Comparative Poetry

Compare the methods both poets

use to present observing human
interaction
 Title: Poetry Comparison
Do now:

1. Summarise 'From the

Journal of a Disappointed
Man in a few sentences.
2. How does the speaker feel
about the men he is
watching?
3. How does the speaker
interact with the men?
Recap of 'From the Journal of a Disappointed Man'

• Poem follows a man's observation of

construction workers and his changing
impression of them
• Andrew Motion's commentary on the role of
men in society and the interactions between
men of different lifestyles and status
• It is inspired by a section of 'Journal of
Disappointed Man' by W.N.P Barbellion - a
journal recounting the author's experience of
poverty, lack of education and slow death from
MS.
 Exploring the unseen poem 'what was said at the
bus stop’
1. Read the poem – note down anything that
stands out to you
2. Consider the following context of the
poem, linking to the poem:
• Smith is passionate about racial inequality in the
United States
• Published in ‘Homie’, a poetry book that was
intended to discuss black victims of state
violence - Smith made the poems based around
personal experiences of friends and family
• Said “I think white people can learn a lot from
the poems, but that’s not who I’m writing for.”
 This is grammatically
What does the
incorrect
fractured English
convey about the poetic
voice? Speaker could “White”used to mark
represent someone him as different from
who speaks English as a the Pakistani girl -
2nd language - discussion of race -
discussing the ‘the’ makes him
stereotypes people seem like a concept -
hold about immigrants. could be
representing white
people as a group.
Colloquial language used to convey his
personal, conversational tone to make Tone - frustrated tone, this is a normal
this poem accessible and relatable as this occurrence - fast pace - enjambment used to
experience is common. convey his need to speak his mind without
interruption.
 What does the introduction of a third person suggest in this
Stanza 2 interaction? Brings in 3rd person perspective to convey
different perspectives - his message about even though we
are different we need each other.
Uses font
The hand metaphor = change to give
lack of respect, his us an insight into
questioning is her thoughts.
persistent, reflects
the arrogance of the Repetition
man mirrors the first
line - suggests
the repetitive
nature of this
Tone - tired, frustrated, we all have to fight for our place in conversation -
society due to our differences - issues such as racism are understanding
man made problems - apology = you shouldn’t have to others
apologise for who you are - people like to blame society etc experiences.
 Use of 1st, 2nd perspectives & plural pronouns
Stanza 3 = the shared experience of humanity - draw
the reader in.
Society likes to pretend Provoking a
we support these issues sympathetic
- idea of performative response from
support - emphasising the reader
that we may not we
know what real
solidarity looks like.

The writer uses distressing description - could suggest that we all face suffering but
we cannot speak for or understand others experiences as they differ so much.
 Echoing the first stanza, but why does
Stanza 4 the writer quickly use 'your' to 'my'?
Whats the effect of the spelling of What does the contrast
'your'instead of you're? between 'ocean' and
'centimeters' reveal?

The writer is using the imagery of the

'rusted moon' to reflect the injustices
happening in the world, but whats
the effect of the contrat eih 'making
love'?
Stanza 5 What does the contrast
between 'ocean' and
'centimeters' reveal?

What's the importance

of this memory and the
personification of it, is
the writer's message
more emphasised by
using a child?

The alliteration of the 'ing' sound, effect What does the repition
of the repetition of 'waiting', who is the of 'still' reveal?
narrator addressing this to?
How can you compare these two poems?
- Can you think of any similarities?

- Consider the following:

- Narrative perspective
- Tone of voice
- Structure
Question: Compare the methods both poets use to present observing
human interaction

From the journal of a disappointed man: What was said at the bus stop:
The poem begins like a diary entry, using a first Similarly…
person narrative to explain how the speaker
came across the men working on a dock; “I
came across a crew of men.” The speaker uses
a personal tone to convey…
Comparative points
• Both poets introduce the poems like it’s a personal diary, as if
the reader is intruding into the thoughts of the narrator. Compare the
• Though perspectives differ, interactions portrayed in both methods both
poems convey a power imbalance and sense of superiority of
one person over another poets use to
• The nature of the interactions differ, as one poetic voice
present
discusses bonding over a collective experience, whereas in observing human
the other the poetic voice creates a distance between himself interaction
and the men he observes
 Question: Compare the methods both poets use to present observing
human interaction
Homework: Write the introduction paragraph
answering this question
Include the following: