write a bit about the theme • Compare the structures of each poem • Compare the use of language in each poem • Compare the feelings of the poets • Write about how the poems make you feel.

Similarity Connectives Equally In the same way Similarly Likewise Just as…also Contrast Connectives In contrast However Whereas (best used in the middle of a sentence) On the other hand Making Connections Use a series of comparisons, using connectives to link ideas, both within paragraphs and between paragraphs. Refer back to the question repeating the key words from it.

Analysis Use the following words to link your Point -> Evidence -> Explain sentences. The use of these words will also help to ensure that your response is analytical. suggests implies gives the impression that shows highlights indicates To make the same point using a different example, try one of these: furthers emphasises reinforces

Recap • When you are comparing poems you will be asked to look for the similarities and the differences. • You should comment on the language they use. What poetic devices are present? Imagery, similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification, rhyme etc. What effect do they have on the reader? • You will need to comment on the structure of the poems. How are they set out? Does this add to their overall effect/meaning? • Consider the tone of the poems. What mood has the author created?

Links

Useful Links This Room short films: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWViH1f4ZUM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNk22NMEkdY&NR=1 Annotated PPT version of This Room: http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/files_uploaded/uploaded_resources/10668/ThisRoomPres2(MT).ppt#256,1,‘This Room’ by Imtiaz Dharker

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