Developing comparison skills

1. Developing comparison skills Learning objective: To understand how to compare poems To know how to revise for my January poetry exam.

2. Yorkshire Tea Carte Noire The sensual pleasure of Arabica-rich coffee. Velvety and rich. Complete the Venn diagram to show the similarities and differences between Yorkshire tea and Carte Noire coffee. Look at: • Language • Presentation • Colour • Images

3. Comparison When you identify similarities and differences you are comparing. In the exam in January you will be asked to compare two poems you have studied. Look at the list below. Use a key to identify poems that you could compare and how you could compare them. • The Hunchback in the Park • Symphony in Yellow • Island Man • Two Scavengers • Catrin • For Heidi with Blue Hair • ONE of In Romney Marsh/A Major Road for Romney Marsh • Tramp • Decomposition • Your Dad Did What? • The Soldier

4. Comparison When you identify similarities and differences you are comparing. You will need to do this with the poems you have studied. Look at the list below. Use a key to identify poems that you could compare. • The Hunchback in the Park * • Symphony in Yellow • Island Man * • Two Scavengers • Catrin • For Heidi with Blue Hair • ONE of In Romney Marsh/A Major Road for Romney Marsh • Tramp • Decomposition • Your Dad Did What? • The Soldier • place • * outsiders/not belonging • loss of a parent

5. Comparing two poems Copy the question below and highlight the key words. Compare how poets present place in ‘Island Man’ and ‘Symphony in Yellow’’? You should: • Explore the use of language, structure and form • Use relevant quotations to support your interpretations • Use relevant subject terminology • Compare the similarities and differences between the ways place is presented.

6. Comparing two poems Copy the question below and highlight the key words. Comparehow poets present place in ‘Island Man’ and ‘Symphony in Yellow’’? You should: • Explore the use of language, structure and form • Use relevant quotations to support your interpretations • Use relevant subject terminology • Compare the similarities and differences between the ways place is presented.

7. Island Man (IM) Symphony in Yellow (SIY) The island is presented as protective – ‘wombing’ London is presented as beautiful and mysterious – fog – ‘like a yellow silken scarf’ Both use jewels to present the place as precious. IM – ‘emerald isle’ SIY – ‘like a rod of rippled jade’

8. Comparing two poems Comparehow poets present place in ‘Island Man’ and ‘Symphony in Yellow’’? You should: • Explore the use of language, structure and form • Use relevant quotations to support your interpretations • Use relevant subject terminology • Compare the similarities and differences between the ways place is presented. Point – make a clear point about poem 1 Evidence– support your point with evidence Explain– explain clearly using your own words what your evidence shows/suggests to the reader. Compare/connective– make a clear comparative point about poem 2 Evidence – support your point with evidence Explain – explain clearly using your own words what your evidence shows/suggests to the reader. Link – link back to the question

9. Comparing two poems – writing about a difference Compare how poets present place in ‘Island Man’ and ‘Symphony in Yellow’’? Point – The place in ‘Island Man’ is presented as protective. The verb Evidence – ‘wombing’ Explain – suggests protection and safety like how a child would feel in the womb. This line therefore suggests he feels secure on the island. Compare/connective – In contrast, London is presented as beautiful and mysterious. The fog is described using a simile, Evidence – ‘like a yellow silken scarf’ Explain – The adjective ‘silken’ suggests luxury and implies the fog has a smooth texture. Link – Whilst the place in ‘Island Man’ is protective, the place in ‘Symphony in Yellow’ is beautiful. Both poets describe the place as comforting. The ‘womb’ is something that would be protective and warm and likewise a ‘scarf’ is something that you would use to protect you from the cold.

10. Comparing two poems – writing about a similarity Compare how poets present place in ‘Island Man’ and ‘Symphony in Yellow’’? Point – Both poets use jewels to present the place. Evidence – In ‘Island Man’ the island is described as ‘emerald isle’ Explain – suggesting it’s precious and beautiful Compare/connective – Similarly, the Thames is described as Evidence – ‘like a rod of rippled jade’ Explain – emphasising the river’s beauty. Link –Both poets use jewels to show how their places should be admired. Task Now, write up your Venn diagram using PEECEEL. Remember to use connectives to compare and contrast. See page 144 of your planner!

11. How can I revise • Read through the poems you have studied in class and your annotations. • Think about how the poems link together and complete a table showing this. • Complete Venn diagrams comparing two of the poems. • Write a list of comparison connectives and learn them! • Practise PEECEEL paragraphs answering comparison questions such as: Compare how poets present __________ in ‘poem 1’ and ‘poem 2’? You should: • Explore the use of language, structure and form • Use relevant quotations to support your interpretations • Use relevant subject terminology • Compare the similarities and differences between the ways _____ is presented.