Here is a draft postcard from a tropical island: Dear [Friend], I hope this postcard finds you well. What a contrast it is here on my little slice of paradise! The sun is shining brightly and a warm breeze carries the scent of frangipani and coconut. Lush green jungle meets powder white sand and an ocean the colour of robin's eggs. I spend my days relaxing in a hammock strung between palm trees, reading with the sound of waves in the distance. Nights are spent stargazing with a rum cocktail, fireflies dancing among the trees. Locals still rise with the sun to fish or tend crops, their laughter and song drifting over the water.

1. Island man
Grace Nichols

2. Life on a
Caribbean
Island

3. Life in
London

4. Imagine…

5. Differences between life on a CaribbeanDifferences between life on a Caribbean
island and life in Londonisland and life in London

6. CULTURECULTURE
Guyana:Guyana:
• Country on the north coast of SouthCountry on the north coast of South
America;America;
• One of the poorest nations in theOne of the poorest nations in the
Western hemisphere;Western hemisphere;
• Gained independence from Britain inGained independence from Britain in
1966.1966.

7. SURFACE MEANINGSURFACE MEANING
•A man who used to liveA man who used to live
on a Caribbean islandon a Caribbean island
still dreams of this placestill dreams of this place
even now when he liveseven now when he lives
in London.in London.

8. Island ManIsland Man
MorningMorning
and island man wakes upand island man wakes up
to the sound of blue surfto the sound of blue surf
in his headin his head
the steady breaking and wombingthe steady breaking and wombing
wild seabirdswild seabirds
and fishermen pushing out to seaand fishermen pushing out to sea
the sun surfacing defiantlythe sun surfacing defiantly
from the eastfrom the east
of his small emerald islandof his small emerald island
he always comes backhe always comes back
groggily groggilygroggily groggily
Comes back to sandsComes back to sands
of a grey metallic soarof a grey metallic soar
to surge of wheelsto surge of wheels
to dull North Circular roarto dull North Circular roar
muffling mufflingmuffling muffling
his crumpled pillow waveshis crumpled pillow waves
island man heaves himselfisland man heaves himself
Another London dayAnother London day

9. Island Man
(for a Caribbean island man in London who
still wakes up to the sound of the sea)
Morning
And island man wakes up
To the sound of blue surf
In his head
The steady breaking and wombing
wild seabirds
and fisherman pushing out to sea
the sun surfacing defiantly
from the east
of his small emerald island
he always comes back groggily groggily
Clear link with
other traditions
Alliteration
with the letter
's'
This word has
many
associations, but
the predominant
image is one of
comfort and
security
very positive
image
Repetition, as if
he cannot
believe it, or is
reluctant to
acknowledge
Note the
vibrant
colours

10. muffling muffling
his crumpled pillow waves
island man heaves himself
Another London day
Grace Nichols
Comes back to sands
of a grey metallic soar
to surge of
wheels
to dull North Circular road
Repetition, as if he
cannot believe it, or
is reluctant to
acknowledge
Stark last line,
physically
isolated, with no
preposition or
verb
Suggest
comparison of a
man heaving
himself on to an
island
Capital letters
but no
punctuation in
poem
a busy road
around
London
Change of
perspective here
Colour contrast, not
vibrant but drab

11. IDEAS, ATTITUDES,IDEAS, ATTITUDES,
FEELINGSFEELINGS
• Ideas:Ideas:
– Comparing the simple beautiful way of life on a Caribbean islandComparing the simple beautiful way of life on a Caribbean island
to the noise and rush of a modern cityto the noise and rush of a modern city
– When far away from home some people will over idealise itWhen far away from home some people will over idealise it
– Never forget where you come fromNever forget where you come from
• Attitudes:Attitudes:
– Island man does not seem to feel at home in London thereforeIsland man does not seem to feel at home in London therefore
there is a sense of being out of place and not belongingthere is a sense of being out of place and not belonging
– The opportunities of London are far removed from the beauties ofThe opportunities of London are far removed from the beauties of
the Caribbeanthe Caribbean
• Feelings:Feelings:
– HomesickHomesick
– Idealising the past / previous homeIdealising the past / previous home
– RegretRegret
– Dull repetitive nature of present working lifeDull repetitive nature of present working life

12. MetaphorMetaphor • sands / of a grey metallic soarsands / of a grey metallic soar
(London as an unpleasant beach)(London as an unpleasant beach)
PersonificationPersonification •• the sun surfacing defiantlythe sun surfacing defiantly
•• to dull North Circular roarto dull North Circular roar
AlliterationAlliteration •• sun surfacingsun surfacing
•• Stanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge (likeStanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge (like
the sounds of the sea)the sounds of the sea)
RepetitionRepetition •• groggily groggilygroggily groggily
•• muffling mufflingmuffling muffling
LanguageLanguage

13. Island ManIsland Man
• There is no punctuation in the poem.There is no punctuation in the poem.
Why? What image does the Island manWhy? What image does the Island man
have in his head? How does the poet’shave in his head? How does the poet’s
choice of language reflect that image?choice of language reflect that image?
• There are more capital letters on theThere are more capital letters on the
second part of the poem. Why? Think ofsecond part of the poem. Why? Think of
the formality of capital letters.the formality of capital letters.

14. Island ManIsland Man
Island:Island:
• ““blue surf”blue surf”
• ““wild seabirds”wild seabirds”
• ““fishermen”fishermen”
• ““emerald island”emerald island”
London:London:
• ““grey metallic soar”grey metallic soar”
• ““to surge of wheels”to surge of wheels”
• ““dull North Circulardull North Circular
roar”roar”
• ““Another London day”Another London day”

15. Back to exams…Back to exams…
• The question will name ONE poem, you mustThe question will name ONE poem, you must
choose the otherchoose the other
• Use the wording of the question at the beginningUse the wording of the question at the beginning
and end of EVERY paragraphand end of EVERY paragraph
• Relate everything you write to the questionRelate everything you write to the question
The more points you make theThe more points you make the
higher the grade!higher the grade!

16. •How does “Blessing” andHow does “Blessing” and
one other poem from thisone other poem from this
selection, show theselection, show the
importance of culture andimportance of culture and
cultural backgroundcultural background
Sample Exam QuestionSample Exam Question

17. Planning a response to the question onPlanning a response to the question on
poetry from other culturespoetry from other cultures
When planning an answer to the question onWhen planning an answer to the question on
poems from other cultures do not consider onepoems from other cultures do not consider one
poem and then another and then try to makepoem and then another and then try to make
comparisons in your conclusion. You should becomparisons in your conclusion. You should be
comparing (discussing similarities) and contrastingcomparing (discussing similarities) and contrasting
(considering differences) the poems throughout(considering differences) the poems throughout
your essay.your essay.
This will also help you to ANALYSE the poems rather than
simply DESCRIBING them. E.g. You don’t get m(any) marks for
saying, ‘there is a metaphor in the first stanza’ but you will get
credit for writing, ‘the poet compares her use of language to a
flower which shows how she feels it is alive and growing’.

18. Language /
Themes/Techniques
‘Blessing’ ‘Island Man’
What is the subject of each poem?
Describe the poet’s tone and
attitude.
How does the poet use rhythm to
suit the subject matter?
How does each poet bring the
environment / place to life?
How are the people presented in
each poem? (Look at how the poet
describes their actions, for example.)
How does each poet use imagery?
Does each poet use unconventional
forms? If so, why? (e.g. lack of
punctuation, short line lengths, and
unusual layout).

19. ‘Island Man’: Evoking Place
Using ‘Island Man’ as an influence,
write a postcard to a friend from
either:
a tropical island
a bustling city centre
Describe the place as you have
experienced it. Use experience and / or
imagination!