Language (Style)​ ​Imagery​ ​Structure​ ​Tone and Mood​ ​Theme

Step 1. LISTT Annotation

Using the color guide provided, try to identify any features.

Step 2. Identify New​ ​Term Bank

Label the following terms. For each term that you do not know: 1. Search the term on
literarydevices.net 2. Identify the example in the poem and 3. Add a definition+example in your
notebook glossary.

1. Holophrastic speech
2. Telegraphic speech
3. Quatrain
4. Pathetic fallacy
5. Colloquialism
6. Fourth wall

“Education for Leisure”

Today ​I am going to kill​ something. ​Anything.
I have had enough of being ignored​ and today
I am going to play God​. It is an ordinary ​day​,
a sort of ​grey​ with ​boredom stirring in the streets.

5 I squash a fly against ​th​e window wi​th​ my ​th​umb.

We did that at school. ​Shakespeare.​ It was in
another language​ and now the ​fly is in another language.
I breathe out talent​ on the glass to write my name.

I am a genius​. I could be ​anything​ at all, with half

10 the chance. But today I am going to change the world.
Something’s​ world. The cat avoids me. The cat
knows I am a genius, and has hidden itself.

I pour the goldfish down the ​bog​. ​I pull the chain.

I see that it is good​. The budgie is panicking.
15 Once a fortnight, I walk the two miles into town
for ​signing on​. ​They don’t appreciate my autograph.

There is nothing left to kill. I dial the radio

and tell the man he’s talking to a superstar.
He cuts me off. I get our bread-knife and go out.
20 The ​pavements glitter​ suddenly. I touch ​your arm​.
 Language (Style)​ ​Imagery​ ​Structure​ ​Tone and Mood​ ​Theme

Step 1. LISTT Annotation

Using the color guide provided, try to identify any features.

Step 2. Identify New​ ​Term Bank

Label the following terms. For each term that you do not know: 1. Search the term on
literarydevices.net 2. Identify the example in the poem and 3. Add a definition+example in your
notebook glossary.

1. Sestet
2. Perfect rhyme
3. Pun
4. Allusion
5. Enjambment

“Head of English”
Today we have a poet in the class.
A ​real live poet​ with a published book.
Notice​ the ​inkstained fingers​, ​girls.​ ​Perhaps
we’re going to witness verse hot from the press.
5 Who knows.​ Please show your appreciation
by clapping. ​Not too loud.​ ​Now →

sit up straight and listen​. Remember

the ​lesson on assonance​, for not all poems,
sadly,​ rhyme these days. ​Still. Never mind.
10 Whispering’s, as always, out of ​bounds –
but do feel free to raise some questions.
After all, we’re paying forty ​pounds.

Those of you with English Second Language,

see me​ after break. ​We’re fortunate
15 to have this person in our midst.
Season of mists​ and ​so on and so ​forth.
I’ve written quite a bit of poetry myself,
am doing ​Kipling​ with the Lower ​Fourth,

Right​. That’s enough from me. On with ​the Muse.

20 Open a window at the back. We don’t
Want ​winds of change​ about the place.
Take notes, but don’t write ​reams​. ​Just an essay
on the poet’s ​themes​. Fine. Off we ​go.
Convince us that there’s something we don’t ​know.

25 Well. Really.​ ​Run along​ now ​girls. ​I’m sure

that gave an insight to ​an outside ​view.
Applause will ​do.​ Thank ​you
very much for coming here today. Lunch
in the hall? Do hang about. Unfortunately
30 I have to dash. Tracey will show you out.