lamentstudent_worksheet

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Gillian Clarke Lament

Students Worksheet

Activity OneUsing these websites find out the following information about Gillian Clarke. Be succinct and

clear. Do not just copy but fill in the grid in your own words.

http://gillianclarke.co.uk/home.htmhttp://www.poetryarchive.org/poetryarchive/singlePoet.do?poetId=1507

Name: Gillian Clarke Nationality:

Family Life Professional activities / jobs:

Name some of her most famous poems: Background Information to the poem

(Why did she write it?):

Activity TwoUsing a good dictionary, find out the meaning of the word LAMENT. Bring along your

definition to the lesson.

Extra Notes from Cambridge IGCSE website

Line 1: the green turtle is found in the Gulf. Nesting beaches occur particularly in Oman andYemen.

Line 5: the veil of iridescence refers to oil slicks.Line 13: the hook-beaked turtles are an endangered species as is the dugong(Line 14), a large

herbivorous marine mammal. The small population in the Gulf was further endangered by thespillages of oil in the Gulf conflict.

Line 16: terns regularly migrate over enormous distances, some species from the Arctic toAntarctic. Some species of tern overwinter in the Gulf and some species breed there. Waders

are long-legged birds which roam through marshes and coastal strips for food. Many of these

also migrate. The word restless refers to its movements as it searches for food. It is

estimated that between 1 and 2 million birds overwinter or rest in the Gulf during migration.

Activity Five Closer Analysis of the poem

Here are some questions about each of the stanzas which teachers can use for discussion.

They are included on the students worksheet. The answers below are only suggested

answers!

Stanza 1

1. There are two Fors in the first stanza. What are they?

2. Comment on the pulsing burden.


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3. Comment on the metaphor: their nest of sickness. What words do we usually associate

with the idea of a nest?

Stanza 24. The cormorant is described as being covered in oil. Comment on the words that Gillian

Clarke uses to describe this.

5. Pick out two more ways that the oil is described in this stanza and comment on them.Stanza 36. What does the word lap mean here? Look at the following definitions and choose the best

one:

a. The front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person. (noun)

b. To wash against something with soft liquid sounds. (verb)

c. (of small waves) to wash against (the shore or a boat) with light splashing sounds

d. (often foll. by up)(esp. of animals) to scoop (a liquid) into the mouth with the tongue

7. Look at the meanings of the word stain:

a. A discolored or soiled spot or smudge.

b. A blemish on one's moral character or reputation.

Which one best suits the meaning in the poem?Why do you think the stain is described as mortal?

8. Now Clarke moves from the environmental cost of the war to the human cost. Who isAhmed and why has she chosen this name?

9. Comment on the image of his uniform of fire.

Stanza 410. What different jobs are mentioned here in connection with war?

11. Why have these men joined the war? What do you think of their reasons for joining thewar?

Stanza 512. Which animals are listed in this stanza? What do you think has happened to them?

13. How is the sound of the missile described?

Stanza 614. Why do you think the sun is described as veiled? Where else is the word veiled used?

15. Which three birds are mentioned in this stanza? What happens to them at the end of their

long journey?

16. Comment on the final words of the stanza: the stink of anger.

Stanza 7

17. Look at the adjectives used to describe what has happened to nature:Adjectives Nature

earth

ocean

well

Comment on the choice of adjectives.

18. What has happened to the sun? Why do you think we can no longer see the sun?

19. Comment on the final line. Try to sum up in your own words what you think the poet

means?


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General CommentsNow that you have looked closely at the poem, think and comment about the following

things:20. Look at the structure of the poem what can you say about it and why has Clarke chosen

this particular structure?

21. Why does she repeat the word For throughout the poem?22. What is the tone of the poem? Is it sad or angry or does it change as the poem progresses?Choose particular words to justify your choice of tone.

lamentstudent_worksheet

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