Island man

Grace Nichols
Imagine…
 Life on a
Caribbean
Island
 Life in
London
CULTURE

Guyana:
• Country on the north coast of
South America;
• One of the poorest nations in the
Western hemisphere;
• Gained independence from
Britain in 1966.
SURFACE MEANING

•A man who used to

live on a Caribbean
island still dreams of
this place even now
when he lives in
London.
 Island Man
Morning Comes back to sands
and island man wakes up of a grey metallic soar
to the sound of blue surf to surge of
in his head wheels
the steady breaking and wombing to dull North Circular roar

wild seabirds muffling muffling

and fishermen pushing out to sea his crumpled pillow waves
the sun surfacing defiantly island man heaves himself
from the east
of his small emerald island Another London day
he always comes back
groggily
groggily
 Island Man
Clear link with This word has
other traditions (for a Caribbean island man in London many
who still wakes up to the sound of
the sea) associations, but
the predominant
Alliteration Morning image is one of
with the letter And island man wakes up comfort and
's' To the sound of blue surf security
In his head
The steady breaking and wombing very positive
image
wild seabirds
and fisherman pushing out to sea Note the
the sun surfacing defiantly vibrant
from the east colours
of his small emerald island
he always comes back groggily Repetition, as if
groggily he cannot
believe it, or is
reluctant to
acknowledge
 Comes back to sands Colour contrast, not
Change of of a grey metallic soar vibrant but drab
perspective here to surge of
wheels
a busy road to dull North Circular
around road
muffling muffling Repetition, as if he
London
his crumpled pillow cannot believe it, or
waves is reluctant to
Suggest island man heaves acknowledge
comparison of a himself
man heaving Stark last line,
himself on to an physically
Another London day
island isolated, with no
preposition or
Capital letters verb
but no
punctuation in
poem Grace Nichols
IDEAS

• Ideas:
– Comparing the simple beautiful way of
life on a Caribbean island to the noise
and rush of a modern city
– When far away from home some people
will over idealise it
– Never forget where you come from
Attitudes

• Attitudes:
– Island man does not seem to feel at
home in London therefore there is a
sense of being out of place and not
belonging
– The opportunities of London are far
removed from the beauties of the
Caribbean
Feelings

• Feelings:
– Homesick
– Idealising the past / previous home
– Regret
– Dull repetitive nature of present working
life
 Language

Metaphor • sands / of a grey metallic soar

(London as an unpleasant beach)
Personificatio • the sun surfacing defiantly
n • to dull North Circular roar
Alliteration • sun surfacing
• Stanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge
(like the sounds of the sea)
Repetition • groggily groggily
• muffling muffling
Island Man
• There is no punctuation in the poem.
Why? What image does the Island
man have in his head? How does the
poet’s choice of language reflect that
image?

• There are more capital letters on the

second part of the poem. Why? Think
of the formality of capital letters.
Island Man
Island: London:
• “blue surf” • “grey metallic
• “wild seabirds” soar”
• “fishermen” • “to surge of
wheels”
• “emerald island”
• “dull North Circular
roar”
• “Another London
day”
Back to exams…
• The question will name ONE poem, you
must choose the other
• Use the wording of the question at the
beginning and end of EVERY paragraph
• Relate everything you write to the
question

The more points you make the

higher the grade!
Sample Exam Question

•How does “Blessing”

and one other poem
from this selection,
show the importance
of culture and cultural
background
Planning a response to the question
on poetry from other cultures

When planning an answer to the question on

poems from other cultures do not consider
one poem and then another and then try to
make comparisons in your conclusion. You
should be comparing (discussing similarities)
and contrasting (considering differences) the
poems throughout your essay.

This will also help you to ANALYSE the poems rather

than simply DESCRIBING them. E.g. You don’t get
m(any) marks for saying, ‘there is a metaphor in the
first stanza’ but you will get credit for writing, ‘the poet
compares her use of language to a flower which shows
 Language /
‘Blessing’ ‘Island Man’
Themes/Techniques

What is the subject of each poem?

Describe the poet’s tone and

attitude.

How does the poet use rhythm to

suit the subject matter?

How does each poet bring the

environment / place to life?

How are the people presented in

each poem? (Look at how the poet
describes their actions, for example.)

How does each poet use imagery?

Does each poet use unconventional

forms? If so, why? (e.g. lack of
punctuation, short line lengths, and
unusual layout).
‘Island Man’: Evoking Place
Using ‘Island Man’ as an influence,
write a postcard to a friend from
either:
a tropical island
a bustling city centre
Describe the place as you have
experienced it. Use experience and / or
imagination!