The Cockroach – Kevin Halligan

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Lesson notes

The Poem and Its Place in the Anthology

'The Cockroach' is by Kevin Halligan and appears in the Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 anthology.
It is one of the 15 poems in the cluster studied for Paper 1, Section A of the IGCSE Literature in English exam.
In the exam you answer one question from a choice of two on your studied cluster, and the full poem is printed on the exam paper.
The poem explores the human experience using an insect to represent the chaos of human life.

Central Idea: The Cockroach as a Mirror of Human Life

The poem uses a cockroach as an extended parallel for human existence.
The insect's movements and behaviour are presented in a way that invites the reader to see human traits and struggles reflected in it.
The poem suggests that human life is characterised by chaos, restlessness and a search for purpose.
This links it to other poems in the cluster, such as Alexander Pope's 'An Essay on Man', which reflects on the human struggle for meaning and order in a chaotic world.

Key Themes

The human condition: the poem uses the insect to explore what it means to be human, including vulnerability and confusion.
Chaos and order: the cockroach's erratic movement mirrors the disorder and unpredictability of human life.
Observation and reflection: the speaker watches the insect closely, and this observation becomes a way of thinking about human behaviour.
Individual and cultural identity: the poem sits alongside others in the cluster that explore how individuals respond to their circumstances.

Writer's Methods: Form and Structure

The poem is written in a regular, controlled form, which contrasts with the chaotic subject matter of the cockroach's movements.
The structure follows the speaker's observation of the insect, moving from description to reflection.
The poem's ending is important: consider whether it offers resolution or leaves the reader with a sense of unease.
The steady rhythm and rhyme can create a sense of order that is at odds with the restless subject, highlighting the tension between chaos and control.

Writer's Methods: Language and Imagery

Sensory imagery is used to describe the cockroach's movements, making the insect vivid and immediate.
Verbs of motion convey the insect's erratic, unpredictable behaviour.
Personification or anthropomorphism may be used to give the cockroach human-like qualities, reinforcing the parallel with human life.
The speaker's tone shifts from detached observation to a more reflective, possibly unsettled, response.

Understanding the Text: The Speaker's Perspective

The speaker is an observer, watching the cockroach and reflecting on what it reveals about human existence.
The speaker's personal response to the insect develops through the poem, moving from curiosity to deeper reflection.
The poem invites the reader to consider their own place in a chaotic world.
The speaker's attitude towards the cockroach may be a mix of fascination, pity and recognition.

Context and Connections

Kevin Halligan is a contemporary poet, and the poem's focus on ordinary, everyday subject matter is characteristic of modern poetry.
The poem connects to the cluster's theme of humans and nature, exploring the relationship between humans and the natural world.
It also links to the theme of individual identity, as the cockroach's struggle can be read as a metaphor for individual human struggle.
Like other poems in the cluster, it encourages readers to look beyond surface meanings to deeper ideas about life and society.

Exam Focus and Tips

In Paper 1, Section A, you will answer one question on a poem from your studied cluster; the poem is printed in the exam paper.
Examiners look for a sustained personal and evaluative engagement with the poem, not just line-by-line translation.
Focus on how the poet makes choices about language, form and structure to create effects and meanings.
Use linguistic terms to explain effects, and closely relate your analysis to the key words of the question.
Spend about 45 minutes on the poetry question, as it is worth 25 marks.
Avoid simply listing techniques or including biographical/historical facts that are not linked to the question or the writer's purpose.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.In Songs of Ourselves Volume 1, who wrote the poem 'The Cockroach'?
Easy
- AKevin Halligan
- BSeamus Heaney
- CGillian Clarke
- DJudith Wright
2.In Songs of Ourselves Volume 1, 'The Cockroach' is written by Kevin Halligan.
Easy
True or false?
3.In 'The Cockroach', Kevin Halligan uses an insect to represent which larger idea?
Medium
- AThe chaos of human life
- BThe beauty and power of nature
- CUnrequited romantic love
- DThe ecological crisis caused by war
4.In 'The Cockroach', Kevin Halligan's poem is grouped in the anthology with poems that explore:
Medium
- Aindividual and cultural identity
- Blove and relationships
- Chumans and nature
- Dwar and conflict
5.Alexander Pope's extract from 'An Essay on Man' is said to reflect on ideas similar to those in Kevin Halligan's 'The Cockroach'. Which idea do they share?
Medium
- AThe human struggle for meaning and order in a chaotic world
- BThe destructive nature of romantic love
- CThe power of oral tradition
- DThe influence of colonialism on identity
6.Which of the following statements about Kevin Halligan's 'The Cockroach' and its place in Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 are correct? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AIt is one of the 15 poems in the cluster assessed in Paper 1, Section A.
- BIt explores the human experience using an insect.
- CIt is grouped under the key theme of individual and cultural identity.
- DIt describes the ecological crisis caused by the Gulf War in 1991.
- EIt is a poem about unrequited love.
7.Which of the following are key themes explored across the Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 cluster that includes Kevin Halligan's 'The Cockroach'? (select all that apply)
Medium
- ALove and relationships
- BHumans and nature
- CIndividual and cultural identity
- DThe mathematics of the cosmos
- EThe history of the British monarchy
8.Match each poem from Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 with its poet.
Medium
- 'The Cockroach'
- 'Follower'
- 'Lament'
- 'Hunting Snake'
- Kevin Halligan
- Seamus Heaney
- Gillian Clarke
- Judith Wright

Revision notes

## The Cockroach – Kevin Halligan ### What the poem is about - A poem from *Songs of Ourselves Volume 1*, studied for **Paper 1, Section A (Poetry)**. - It **explores the human experience using an insect to represent the chaos of human life**. - The cockroach becomes a mirror for human restlessness, purposelessness and the search for direction. ### Key themes - **Humans and nature**: the poem sits with other anthology poems that examine the relationship between people and the natural world. - **Chaos and meaning**: it connects with Alexander Pope's *Essay on Man* extract, which **reflects on similar ideas: the human struggle for meaning and order in a chaotic world**. - **Individual identity**: like other poems in the cluster, it considers how an individual — here, an insect standing in for a person — moves through an environment that shapes and unsettles them. ### Writer's methods to discuss - **Extended metaphor / allegory**: the cockroach's movements stand for human behaviour, so analyse *why* Halligan chooses an insect rather than a person. - **Form and structure**: consider how the poem is laid out, whether the movement of the lines mirrors the insect's scurrying, and whether the ending resolves or leaves ideas open. - **Language**: explore verbs of motion, patterns of language, tone of voice through rhythm and rhyme, and how endings present ideas. - **Effect on the reader**: link every technique to the idea of human chaos and the search for order. ### Exam focus (Paper 1, Section A) - You answer **one** question from a choice of two on your studied cluster; the full poem is printed on the paper. - Each question is worth **25 marks**; spend about **45 minutes** on it and divide your time equally with Section B. - Aim for a **"sustained personal and evaluative engagement"**: a brief introduction, at least three paragraphs and a concise conclusion. - Engage with the **key words of the question** first. Words like "moving", "disturbing" or "memorable" signal a particular focus — examine the techniques that create such effects. - **Quoting lines and explaining their meaning is not analysis.** Explore how the poet makes decisions about language, use linguistic terms to explain effects, and closely relate analysis to the question. - Use the **poet's name** to keep thinking of the poem as a conscious construct. - Do **not** unload everything you know about the poem; answer the question. - **No marks** are given for comments on other poems in the anthology — concentrate only on the poem given. ### Quick revision checklist - Can I explain what the cockroach represents? - Can I analyse form, structure and language, not just paraphrase? - Can I link every point to the question's key words? - Have I used the poet's name and connectives to build a coherent argument?

The Cockroach: A poem by Kevin Halligan in the Songs of Ourselves Volume 1 anthology that explores the human experience using an insect to represent the chaos of human life.
Paper 1, Section A (Poetry): The examined component where candidates answer one question from a choice of two on their studied cluster; the poems named in questions are printed in the question paper.
Personal and evaluative engagement: The quality examiners say the best responses to the Paper 1 poetry question show: thinking about the poem overall rather than analysing line by line, and engaging with the key words of the question.
Writer's methods: In the CIE Literature in English poetry mark scheme, form, structure and language are all considered writer's methods; analysis should focus on the poet's overarching ideas rather than identifying techniques or translating quotes.
Humans and nature: A key theme of the cluster: the examination of the relationship between humans and nature, which 'The Cockroach' shares with poems such as Judith Wright's 'Hunting Snake' and Charles Mungoshi's 'Before the Sun'.
Chaos and the search for meaning: The idea, shared with Alexander Pope's 'Essay on Man' extract, of the human struggle for meaning and order in a chaotic world.

Flashcards

Who wrote 'The Cockroach'?

Kevin Halligan.

In which anthology is 'The Cockroach' collected for IGCSE study?

Songs of Ourselves Volume 1, the Cambridge Assessment International Education anthology of poetry in English.

Which paper and section of the IGCSE Literature exam tests 'The Cockroach'?

Paper 1, Section A (Poetry).

How many questions on your studied cluster do you choose from in Paper 1 Section A, and how many do you answer?

You are given a choice of two questions on your studied cluster, and you answer one of them.

Is the poem printed in the exam paper for Paper 1 Section A?

Yes — you will have a copy of the full poem printed on the exam paper.

Which key theme of the anthology cluster does 'The Cockroach' belong to?

Individual and cultural identity — the cluster that explores powerless individuals in their environments and how people rise above their circumstances.

What does Kevin Halligan use the cockroach to represent in this poem?

The human experience — an insect is used to represent the chaos of human life.

Which other poem in the cluster is said to reflect similar ideas to 'The Cockroach' about the human struggle for meaning and order?

Alexander Pope's extract from 'An Essay on Man', which reflects on the human struggle for meaning and order in a chaotic world.

What is the overall theme shared by 'The Cockroach' and Pope's 'An Essay on Man' extract?

The human struggle for meaning and order in a chaotic world.

Which other cluster poem also explores the human experience through an aspect of the natural world, like 'The Cockroach'?

Judith Wright's 'Hunting Snake', which considers how the beauty and power of a snake evokes wonder as well as fear in humans.

Which cluster poem, like 'The Cockroach', criticises exploitation by showing a powerless individual in their environment?

Carol Rumens' 'Carpet-weavers, Morocco', which explores child labour by depicting carpet-weaving in Morocco.

What does the syllabus mean by a 'personal response' in the poetry question?

Expressing what the text means to you in response to the task.

What does 'informed' mean in the phrase 'informed personal response'?

Referring closely to the text in justifying your interpretations.

Name the four assessment objectives tested holistically by the poetry question.

AO1 knowledge of content, AO2 understanding of meanings and context, AO3 analysis of language, structure and form, and AO4 sensitive and informed personal response.

According to examiners, what kind of engagement do the best Paper 1 poetry answers show?

A 'sustained personal and evaluative engagement' with the poem.

What structure do examiners recommend for a strong poetry answer?

A brief introduction, at least three paragraphs and a concise conclusion.

How should a strong answer treat the poem — line by line, or as a whole?

It should spend time thinking about the poem overall rather than analysing it line by line.

Why is quoting a line and explaining its meaning not considered analysis?

Because analysis means exploring how the poet makes decisions about language and the effect on the reader, not translating the quote.

What should you do instead of simply identifying poetic techniques?

Explore how the poet's choices of language, form and structure create meanings and achieve effects.

Which three aspects of the poet's craft should you write about in a poetry answer?

Patterns of language, tone of voice through rhythm and rhyme, and how endings present ideas.

How long should you spend on each of the two questions in Paper 1?

About 45 minutes on each question, since each is worth an equal 25 marks.

Why do examiners warn against spending too long on the poetry question?

It may leave too little time for Section B, the prose question, affecting marks across the whole paper.

Does including historical facts or biographical information about the poet add value to your answer?

No — context is only rewarded when you explore ideas about theme, and points about societal values should be linked to the writer's purpose.

If a question uses words such as 'moving', 'disturbing' or 'memorable', what does that signal?

A particular focus — high-achieving responses examine the specific techniques that create such effects.

Why does using the poet's name in your answer help?

It keeps you thinking of the text as a conscious construct, focusing you on how the poet made choices when creating the poem.

Are marks given for comments on other poems in the anthology?

No — your response should concentrate only on the poem given in the question.

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