Starter

1. Starter • Write a few words about a time you felt your brother or sister let you down.

2. Learning Objectives As we study this poem you will learn: • The story of the poem • About Leonard Cohen • That poems can pose questions as well as provide answers • More about the terms, Metaphor: Tone:Poetry & Music: Subtext • To explore the subtext of the poem to discover meaning. You will also complete some mini tasks, a test and an assignment based on the poem.

3. Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen It's four in the morning, the end of DecemberI'm writing you now just to see if you're betterNew York is cold, but I like where I'm livingThere's music on Clinton street all through the evening.I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desertYou're living for nothing now, I hope you're keeping some kind of record.Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it to herThat night that you planned to go clearDid you ever go clear? Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much olderYour famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulderYou'd been to the station to meet every trainAnd you came home without Lilli MarleneAnd you treated my woman to a flake of your lifeAnd when she came back she was nobody's wife. Well I see you there with the rose in your teethOne more thin gypsy thiefWell I see Jane’s awake --She sends her regards. And what can I tell you my brother, my killerWhat can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive youI'm glad you stood in my way.If you ever come by here, for Jane or for meYour enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free.Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyesI thought it was there for good so I never tried.And Jane came by with a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it to herThat night that you planned to go clear-- sincerely, L. Cohen

4. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 1 Briefly write down what happens in the poem and what you think the poem’s meaning/message is. How would you describe the tone of the poem?

5. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 1 Briefly write down what happens in the poem and what you think the poem’s meaning/message is. Famous Blue Raincoat is written in the form of a letter from "L. Cohen" to his ‘brother’ who once betrayed him by having an affair with his wife, "Jane.“ In the letter he offers forgiveness and shows concern for his brother’s wellbeing as well as acknowledging the effect that the affair has had on Jane. It is an enigmatic poem that asks as many questions as it answers.

6. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 1 How would you describe the tone of the poem? The tone is sad and melancholy, but with a hint of anger, especially in the 5th stanza where the brother is described as a ‘killer’.

7. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 2 What elements in this stanza help create strong sense of place & time? Write down something you notice about each line in this stanza. It's four in the morning, the end of DecemberI'm writing you now just to see if you're betterNew York is cold, but I like where I'm livingThere's music on Clinton street all through the evening.I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desertYou're living for nothing now, I hope you're keeping some kind of record.

8. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 2 a) What elements in the poem help create strong sense of place & time? It's four in the morning, the end of DecemberI'm writing you now just to see if you're betterNew York is cold, but I like where I'm livingThere's music on Clinton street all through the evening.I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desertYou're living for nothing now, I hope you're keeping some kind of record.

9. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 2 b) Write down something you notice about each line in this stanza. It's fourin the morning, the end of December -an odd time to be writing a letterI'm writing you now just to see if you're better - better from what? Mental or physical illness?New York is cold, but I like where I'm living - as opposed to where he lived before, perhaps with Jane?There's music on Clinton street all through the evening. - a very lively place to live, not isolates or alone like his brother/friend.I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desert – away from everyone…isolatedYou're living for nothing now, -nothing left to live for? I hope you're keeping some kind of record. – or life passes without any meaning. Has the return of Jane into his life prompted the writer to now write this letter of forgiveness.? The time is also significant here. Ask yourself why ‘four in the morning’ (and remember we are later told that he sees ‘Jane’s awake.’)

10. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 3 What is the significance of “Jane came by” & the lock of hair? Yes, and Jane came bywith a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it to herThat night that you planned to go clearDid you ever go clear?

11. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 3 What is the significance of “Jane came by” & the lock of hair? Yes, and Jane came bywith a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it to herThat night that you planned to go clearDid you ever go clear? The fact that Jane ‘came by’ implies she no longer lives with the writer, but would still seem to be on good terms with him. However she still keeps a memento of his brother (his ‘killer’) with her. Has she perhaps come to see the writer to give him the ‘lock of hair’ to prove she no longer has any feelings for the other man?

12. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 4 What are the key words in Line 1....why? b) Why is the torn raincoat significant? Who was Lilli Marlene and why might she be important? What is the key word in the fifth line....why s it significant? What is the important detail we learn from the last line? Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much olderYour famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulderYou'd been to the station to meet every trainAnd you came home without Lilli MarleneAnd you treated my woman to a flake of your lifeAnd when she came back she was nobody's wife.

13. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 4 What are the key words in Line 1....why? Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much olderYour famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulderYou'd been to the station to meet every trainAnd you came home without Lilli MarleneAnd you treated my woman to a flake of your lifeAnd when she came back she was nobody's wife. ‘last time’ – conveys it has been a while since he has seen his brother. ‘looked so much older’ - Perhaps because of illness (he’s writing to see if his brother is ‘better’), or maybe the stress of the betrayal in this love triangle is causing him to age prematurly?

14. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 4 b) Why is the torn raincoat significant? Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much olderYour famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulderYou'd been to the station to meet every trainAnd you came home without Lilli MarleneAnd you treated my woman to a flake of your lifeAnd when she came back she was nobody's wife. It is the title line of the poem, so our attention has to be drawn to it. The fact that is ‘famous’ would imply that the ‘brother’ is renowned for wearing it, almost as if it is his trademark garment. Yet if he has allowed it to get ‘torn’ does that mean he has stopped caring about his appearance? This may indicate depression, perhaps caused by the turmoil of his betrayal?

15. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 4 c) Who was Lilli Marlene and why might she be important? Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much olderYour famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulderYou'd been to the station to meet every trainAnd you came home without Lilli MarleneAnd you treated my woman to a flake of your lifeAnd when she came back she was nobody's wife. Lilli Marlene is the title character from a famous WW2 song. Because ‘Lilli ‘ is so famously faithful and patient and prepared to wait for her soldier boyfriend to return form the front, the fact that the ‘brother’ returns without her is ironic. Metaphorically it may be that Lilli is Jane and her failure to be on the train he went to meet (and any other train that day) was her way of finishing this relationship? So the reference is ironically alluding to faithfulness. Underneath the lanternBy the barrack gate,Darling I rememberThe way you used to wait.T'was there that you whispered tenderlyThat you loved me;You'd always beMy Lili of the lamplight,My own Lili Marlene.

16. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 4 d) What is the key word in the fifth line....why s it significant? Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much olderYour famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulderYou'd been to the station to meet every trainAnd you came home without Lilli MarleneAnd you treated my woman to a flakeof your lifeAnd when she came back she was nobody's wife. Why a ‘flake’? Why not a slice, a piece or a chunk? A flake is easily discarded ; a chunk or a piece has greater substance and a slice implies a precise portion. A flake then is an unimportant and tiny part of something. So how much of his life/time had the ‘brother’ devoted to Jane? Not very much. Yet it is enough to damage his relationship with his brother.

17. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 4 e) What is the important detail we learn from the last line? Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much olderYour famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulderYou'd been to the station to meet every trainAnd you came home without Lilli MarleneAnd you treated my woman to a flake of your lifeAnd when she came back she was nobody's wife. When Jane returns from the ‘brother’ she had a broken relationship with both men as she was ‘nobody’s wife’, discarded by the ‘brother’ and unfaithful to the writer.

18. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 5 Why a rose in his teeth? Why a ‘gypsy thief’ What does Jane being awake tell us? What is important about Jane sending her regards? Well I see you there with the rose in your teethOne more thin gypsy thiefWell I see Jane’s awake --She sends her regards.

19. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 5 a) Why a rose in his teeth Well I see you there with the rose in your teethOne more thin gypsy thiefWell I see Jane’s awake --She sends her regards. Ironically or mockingly romantic….but sometimes what Starts as a joke can have serious consequences.

20. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 5 From Raggletaggle gypsy-o "How could you leave your house and your land? how could you leave your money-o? How could you leave your only wedded Lord all for a raggletaggle gypsy-o?" "What care I for my house and my land? what care I for my money-o? I'd rather have a kiss from the yellow gypsy's lips I'm away wi' the raggletaggle gypsy-o!" b) Why a ‘gypsy thief’ Well I see you there with the rose in your teethOne more thin gypsy thiefWell I see Jane’s awake --She sends her regards. Gypsies don’t live anywhere permanent so do not have the same responsibilities and pressures as the rest of society. In this sense they are free. But away from romantic notions of freedom gypsies (in the UK) are a real nuisance. They invade a site, which could be a farmers field, leave a mess and go round the neighbourhood nicking stuff. In the poem then, metaphorically, the ‘gypsy’ has stolen this woman and messed up their lives by stealing Jane’s heart and not caring for the consequences. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdyE8_7puPQ

21. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 5 c) What does Jane being awake tell us? Well I see you there with the rose in your teethOne more thin gypsy thiefWell I see Jane’s awake --She sends her regards. If she has woken up it means she has been asleep, ie. spent the night there with the writer. This would imply that they have made some attempt to repair their relationship and this is perhaps why the writer now feels compelled to write this letter of forgiveness.

22. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 5 d) What is important about Jane sending her regards? Well I see you there with the rose in your teethOne more thin gypsy thiefWell I see Jane’s awake --She sends her regards. She too has forgiven the ‘brother’ her illicit lover. If she felt any bitterness towards him would she be sending her regards?

23. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 6 What is the key word in line 1….why? What does line 2 tell you? What is important about the repetition in line 3? What is the change signified by his assertion he is ‘glad’ in line 4? What do the last two lines mean? And what can I tell you my brother, my killerWhat can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive youI'm glad you stood in my way.If you ever come by here, for Jane or for meYour enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free.

24. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 6 What is the key word in line 1….why? And what can I tell you my brother, my killerWhat can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive youI'm glad you stood in my way.If you ever come by here, for Jane or for meYour enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free. Killer – As a metaphor, this strongly conveys the sense of how badly hurt the writer has been by his brother’s betrayal….but what has he killed? A relationship, trust, hopes for the future….etc?

25. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 6 What does line 2 tell you? And what can I tell you my brother, my killerWhat can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive youI'm glad you stood in my way.If you ever come by here, for Jane or for meYour enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free. He is trying to come to terms with is own feelings for his brother and find the words of forgiveness he feels he can now use. There is a sense in this line that he is still bitter and angry, but that he is trying to overcome these feelings. I am sure that if he was still angry he would know exactly what to say to the brother that betrayed him!

26. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 6 What is important about the repetition in line 3? And what can I tell you my brother, my killerWhat can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive youI'm glad you stood in my way.If you ever come by here, for Jane or for meYour enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free. Guess – shows he is not sure how he feels. The repetition emphasises the uncertainty that he feels and the ambiguity of his emotions.

27. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 6 What is the change signified by his assertion he is ‘glad’ in line 4? And what can I tell you my brother, my killerWhat can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive youI'm glad you stood in my way.If you ever come by here, for Jane or for meYour enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free. This line is more positive than the previous line. He is no longer ‘guessing’ but ‘glad. This is also where the writer begins to acknowledge that perhaps his brother’s relationship with Jane was good for her in some ways. He later goes on to thank his brother for the ‘trouble you took from her eyes.’

28. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 6 What do the last two lines mean? And what can I tell you my brother, my killerWhat can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive youI'm glad you stood in my way.If you ever come by here, for Jane or for meYour enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free. Not quite an open invitation, but at least the brother will be welcomed if he does come to call. However his former ‘enemy’ is only sleeping so not all is forgiven. There is also in these lines the suggestion that Jane is ‘free’ to choose him if she wants, should he call.

29. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 7 How has the tone changed in the first two lines? What is important about line 2? What do you notice about the last line? What does it signify? Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyesI thought it was there for good so I never tried.And Jane came by with a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it to herThat night that you planned to go clear-- sincerely, L. Cohen

30. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 7 How has the tone changed in the first two lines? Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyesI thought it was there for good so I never tried.And Jane came by with a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it to herThat night that you planned to go clear-- sincerely, L. Cohen The writer is now offering thanks, so any sense of anger has gone, or at least is being suppressed.

31. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 7 What is important about line 2? Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyesI thought it was there for good so I never tried.And Jane came by with a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it to herThat night that you planned to go clear-- sincerely, L. Cohen Whatever had been wrong with Jane, or wrong with their relationship he had given up trying to fix. However his ‘gypsy’ brother had seen the problem and stolen away with his wife, relieving her of her ‘troubles’ (but perhaps storing up different ones for the future.)

32. Famous Blue Raincoat Mini Task 7 What do you notice about the last line? What does it signify? Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyesI thought it was there for good so I never tried.And Jane came by with a lock of your hairShe said that you gave it to herThat night that you planned to go clear-- sincerely, L. Cohen It is formal, not how you would expect a letter to a brother to end. You might think he would sign off Leonard or Len, the fact he signs L Cohen shows there are still some bridges to be built in this relationship. However he is ‘sincere’ about all that he has said.

33. Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen, (born 21 September 1934) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and novelist. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality, and interpersonal relationships. Cohen has been inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is also a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honour. While giving the speech at Cohen's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2008, Lou Reed described Cohen as belonging to the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters." The critic Bruce Eder wrote an assessment of Cohen's overall career in popular music, writing, “Cohen is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic singer/songwriters of the late '60s and has retained an audience across four decades of music-making. Second only to Bob Dylan and perhaps Paul Simon as a musical figure from the 1960s who is still working at the outset of the 21st century." The Academy of American Poets has commented more broadly on Cohen's overall career in the arts, including his work as a poet, novelist, and songwriter, stating that "Cohen's successful blending of poetry, fiction and music enables his fans to embrace him as a Renaissance man who straddles the elusive artistic borderlines.“ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Cohen

34. Famous Blue Raincoat Assignment Describe a time, real or imagined, when you betrayed or were betrayed by someone close to you. How did you react and how did you resolve the conflict. 700 -1000 Words by w/b Sat 15th September http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2NHp3wLQYo ToriAmos - Albany 10-09-07 = 15-Famous Blue Raincoat

35. Famous Blue Raincoat Test ?

36. Famous Blue Raincoat Notes Jane came by….no longer living with her!!!!???? But with his hair!!!??? and his woman is free...to choose