I am very bothered By Simon Armitage I
I am very bothered By Simon Armitage
I am very bothered • • When I think Of the bad things I have done in my life Not least that time in the chemistry lab When I held a pair of scissors by the blades and played the handles • In the naked lilac flame of the Bunsen burner; • Then called your name and handed them over
O the unrivalled stench • Of branded skin • As you slipped your thumb and middle finger in, • Then couldn’t shake off the two burning rings. Marked, • The doctor said, for eternity.
Don’t believe me, • Please, if I say that was just my butterfingered way, at thirteen, • Of asking you if you would marry me.
My learning aim is… • To understand what happens in the poem • To be able to explain some of the language used
Sonnet • This is a poem that has 14 lines and is often about love
Read the poem • Now fill in the gaps that tell the story
Next… • Write down 3 questions you would like to ask the boy
Answer the question (find a quote) • How do we know the girl was badly hurt?
Answer the question • How do we know the girl was badly hurt? • Because it describes ‘the stench of branded skin’ • It says there were ‘two burning rings’
Answer the question • What excuse did the boy give for what he did?
Answer the question • What excuse did the boy give for what he did? • He said he was in love with the girl ‘my butterfingered way, at thirteen, of asking you to marry me’
Well done so far! • Now answer the question on the sheet
Development • In one colour highlight 3 words to do with love • In a different colour highlight 3 words that show this is a child’s perspective • In a different colour highlight 3 words or phrases that show the boy’s emotions about this event
Development • On the left of the page, summarise this poem in 3 sentences
Development • On the right of the page, answer this question – • How does the boy feel about what has happened? How do you know?
Reflection • Imagine that the boy has been caught doing this and has been told off by his teacher. The teacher asks him to write a reflection to explain what happened and how he feels about it now.
Reflection • Write the boy’s reflection on what happened. • Explain how you feel about the girl. • Explain what you did and why you did it. • Explain how you feel about it now – sorry, regretful etc…
- Slides: 18