1y English

Autumn 2021
Family Relations – Introduction

INTRODUCTION
What is a family?
What does your family mean to you?
What do you expect from a family?

Philip Larkin

TASKS – This Be the Verse

5 You will be divided into groups of four who will have to complete the tasks mentioned
below:
 Take turns reading the poem aloud.

 Which structure (stanzas, couplets, rhyme scheme)

10
 Describe the language in the poem. How is to read?

 Memorize at least two of the stanzas

15  Explain the following phrases from the poem:

o “They fill you with the faults that they had”
o “Man hands on misery to man”
o “Get out as early as you can”
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Family Relations – Introduction

20  What is the poem about?

 Find keywords from the poem that you think describe the themes and message of the
poem. Also define the themes and message of the poem
 Do you agree with Larkin in his message? Discuss: Is it possible for parents to bring up
25 their children without “fucking them up”?

 Write a poem in which you thank your parents for all the good things they have done for
you.

30 PHILIP LARKIN, “THIS BE THE VERSE”, 1971

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
35
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.
40
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don't have any kids yourself.
45

50

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Family Relations – Introduction

EMINEM

55 ’TASKS
You will be divided into groups of four who will have to complete the tasks mentioned
below:
 Listen to the song again on your own.

60  Which structure if any?

 Describe the language in the song. How is to read?

 Explain the following phrases from the poem:

65 o “but I'm trying to give you the life that I never had”
o “We did not plan it to be this way, your mother and me”
o “But it's just something we have no control over
and that's what destiny is,”
o “I'll never forget that Christmas I sat up the whole night crying
70 Cuz daddy felt like a bum, see daddy had a job
But his job was to keep the food on the table for you and mom”

 What is the song about?

75  Find keywords from the song that you think describe the themes and message of the
song. Also define the themes and message of the song
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Family Relations – Introduction

 Compare the song to Larkin’s poem. Re-discuss: Is it possible for parents to bring up
their children without “fucking them up”?

80 EMINEM, ‘Mockingbird’, 2009

Yeah
I know sometimes things may not always make sense to you right now
But hey, what daddy always tell you?
85 Straighten up little soldier
Stiffen up that upper lip
What you crying about?
You got me...

90 Hailie I know you miss your mom and I know you miss your dad
When I'm gone, but I'm trying to give you the life that I never had
I can see you're sad, even when you smile, even when you laugh
I can see it in your eyes, deep inside you want to cry
Cuz you're scared, I ain't there?
95 Daddy's with you in your prayers
No more crying, wipe them tears
Daddy's here, no more nightmares
We gonna pull together through it, we gonna do it
Lainnie uncle's crazy, aint he?
100 Yeah but he loves you girl and you better know it

We're all we got in this world

When it spins, when it swirls
When it whirls, when it twirls
105 Two little beautiful girls
Lookin' puzzled, in a daze
I know it's confusing you

Daddy's always on the move, mamma's always on the news

110 I try to keep you sheltered from it but somehow it seems
The harder that I try to do that, the more it backfires on me
All the things growing up as daddy that he had to see
Daddy don't want you to see but you see just as much as he did

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Family Relations – Introduction

115 We did not plan it to be this way, your mother and me

But things have got so bad between us
I don't see us ever being together ever again
Like we used to be when we was teenagers
But then of course everything always happens for a reason
120 I guess it was never meant to be
But it's just something we have no control over
and that's what destiny is,
But no more worries, rest your head and go to sleep
Maybe one day we'll wake up and this will all just be a dream
125
[Chorus]
Now hush little baby, don't you cry
Everything's gonna be alright
Stiffen that upperlip up little lady, i told ya
130 Daddy's here to hold ya through the night
I know mommy's not here right now and we don't know why
We feel how we feel inside
It may seem a little crazy, pretty baby,
But i promise momma's gon' be alright
135 (Ha)

It's funny
I remember back when you and daddy had no money
Mommy wrapped the Christmas presents up
140 And stuck 'em under the tree and said some of 'em were from me
Cuz daddy couldn't buy 'em
I'll never forget that Christmas I sat up the whole night crying
Cuz daddy felt like a bum, see daddy had a job
But his job was to keep the food on the table for you and mom
145 And at the time every house that we lived in
Either kept getting broken into and robbed
Or shot up on the block and your mom was saving money for you in a jar
Trying to start a piggy bank for you so you could go to college
Almost had a thousand dollars till someone broke in and stole it
150 And I know it hurt so bad it broke your momma's heart
And it seemed like everything was just startin' to fall apart
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Family Relations – Introduction

Mom and dad was arguin' a lot so momma moved back

Onto Chalmers in a flat one bedroom apartment
And dad moved back to the other side of 8 Mile on Novara
155 And that's when daddy went to California with his CD and met Dr. Dre
And flew you and momma out to see me
But daddy had to work, you and momma had to leave me
Then you started seeing daddy on the T.V. and momma didn't like it
And you and Lainnie were to young to understand it
160 Papa was a rollin' stone, momma developed a habit
And it all happened too fast for either one of us to grab it
I'm just sorry you were there and had to witness it first hand
Cuz all I ever wanted to do was just make you proud
Now I'm sittin in this empty house, just reminiscing
165 Lookin' at your baby pictures, it just triks me out
To see how much you both have grown, it's almost like you're sisters now
Wow, I guess you pretty much are and daddy's still here
Lainnie I'm talkin' to you too, daddy's still here
I like the sound of that, yeah,
170 It's got a ring to it don't it?
Shh, momma's only gone for the moment

[Chorus]

175 Now hush little baby, don't you cry

Everything's gonna be alright
Stiffen that upperlip up little lady, i told ya
Daddy's here to hold ya through the night
I know mommy's not here right now and we don't know why
180 We feel how we feel inside
It may seem a little crazy, pretty baby,
But i promise momma's gon' be alright

And if you ask me too

185 Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird
I'mma give you the world
I'mma buy a diamond ring for you
I'mma sing for you
I'll do anything for you to see you smile
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Family Relations – Introduction

190 And if that mockingbird don't sing and that ring don't shine
I'mma break that birdies neck
I'll go back to the jeweler who sold it to ya
and make him eat every carat
don't do with dat (haha)
195