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Teacher-of-English.com

• Night of the Scorpion
• Poems from Different Cultures

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Slide Contents

• Author
• Social Historical Context
• What is it About?
• Structure
• Language
• Examination Preparation
• Links

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The Author
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Nissim Ezekiel

• Nissim Ezekiel was born in Bombay to Jewish
  parents in 1924. He was raised in a Hindu
  culture and was influenced by atheist views.
• As a Jew living in a Hindu society Ezekiel was
  something of an outsider. Not being Hindu I
  cannot identify myself with India's past as a
  comprehensive heritage or reject it as if it were
  mine to reject. He wrote about modern India and
  the little mysteries of everyday life.

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Social Historical Context
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Reincarnation

• The Hindu belief in reincarnation is apparent in
  Night of the Scorpion. This is the idea that when
  individuals die the spirit leaves the body and is
  reborn into a new body. A persons new self on
  reincarnation is determined by the good (or bad)
  things he or she has committed in his or her
  preceding life.
• The spiritual aim of Hindus is to cleanse
  themselves in each new life so that finally they
  will attain moksha freedom from the sequence of
  reincarnation when the spirit returns to the
  everlasting tranquility of the divine Brahman.

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What is it About?
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Scorpions
Brainstorm what you know about scorpions. Use a
spider diagram to help you organise your ideas.
appearance
Where they live
How they live
What you know about them
Things you associate with them
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Superstitions
Many people are superstitious. This means that
they have beliefs for which they have no logical
rationalization. An example of such a
superstition is that walking under a ladder
brings bad luck. In pairs, list any superstitions
that you know of.
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Superstitions
Which superstitions do you act upon? What do you
do? Do you believe in them? Why do you act upon
them? Discuss your findings with another pair.
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Night of the Scorpion story book

• A story book version of this poem is going to be
  made for five year olds. The poem will be used as
  the narrative for the book. Choose and describe
  up to six pages
• that you think should be included in the book.
  Decide how you will tell the story in only six
  pages and include images from the poem. You could
  record your ideas in a storyboard like the one
  below. An example of a possible opening page has
  been done for you.

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What Happens?
There are three main parts to the poem. Do you
know what they are? The first one has been done
for you
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Structure
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Staying Focused

• This is a narrative poem, it tells a story.
  Using the first person gives the feeling that it
  is told from personal experience. The focus of
  the poem moves about which conveys the way the
  narrator observes the scene.
• Complete this table to show how the focal point
  of the poem changes.

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Structure

• How are the last three lines of the poem
  structured?
• Why do you think the poet has done this?
• Explain your answers in detail.

• In my opinion Nissim Ezekiel has chosen to write
  the last three lines separate from the rest of
  the poem to show.
• I also believe that..

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Language
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Contrast

• Many images of the scorpion contrast in the
  opening lines of the poem.
• Find examples of each and add them to the
  columns below.

• Timid

• Dangerous

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Imagery

• Look at the description of the village peasants.
  
• What does the imagery suggest about them?

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Language Features

• The poem uses three types of language.

• First Person The poet uses I and writes from
  his own viewpoint. This suggests that the
  event was a personal experience. Despite the
  excitement and fear the tone is quite calm and
  factual.
• Childs Perspective We see events through the
  eyes of a child. The child is confused and
  fearful.
• Religious language The village is a devoutly
  Hindu community where they believe in
  reincarnation. They talk of previous birth
  and new birth.

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Poetic Techniques

• Match the technique with the correct definition.

• Technique Definition
• Metaphor The use of the same sound at the start
  of words
• Alliteration A figure of speech not meant
  literally
• Onomatopoeia a comparison between two different
  things, especially a phrase containing the
  word 'like' or 'as
• Simile A word which imitates the sound it
  represents

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Poetic Techniques

• Match the technique with the correct definition.

• Technique Definition
• Metaphor The use of the same sound at the start
  of words
• Alliteration A figure of speech not meant
  literally
• Onomatopoeia a comparison between two different
  things, especially a phrase containing the
  word 'like' or 'as
• Simile A word which imitates the sound it
  represents

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Poetic Techniques

• Think about the poetic techniques discussed on
  the last slide. Copy down the chart below. Find
  examples in the poem and write down the effect
  created.

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Feelings and Attitudes

• The child is afraid but admires the bravery of
  his mother.
• His father and the villagers panic and hastily
  suggest religious remedies to help.
• The poet seems to see the villagers as
  impractical and almost irritating which suggests
  the poet is critical of religion.

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ExaminationPreparation
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The Examination Paper

• You will have 45 minutes to answer the question.
• You will be asked to compare two poems.
• You should begin by annotating the question for
  the key words. This will help you to understand
  what you are being asked to do.
• E.g. Compare the ways in which the poets
  present people in Night of the Scorpion and one
  other poem of your choice.

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Planning

• Spend between 5 and 10 minutes making a plan.
  This will help you to order your essay logically.
• Make a note of any key ideas you are going to
  include.
• Leave at least 5 minutes at the end to read
  through your work and check for any basic errors.

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Structure

• A good answer should
• Write in paragraphs.
• Dont forget to P.E.E! Using a range of quotes
  that are properly embedded within your answer.
• Begin with an introduction and end with a
  conclusion.
• There main body of the essay should follow these
  five steps to make a good answer
• Write a bit about the theme
• Compare the structures of each poem
• Compare the use of language in each poem
• Compare the feelings of the poets
• Write about how the poems make you feel.

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Making Connections
Use a series of comparisons, using connectives to
link ideas, both within paragraphs and between
paragraphs.

• Similarity Connectives
• Equally
• In the same way
• Similarly
• Likewise
• Just asalso

• Contrast Connectives
• In contrast
• However
• Whereas (best used in the middle of a sentence)
• On the other hand

Refer back to the question repeating the key
words from it.
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Analysis

• Use the following words to link your Point -
  Evidence - Explain sentences. The use of these
  words will also help to ensure that your response
  is analytical.
• suggests
• implies
• gives the impression that
• shows
• highlights
• indicates
• To make the same point using a different
  example, try one of these
• furthers
• emphasises
• reinforces

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Recap

• When you are comparing poems you will be asked to
  look for the similarities and the differences.
• You should comment on the language they use.
  What poetic devices are present? Imagery,
  similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia,
  personification, rhyme etc. What effect do they
  have on the reader?
• You will need to comment on the structure of the
  poems. How are they set out? Does this add to
  their overall effect/meaning?
• Consider the tone of the poems. What mood has
  the author created?

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Links
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Useful Stuff

• Night of the Scorpion short films
• http//uk.youtube.com/watch?vDAZ4YZlBYk4feature
  related
• http//uk.youtube.com/watch?vQOPIkYmI5_0feature
  related
• BBC Bitesize Poems From Other Cultures
• http//www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english/
  poemscult/ezekielrev2.shtml

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More Useful Stuff

• Annotated PPT version of Night of the Scorpion
  with notes questions
• http//www.sprowstonhigh.org/resources/english/KS
  4/Poetry/Poetry20From20Other20Cultures/AQA20po
  etry202.ppt299,16