Which

Which poem
poem goes
goes with
with
which?
which?
How to know which poems to
compare in Paper 2
 Themes
• You will always be asked to compare
how a particular theme is shown
through two poems – it might be
feelings, it might be politics, it might
be people…
 Identity
• Search for my
tongue
• Hurricane hits
England
• Presents from my
Aunts in Pakistan
• Nothing’s Changed
• Island Man
• Limbo 1. It’s about gender, race, class, religion
2. Where you come from
3. Your language, family, customs, past
experiences
 Politics (inequality)
• Nothing’s Changed
• Two Scavengers in
a Truck…
• Vultures

NOTE: You don’t have to

know everything about
politics

1. Can be about the differences between rich and poor.

2. Can be how leaders abuse their power
3. Can be about certain groups oppressing others
 Change
• Search for my
Tongue
• What were they
like?
• Presents from my
Aunts in Pakistan
• Nothing’s Changed
Note: Fairly open
topic 1. Change for the better
2. Change for the worse
3. Appear to have changed but not
 People
• Two Scavengers in a
Truck…
• Island Man
• Hurricane hits
England
• Presents from my
Aunts in Pakistan
• Night of the Scorpion
• VulturesNote: A lot of the
poems discuss 1. Some are about society
problems 2. Some are about different groups
3. Some are about individuals or are
on their own
 First Person
• Presents from my
Aunts in Pakistan
• Search for my Tongue
• Nothing’s Changed
• Night of the Scorpion
• Limbo
• Hurricane hits England

1. Allows the poet to use their voice directly

2. Allows them to show how they feel
3. It lets us see things from the poets or the
character’s point of view
 Cultures Divided
• Two Scavengers in
a Truck…
• Nothing’s Changed
• Limbo
Note: It’s what the whole
Anthology is about

1. Different cultures within the same society

2. Can be surrounded by a culture but not be part of it
3. Cultures classifies people according to things like
race, gender and wealth, rather than thinking everyone
is equal
 Separated from their
culture
• Night of the
Scorpion
• Hurricane hits
England
• Island Man

The poets are describing how they do not

belong to the culture they were born
into
 Description of People
• Two Scavengers in
a Truck…
• Presents from my
Aunts in Pakistan
• Blessing
• Night of the
Scorpion
1) Poets use unexpected adjectives to cause an effect
2) Contrasting descriptions show differences
3) Comparisons, strong opinions or humour give a
particular impression of something or someone
 Description of Places
• Nothing’s Changed
• Island Man

Note: poets use literary

techniques to improve their
descriptions

Descriptions are used to create a particular

impression or to create/represent a particular
emotion in the reader
 Presentation - for effect
• What Were They Like?
• Limbo
• Search for my Tongue
• Two Scavengers in a
Truck…
• Presents from my
Aunts in Pakistan 1. The way a poem looks is always
• Night of the Scorpion significant.
2. Regular styles create an effect
3. Irregular styles create different
effects in different parts of the
poem
Note: Visual effects
illustrate the point the
poet is trying to make
 Non-standard English –
linking with its background
• Limbo
• Island Man

Note: The sound of the poem

When spoken is vital

1. Could mean a regional dialect (Bristolian)

2. Can include using different grammar
3. Slang and swear words are non-standard
4. Can make a poem more creative
 Places linked to identity
• Presents from my
Aunts in Pakistan
• Hurricane hits
England
• Island Man
Note: The setting can be
symbolic of the themes

1. Some poets describe their homes or birthplaces

2. Others use setting as a background to their topic
3. Sometimes a lack of detail can be more effective
than a lot of detail
 Places stand for the
state of society
• Two Scavengers in
a Truck…
• Nothing’s Changed
• Vultures

The setting has been used to make a

comment about social inequality
or any other problems that arise
 Two Cultures Clashing
• Search for my
Tongue
• Presents from my
Aunts in Pakistan
• Island Man

1. Having a mixed background can make people feel torn

between two cultures
2. Sometimes people miss what they were used to
3. Some cultures are divided, with one sub-culture
dominating
 Traditions – beliefs and
rituals
• Night of the Scorpion
• What Were They
Like?
• Limbo
• Hurricane Hits
England
• Presents from my
1. Some use traditions to link to their
Aunts in Pakistan Culture, past or identity
2. Sometimes they criticise traditions
3. Traditions can seem distant and
mysterious