Kipp
28-02-2009, 06:56 PM
Basically, i've done my English poetry question coursework. I just want to hear everyone's views on it and what grade everyone think it's on.
Predicted grade in English A
Coursework question
Explain the poet's attitude to what happens in 'Not My Business'.
Answer
From the opening stanza, the poem is based on a contrast. We have four lines of persecution, then three lines in which the speaker dissosociates himself from what is happening around him.
The suffering is personalised by the use of names (Akaani, Danladi and Chinwe), and intensified by the yse of detail. Akaani, for instance is beaten 'Soft like clay', whilst when they came for Danladi, they 'booted the house awake'. Violence is foremost in both incidents. At the same time, there is a frightening sense of mystery: Danladi goes for 'a lengthy absence' and Chinwe's job is taken away from him for no clear reason.
Such happenings grab our attention and sympathy; yet the speaker seems callous and continues to eat yams, look after himself and ignor the injustice around him. His 'Savouring mouth' should be speaking out, not eating comfortably and well. The way he is presented makes him seem almost as bad as the jeep which 'eats' those who are being persecuted.
However, the poet shows us that hoping to avoid trouble does not lead to escape from oppression. The 'Knock on the door' at the end is terrifying and even stops the speaker eating. The frozen moment is accompanied by silence, which is prehaps fitting in this case because that is where our silence leads us; to the jeep for us all.
The final stanza is not broken into two parts, because there is no longer any difference between the speaker and the victims. Which makes us thing that if his time has come.
Predicted grade in English A
Coursework question
Explain the poet's attitude to what happens in 'Not My Business'.
Answer
From the opening stanza, the poem is based on a contrast. We have four lines of persecution, then three lines in which the speaker dissosociates himself from what is happening around him.
The suffering is personalised by the use of names (Akaani, Danladi and Chinwe), and intensified by the yse of detail. Akaani, for instance is beaten 'Soft like clay', whilst when they came for Danladi, they 'booted the house awake'. Violence is foremost in both incidents. At the same time, there is a frightening sense of mystery: Danladi goes for 'a lengthy absence' and Chinwe's job is taken away from him for no clear reason.
Such happenings grab our attention and sympathy; yet the speaker seems callous and continues to eat yams, look after himself and ignor the injustice around him. His 'Savouring mouth' should be speaking out, not eating comfortably and well. The way he is presented makes him seem almost as bad as the jeep which 'eats' those who are being persecuted.
However, the poet shows us that hoping to avoid trouble does not lead to escape from oppression. The 'Knock on the door' at the end is terrifying and even stops the speaker eating. The frozen moment is accompanied by silence, which is prehaps fitting in this case because that is where our silence leads us; to the jeep for us all.
The final stanza is not broken into two parts, because there is no longer any difference between the speaker and the victims. Which makes us thing that if his time has come.