‘The Habit of Light’

LO) To explore how Clarke uses

language and imagery to create a
vivid character
What words and ideas do you associate
with this concept?

light
 The Habit of Light by Gillian Clarke
In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps
in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass,
her polished furniture, her silver and glass.
At dawn she’d draw all the curtains back for a glimpse
of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered
in an opulence of beeswax and light.
In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred
on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt
of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows,
in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing,
she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes,
her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, brining
the palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright
with her habit of colour, her habit of light.
 Gillian Clarke
• This poem is a elegy (serious, meditative
poem, usually concerned with the theme of
death) where domestic routine is celebrated
as a kind of sacrament (ritual/rite = custom).
The poem celebrates the poet’s dead mother.
 Structure
• 14 lines – an informal sonnet, Clarke lovingly details
the woman’s life in moments of remembered light –
even down to ‘palest potatoes’.
• Clarke says ‘the poets voice is physical – it’s not just a
metaphor for style, but the sound, the breath. The
heard voice and the ‘voice’ of the poet on the page
are connected.
• Character description is built through sense of place.
• Relationship – with the character and her home
(sense of place)
 Past tense indicates a
1 Quatrain
st
memory. Highly
descriptive language
Alliteration demonstrates a
Works hard to create
cherished house.
a pristine house

In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps

in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass,
her polished furniture, her silver and glass.
At dawn she’d draw the curtains back for a glimpse

Proud
Many adjectives are used throughout Imagery- objects that
the poem to describe the setting/ cast light or that are
mother. The poem also makes use of shiny.
adjectives that describe ‘lightness’ such
as ‘polished’.
 Adjective that suggests
Alliteration
2 Quatrain
nd light and grandeur
helps to
create
Creates mysterious/ beautiful atmosphere Shows possession. magical
atmosphere.
of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered
in an opulence of beeswax and light. House proud - pristine
In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred
on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt
Large
steel
stove Alliteration reinforces The personification used is
enjoyment of preparing emotional. Almost as if memory
food. of kitchen is as alive as the
memory of her mother.

Sentient = emotional
3rd Quatrain Personification

Rooted history

of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows,

in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing,
she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes,
her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, bringing Elegance

Details fruit and veg shows uses

(apron) natural resources to be self Could be both
self sufficient. ‘rows’ suggests v literal and a
sufficient organised. metaphor for the
mother singing in
the garden.
 Positive vibrant
Last rhyming couplet images of her
mother.

Alliteration

The palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright

With her habit of colour, her habit of light.
Repetition shows emphasis reflects double meaning:
1) can be used to describe the mother’s routine &
expectation that all things were kept clean and
shining.
2) The word ‘habit’ describes a religious robe nuns
and priests wear. So, could be stating that mother
is dressed in colour and in light which may be a
religious metaphor for the mother’s passing on.
Or maybe her religious dedication to keeping the
house clean.
 Words that help to create a SENSE OF PLACE
Words in the
poem which
suggest light
In the early evening, she liked to switch on the lamps
in corners, on low tables, to show off her brass,
her polished furniture, her silver and glass.
At dawn she’d draw all the curtains back for a glimpse
of the cloud-lit sea. Her oak floors flickered
in an opulence of beeswax and light.
In the kitchen, saucepans danced their lids, the kettle purred
on the Aga, supper on its breath and the buttery melt
of a pie, and beyond the swimming glass of old windows,
in the deep perspective of the garden, a blackbird singing,
she’d come through the bean rows in tottering shoes,
her pinny full of strawberries, a lettuce, brining
the palest potatoes in a colander, her red hair bright
with her habit of colour, her habit of light.
 In your exercise books:
‘Habit of Light’
Q1: What is the mother like? List at least 3
things.

Q2: How do you know? Explain

The character is built through the description of
a sense of place. We know about her from her
surroundings and how she keeps her house.
Q3. How has the poet created a relationship
between the character and her home.

Use PEA in your answer.

 Q4. How are the references to light in the
poem significant?
• Use PEA in your answer.
The reference to light in the poem are significant
because…..

Light imagery adds to the sense of place and

description of character. Light reflects the
domestic routine of the character.
 How does Clarke use language and imagery
to create a vivid character?
Introduction

Language

Structure

Conclusion
 Plenary
• To understand the ways in which Clarke has used
language and imagery to create a vivid character.
• To grasp the connection between the character
and her home, considering how the description
of her home sheds light on the person who lives
there.
• To respond to the sense of warmth and light and
to the feeling of pride and love of home created
in the poem.