Q1 This poem is full of colours not just that of skin, what do you think these colours signify?
In this poem, the black skin of the African tenant signifies the lower class position he and his race occupy in society, looked down upon and despised by white folk. The landlady of the place he planned to rent evidently places great emphasis upon skin colour, as she seems slightly shocked and angry when the tenant reveals he is African, and proceeds to probe about his skin tone in a blunt, brusque manner. When faced with this question, the tenant becomes uncomforably aware of his surroundings, the red telephone booth, pillar-box, and bus. Nothing around him seems to possess the same colour as his skin. She specifically requests for what shade of brown the tenant is, to which he replies, "West African sepia". This has a great impact upon the landlady, who seems ready to hang up and reject the tenant. However, the tenant pleads with her by describing the lighter colours of his palms and soles. This shows the role skin colour and skin tone play in society and in making an impression. The dark colours mentioned in the poem not only apply to African skin, but also to the darkness in the hearts of people that have led them to discriminate others by race and skin colour.
Q2 What does the dialogue in this poem reveal about these two characters?
The dialogue reveals the tenant's shame at being African, as he is prejudiced and discriminated by others. It is revealed in the second paragraph, when he is questioned about his skin tone, that he is afraid and ashamed of admitting in public, on the phone, his darker skin tone. ( "Stench of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak ... Considerate she was, varying the emphasis..." )
The dialogue also reveals the landlady's prejudice against Africans and their skin colour. She was very specific when inquiring about the tenant's skin colour, and when she realised that her fears of an extremely dark-skinned tenant might be confirmed, she quickly adopted a tone and manner which she would use to speak to one of his kind, blunt and curt. ( "WHAT'S THAT?" ... " DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.")
Q3 The poet dramatises a battle, who wins finally and why?
The landlady is on the verge of rejecting the tenant and putting him out of his misery, when the tenant pleads that she would rather see for herself rather than judge him upon descriptions in a telephone conversation. I would presume that the tenant wins, as the landlady is given the benefit of the doubt. Her curiosity aroused, she may decide to give the tenant a chance and realise, to her relief, that the tenant may not have been as bad as she imagined.
welcome mat
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Web-based home learning 24th January
www.toondoo.com/View.toon?param=2725572
Why did you choose the different pictures/ background(s)?
I chose the different backgrounds corresponding to the narrative text displayed at the corner of the boxes so as to emphasise contrast between two scenes and also amplify the reader's understanding of the storyline.
How do they contribute to the elements (plot, setting, characterization) of your narrative?
The first scene is regarding negative impacts humans have on the environment: pollution, deforestation, etc. For that I chose a background of a road with different vehicles travelling on it: cars, buses, so as to show the pollution caused by the exhaust, resulting in greenhouse gases that trap heat, thus leading to global warming. For the second slide, about how the animals and habitats of today may become extinct, I used a landscape of ice and snow to represent the North Pole and how fast it is melting todaydue to global warming. Lastly, I used the background of a desert wasteland to show how the earth might become in the future. The scenes are arranged in chronological order: present, present, future.
How did you make use of different elements to contribute to the theme you have chosen?
For the first scene, I chose not to have a narrator, instead placing the narrative text in the top corner of the box. For the second scene, which explains how animals and habitats are going to become extinct, I chose a polar bear as the narrator, on a landscape of snow and ice, so as to raise an example of animal extinction. For the third scene, I chose a vulture to be the narrator, on a background of a desert wasteland, to show the drastic developments the earth may undergo in the future. This also show great contrast between it and the previous scene, the North pole, which may help readers understand what negative changes may happen to the earth if actions are not taken.
Why did you choose the different pictures/ background(s)?
I chose the different backgrounds corresponding to the narrative text displayed at the corner of the boxes so as to emphasise contrast between two scenes and also amplify the reader's understanding of the storyline.
How do they contribute to the elements (plot, setting, characterization) of your narrative?
The first scene is regarding negative impacts humans have on the environment: pollution, deforestation, etc. For that I chose a background of a road with different vehicles travelling on it: cars, buses, so as to show the pollution caused by the exhaust, resulting in greenhouse gases that trap heat, thus leading to global warming. For the second slide, about how the animals and habitats of today may become extinct, I used a landscape of ice and snow to represent the North Pole and how fast it is melting todaydue to global warming. Lastly, I used the background of a desert wasteland to show how the earth might become in the future. The scenes are arranged in chronological order: present, present, future.
How did you make use of different elements to contribute to the theme you have chosen?
For the first scene, I chose not to have a narrator, instead placing the narrative text in the top corner of the box. For the second scene, which explains how animals and habitats are going to become extinct, I chose a polar bear as the narrator, on a landscape of snow and ice, so as to raise an example of animal extinction. For the third scene, I chose a vulture to be the narrator, on a background of a desert wasteland, to show the drastic developments the earth may undergo in the future. This also show great contrast between it and the previous scene, the North pole, which may help readers understand what negative changes may happen to the earth if actions are not taken.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Discrimination
1) Race- Negroes in America were discriminated and denied certain rights
2) Ancestry- Some people tend to judge others by ancestry, and if one is descended from a notorious character, others might think of him as disgraceful.
3)Nationality- The Russians and Americans cultivated an intense hate toward each other during the Cold War
4) Religion- Hitler discriminated the Jews and massacred them.
5)Gender- Males were once admired as the higher order of society
6)Disability- They are neglected by society
7)Sexual Orientation- Homosexuals are ostracized by society
8)Physical appearance- Those with deformities, are ugly, or are fat, are shunned by society
9)Employment- Those with lower-class jobs such as cleaners or trash collectors are stereotyped as rough, smelly, and unhygienic people.
10) Political Affiliation- Some supporters of political parties are discriminated, scorned, and have taken violent action against them.
11)Education- The uneducated are looked down on in society. Elitist schools may think neighbourhood schools are inferior
12)Intelligence- People despise, scorn and ignore those of inferior intellect, especially those with psychological disorder.
2) Ancestry- Some people tend to judge others by ancestry, and if one is descended from a notorious character, others might think of him as disgraceful.
3)Nationality- The Russians and Americans cultivated an intense hate toward each other during the Cold War
4) Religion- Hitler discriminated the Jews and massacred them.
5)Gender- Males were once admired as the higher order of society
6)Disability- They are neglected by society
7)Sexual Orientation- Homosexuals are ostracized by society
8)Physical appearance- Those with deformities, are ugly, or are fat, are shunned by society
9)Employment- Those with lower-class jobs such as cleaners or trash collectors are stereotyped as rough, smelly, and unhygienic people.
10) Political Affiliation- Some supporters of political parties are discriminated, scorned, and have taken violent action against them.
11)Education- The uneducated are looked down on in society. Elitist schools may think neighbourhood schools are inferior
12)Intelligence- People despise, scorn and ignore those of inferior intellect, especially those with psychological disorder.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Cloony the clown- thoughts
I think that the poem of Cloony the clown is a perfect example of what happens in school nowadays. When a student is called up to present or say something in front of an audience and make a mistake, the audience responds by unceremoniously jeering at the presenter and making comments in order to ridicule and embarass him/her. The presenter receives a blow to his/her morale. Thus, he/she will learn from past experiences and avoid participating in activities like this. I think that we should not make it hard for the presenters who already find it hard enough to pluck up their courage to speak up in fornt of an audience. Before you jeer at the person, try putting yourself in his/ her shoes. How would you feel?
Cloony the Clown
1. Explain the irony in this poem.
When Cloony tries his best to amuse the audience, the audience get bored and depressed. Therefore, Cloony is unable to earn money simply because he fails at his job. Cloony himself begins to feel down and depressed, and he tries to tell the audience about his woes and troubles. However, upon finishing his tale, the audience breaks out in hysterical laughter. Cloony, feeling even worse, walks away and cries.
2. Does Shel Silverstein manage to convey some harsh realities in this poem?
Yes. Nowadays, when people try to tell others about their own troubles, they rarely receive sympathy or pity and instead, are ridiculed by the other party. Even when they make mistakes, they are jeered at by others. In conclusion, a majority of people in society are sadistic and delight in the misfortune of others.
3. Which poetic devices has the poet used to effectively convey his message?
The poet uses a rhyming pattern throughout the poem to convey intense emotions such as sadness and amusement. This leaves a deeper impression in the readers' minds and also amplifies the emotions described and felt in the poem. He also uses irony to add some dark humour into the poem.
When Cloony tries his best to amuse the audience, the audience get bored and depressed. Therefore, Cloony is unable to earn money simply because he fails at his job. Cloony himself begins to feel down and depressed, and he tries to tell the audience about his woes and troubles. However, upon finishing his tale, the audience breaks out in hysterical laughter. Cloony, feeling even worse, walks away and cries.
2. Does Shel Silverstein manage to convey some harsh realities in this poem?
Yes. Nowadays, when people try to tell others about their own troubles, they rarely receive sympathy or pity and instead, are ridiculed by the other party. Even when they make mistakes, they are jeered at by others. In conclusion, a majority of people in society are sadistic and delight in the misfortune of others.
3. Which poetic devices has the poet used to effectively convey his message?
The poet uses a rhyming pattern throughout the poem to convey intense emotions such as sadness and amusement. This leaves a deeper impression in the readers' minds and also amplifies the emotions described and felt in the poem. He also uses irony to add some dark humour into the poem.
Messy Room
1. Can you say that the poem is humorous? If so how?
Yes, the poem is humorous. The writer depicts and criticises a scene of a terribly messy and disorganised room. He continues to describe how the owner seems to have carelessly thrown articles of clothing all around the room and clumsily attempted to organise the items. Only at the end of his long rant does the writer realise that it is his own room he has been criticising.
2. What aspect of the human character has been highlighted in this poem?
The writer has highlighted the quickness with which people find fault with others but turn a blind eye when it comes to spotting their own mistakes.
Yes, the poem is humorous. The writer depicts and criticises a scene of a terribly messy and disorganised room. He continues to describe how the owner seems to have carelessly thrown articles of clothing all around the room and clumsily attempted to organise the items. Only at the end of his long rant does the writer realise that it is his own room he has been criticising.
2. What aspect of the human character has been highlighted in this poem?
The writer has highlighted the quickness with which people find fault with others but turn a blind eye when it comes to spotting their own mistakes.
The Little Boy and the Old Man
1. What is the underlying message that is being conveyed in this poem?
The author is trying to convey the sad truth that adults and those in their prime of life overlook those of extreme ages; the young and old, who are weaker than them and require care and attention, are left to care for themselves.
2. Has Shel Silverstein used any particular poetic technique that brings out this message more clearly?
Shel Silverstein writes the poem in a unique way: the whole poem is actually a dialogue between two characters: a little boy and an old man, representing those of the extreme ages. Furthermore, in order to emphasise the obvious and tragic similarities between the young and old, the writer also uses repetition, as shown by the old man's repeated responses "I do that too ...", "so do I...", etc.
The author is trying to convey the sad truth that adults and those in their prime of life overlook those of extreme ages; the young and old, who are weaker than them and require care and attention, are left to care for themselves.
2. Has Shel Silverstein used any particular poetic technique that brings out this message more clearly?
Shel Silverstein writes the poem in a unique way: the whole poem is actually a dialogue between two characters: a little boy and an old man, representing those of the extreme ages. Furthermore, in order to emphasise the obvious and tragic similarities between the young and old, the writer also uses repetition, as shown by the old man's repeated responses "I do that too ...", "so do I...", etc.
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