Lament – Gillian Clarke
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The Poem and Its Context
- 'Lament' by Gillian Clarke is one of the 15 poems in the Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 cluster studied for Paper 1, Section A.
- The poem offers a different perspective on war by describing the ecological crisis caused by the Gulf War in 1991.
- It belongs to the key theme of humans and nature, exploring environmental destruction.
- In the exam you will have a choice of two questions on your cluster; each question is based on one poem, and the full poem is printed on the exam paper.
- You answer one question on your studied cluster, so make sure you select the right one.
What the Question Requires
- Each poetry question is worth 25 marks, and you should aim to spend about 45 minutes on it.
- Examiners look for a sustained personal and evaluative engagement with the poem.
- A sustained answer includes a brief introduction, at least three paragraphs and a concise conclusion.
- Engage with the key words of the question from the start, rather than analysing the poem line by line.
- Words such as 'moving', 'disturbing' or 'memorable' in a question indicate a particular focus; high-achieving responses examine the techniques that create such effects.
Assessment Objectives
- AO1: show detailed knowledge of the poem's content, supported by reference to the text.
- AO2: understand meanings and explore beyond surface meanings to show deeper awareness of ideas and attitudes.
- AO3: analyse how the poet uses language, structure and form to create meanings and achieve effects.
- AO4: communicate a sensitive and informed personal response to the poem.
- All four assessment objectives are weighted equally at 25% each and are tested holistically.
Key Theme: Humans and Nature
- The poem examines the relationship between humans and nature, focusing on environmental destruction.
- It presents the ecological damage caused by the Gulf War in 1991, giving a different perspective on war.
- This places it alongside other poems in the cluster that consider the natural world, such as Judith Wright's 'Hunting Snake' and Boey Kim Cheng's 'Report to Wordsworth'.
- When writing about the poem, link points about societal values to the writer's purpose.
Writer's Methods: Form and Structure
- Consider the poet's choice of form — the way the poem looks or the type of poem it is.
- Consider the poem's structure, especially how it ends: is it cyclical or resolved?
- Explore how the poet uses patterns of language, tone of voice through rhythm and rhyme, and how endings present ideas.
- Form, structure and language are all considered 'writer's methods' in the mark scheme.
Writer's Methods: Language
- Explore how the poet makes decisions about language, rather than simply quoting lines and explaining their meaning.
- Use linguistic terms to explain the effect on the reader.
- Sensory imagery can create a disturbing setting; for example, phrases such as 'Smothered by the smog' and 'sky slowing like a dying clock'.
- Closely relate your analysis of language to the question.
Using the Poet's Name and Context
- Using the poet's name keeps you thinking of the text as a conscious construct, focusing on how the poet made choices when creating the poem.
- Use connectives to link your ideas and present a coherent argument.
- Including historical facts or biographical information about the poet does not add value to your answers.
- 'Context' is rewarded whenever you explore ideas about theme, not when it is simply stated.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not spend too much time on the poetry question: it is worth the same 25 marks as the prose question, so divide your time equally.
- Do not simply unload all the information you know about the poem; focus on answering the question.
- Do not write lengthy introductions with biographical or historical facts unrelated to the question — this delays your answer.
- Do not start with a list of the devices used by the poet; instead set up a clear argument focused on the writer's purposes.
- No marks are given for comments on other poems in the anthology — concentrate only on the poem given.
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Soal latihan
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1.In Songs of Ourselves Volume 1, who wrote the poem 'Lament'?
Easy- AGillian Clarke
- BSujata Bhatt
- CCarol Rumens
- DElizabeth Brewster
2.In Gillian Clarke's 'Lament', which conflict does the poem describe the ecological crisis caused by?
Medium- AThe Gulf War in 1991
- BThe First World War
- CThe Industrial Revolution
- DThe American Civil War
3.Which of the following are true of Gillian Clarke's 'Lament' as it appears in the Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 cluster? (select all that apply)
Medium- AIt is one of the 15 poems in the cluster studied for Paper 1, Section A.
- BIt is set for examination in 2026 and 2027.
- CIt explores environmental destruction.
- DIt is a prose extract rather than a poem.
- EIt presents a different perspective on war.
4.In Gillian Clarke's 'Lament', the poem focuses on the relationship between humans and nature.
EasyTrue or false?
5.Match each poem from Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 with the theme it is used to illustrate.
Medium- 'Lament'
- 'Hunting Snake'
- 'Before the Sun'
- 'Report to Wordsworth'
- Environmental destruction
- Wonder and fear evoked by a snake
- Harmony between humans and nature
- A dramatic warning paying tribute to Romantic concerns
6.In the Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 cluster, which poem is paired with Gillian Clarke's 'Lament' under the theme of 'Humans and nature'?
Medium- A'Hunting Snake' by Judith Wright
- B'Follower' by Seamus Heaney
- C'A Married State' by Katherine Philips
- D'Storyteller' by Liz Lochhead
7.Which statement best describes the perspective Gillian Clarke's 'Lament' offers on war?
Medium- AIt describes the ecological crisis caused by war rather than focusing on soldiers or battles.
- BIt celebrates a military victory in the Gulf War.
- CIt follows a soldier's experience of trench warfare.
- DIt argues that war has no effect on the natural world.
8.In Gillian Clarke's 'Lament', the poem presents ideas about environmental destruction.
EasyTrue or false?
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