HEIR CONDITIONINGHEIR CONDITIONING Introduction

M SHANmughalingam

HEIR HEIR CONDITIONINGCONDITIONING

Grand dad did you breathe before air cons were inventedwas it hard staying alive without modern inventions?Grandma weren’t you flustered as you fluttered with paper fans?Could you communicate before faxes and long distance callsbecame basic necessities?

Grandchild we livedbefore your age. Because of our ignorance,we did not know pollution, stress, traffic

jamsdestruction of forests,streams and hillswe feared God and naturenow nature fears you andmoney is your new God.

HEIR CONDITIONINGHEIR CONDITIONINGSynopsis This poem is written in London,

May 4, 1995. It talks about issues regarding different lifestyles and values of two generations. It also talks about the generation gap that exists between grandparents and their grandchildren. This poem is like a dialogue between them.

HEIR CONDITIONINGHEIR CONDITIONING

STANZA 1

In the first stanza, the grandchild asks his grandfather

Stanza 2In the second stanza, the grandparents’ answer sets the two generations apart.

HEIR CONDITIONINGHEIR CONDITIONING

Elements

Title The title implies the transfer of a generation and highlights the gap that existed and apparent in societies today. This gap existed due to development and modernization.

HEIR CONDITIONINGHEIR CONDITIONINGStructure of a poemThere are two stanzas in this poem. It

does not have a fixed rhyme scheme.Point of viewWritten in the first point of view.SettingWritten in the present time but there

are references made to life in the past

HEIR CONDITIONINGHEIR CONDITIONING

Modernisation comes with a price. Differences in time between two generations Spirituality vs. Materialism

Traditional vs. Modernisation Wisdom vs. Ignorance

Theme

LET’S DO SOMETHING!

Activity1: Conditioned Minds

What modern inventions you cannot live without? Provide your reasons.

LET’S DO SOMETHING!

Activity2: Bare necessities

identify objects/items used in the

past and present

LET’S DO SOMETHING!

Activity 3: Past Verses Past Verses PresentPresent

Create and present a mini dialogue between a grandparent and grandchild based on the poem.

LAST BUT NOT THE LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST!LEAST!

Activity 4: Conditioning me

Complete the crossword puzzles as fast as you can.