Island man Grace Nichols Life on a Caribbean

Island man Grace Nichols

Life on a Caribbean Island

Life in London

Imagine…

Differences between life on a Caribbean island life in London

CULTURE Guyana: • Country on the north coast of South America; • One of the poorest nations in the Western hemisphere; • Gained independence from Britain in 1966.

SURFACE MEANING • A man who used to live on a Caribbean island still dreams of this place even now when he lives in London.

Island Man Morning and island man wakes up to the sound of blue surf in his head the steady breaking and wombing wild seabirds and fishermen pushing out to sea the sun surfacing defiantly from the east of his small emerald island he always comes back groggily Comes back to sands of a grey metallic soar to surge of wheels to dull North Circular roar muffling his crumpled pillow waves island man heaves himself Another London day

IDEAS, ATTITUDES, FEELINGS • Ideas: – Comparing the simple beautiful way of life on a Caribbean island to the noise and rush of a modern city – When far away from home some people will over idealise it – Never forget where you come from • Attitudes: – Island man does not seem to feel at home in London therefore there is a sense of being out of place and not belonging – The opportunities of London are far removed from the beauties of the Caribbean • Feelings: – – Homesick Idealising the past / previous home Regret Dull repetitive nature of present working life

Back to controlled assessment… • TASK • In this assessment you need to use the poem Island Man by Grace Nicolls as a stimulus for your narrative. • Use the poem ‘Island Man’ as a starting point for writing a story.

Island Man Clear link with other traditions Alliteration with the letter 's' This word has (for a Caribbean island man in London who many still wakes up to the sound of the sea) associations, but the predominant Morning image is one of And island man wakes up comfort and To the sound of blue surf security In his head The steady breaking and wombing very positive image wild seabirds and fisherman pushing out to sea Note the sun surfacing defiantly vibrant from the east colours of his small emerald island he always comes back groggily Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge

Change of perspective here a busy road around London Suggest comparison of a man heaving himself on to an island Capital letters but no punctuation in poem Comes back to sands of a grey metallic soar to surge of wheels to dull North Circular road muffling his crumpled pillow waves island man heaves himself Another London day Grace Nichols Colour contrast, not vibrant but drab Repetition, as if he cannot believe it, or is reluctant to acknowledge Stark last line, physically isolated, with no preposition or verb

Language Metaphor Personification Alliteration Repetition • sands / of a grey metallic soar (London as an unpleasant beach) • the sun surfacing defiantly • to dull North Circular roar • sun surfacing • Stanza 3 = Sands, soar, surge (like the sounds of the sea) • groggily • muffling

Island Man • There is no punctuation in the poem. Why? What image does the Island man have in his head? How does the poet’s choice of language reflect that image? • There are more capital letters on the second part of the poem. Why? Think of the formality of capital letters.

Island Man • • Island: “blue surf” “wild seabirds” “fishermen” “emerald island” • • London: “grey metallic soar” “to surge of wheels” “dull North Circular roar” “Another London day”