Tentative LanguageTo tease out the meaning

Introduction to Poetry

I ask them to take a poemand hold it up to the lightlike a colour slide

or press an ear against its hive

I say drop a mouse into a poemand watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem’s roomand feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterskiacross the surface of a poemwaving at the author’s name on the shore.

But all they want to dois tie the poem to a chair with ropeand torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hoseto find out what it really means.

– Billy Collins

iGCSE Unseen Poetry Desk

Hints at…Suggests…Possibly…Maybe…

Perhaps…May…

Might…Could…

Title ConnotationsConsider literal and

metaphorical interpretations of the poem’s title

3 Evaluation of writer’s uses of language/structure plus effects

on readers

Hitting the Criteria (Band 5/6)

StructureNarrative, layout, stanza, first/last line, inset words, words sticking

out, (ir)regular lines, line lengths, punctuation, refrain, fixed form

Language TechniquesImagery, metaphor, simile, personification, repetition,

emotive, rhetoric, hyperbole, humour, alliteration, assonance,

sibilance

Section A35 marks

45 minutes

Hitting the Criteria (Band 5/6)

1 ‘Explore themes and ideas showing insight.’

A theme is a topic that runs through a piece of writing. For example:

relationships, negative emotions, love, nature, identity.

2 ‘Close analysis of detail to support interpretations.

Choose a word/phrase/feature and explore in depth ‘write a lot about a

little’

A* Example Dynamite Paragraphs

@cvhsenglish@mcauleyengli

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