The document provides guidance and discussion questions for analyzing several poems, including "The Field Mouse" by Gillian Clarke and "Storm on the Island" by Seamus Heaney. It prompts students to consider themes like power, loss, and nature across the poems. Students are asked to explore how historical context and language choice impact interpretation, and to make connections between the poems' exploration of harsh existence, violence of nature, and degrees of certainty in interpretation.

3. WHAT MIGHT WE ASSOCIATE WITH THIS ANIMAL?

5. Reading: ‘ The Field Mouse’ by Gillian Clarke

6. So, it’s just about a rather unfortunate mouse in a field, then?

7. Now, look at the historical context sheet I have provided you with. How does this add to your understanding and interpretation of the poem?

8. What if I hadn’t made you aware of the historical context? Can we only interpret the poem by referring to the war in the former Yugoslavia?

12. ‘ Storm on the Island’ By Seamus Heaney

13. So, just a bad storm then, etc etc…

16. Sonnet is full of enthusiasm and joy: the sun is ‘beaming’; the flowers stain their surroundings with ‘gold’; the lake is ‘clear’. ‘Beaming’ not only suggests that the sun is shining brightly, but also hints at a personification of the sun smiling broadly on the world, and making people smile with happiness in response. However, in Heaney’s ‘Storm on the Island’ nature is presented at its most powerful and violent…

17. DVD Clip: Commentary on ‘Storm on the Island’

18. LINKS!!!! OFF YOU GO – YOU SHOULD BE GOOD AT THIS BY NOW!