Presentation and resources prepared by Williamwood High School

Presentation and resources prepared by Williamwood High School English Department.

The first of Morgan’s poems that we will investigate is ‘In the Snack-bar’. This is among the most famous of Morgan’s poems and it tells the story of an encounter with a disabled man in a busy snack bar. In the poem , Morgan encourages the reader to not only think about society’s attitude towards the disabled, but also about the determination of the human spirit.

The picture above is of a café similar to the one in which the poem is set. Before we begin to look at the poem, try to imagine this location. Think carefully about it and take a note of how it would impact your five senses: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Touch and Smell.

You are now going to use these descriptive words to create a paragraph in which you describe what it feels like to be inside a café such as this one. You should use your knowledge of your five senses to help create a realistic account of how this cafe could make you feel. We will use these ideas as we look at the poem.

As I entered the crowded café, I let the door close behind me and block out the noise of the traffic outside. I could feel the rain drip down my wet raincoat and I gave my umbrella a gentle shake, spreading soft droplets of rain onto the polished wooden floor. The café was filled with people chatting freely and filling the air with the noise of conversation. I could hear a waiter on the telephone taking an order while his colleague operated the coffee maker which was gently hissing in the corner. The smell of the freshly ground coffee filled the air and I could almost taste it. I made my way to the counter and placed my order.

As we begin to look through the poem, bear the following things in mind… • The struggle of the man in the café • The attitudes of others towards him • The poet’s attitude towards him • The message of the poem We will come back to these headings once we have read through the poem together.

We will now read through the poem together before considering its meaning. If you spot any techniques then feel free to annotate them on your poem. Consider the following • Word Choice • Imagery • Tone • Alliteration • Repetition • Rhyme

We will read through the poem twice together, but it will be up to you to form your initial observations and opinions. We will do this through Group Discussion. Before we do this we will have a quick reminder of the rules of successful Group Discussion.

A cup capsizes along the formica, The poem opens with alliteration slithering with a dull clatter. ‘cup capsizes’. The word choice of ‘capsizes’ is an early the sense of A few heads turn in theindication crowdedofevening snack-bar. helplessness that will come up throughout the poem. An old man is trying to get to his feet It is this sudden noise that first from the low round stoolattracts fixed the to the floor. poet’s attention.

The word ‘clatter’ further emphasises the noise of the cup A cup capsizes along the formica, as it is dropped. slithering with a dull clatter. A few heads turn in the crowded evening snack-bar. The identification of ‘a few heads’, An old man is tryinghighlights to get tothat hisvery feetfew people noticed what was happening in this busy café. a comment on how from the low round. Perhaps stool fixed to the floor. we often fail to notice important things as a society.

Morgan begins to project the message of his poem here. The A Morgan’s cup capsizes along of the formica, description word ‘trying’ suggests that the ‘low round stool fixed old man is struggling to do the to the floor’ slithering withemphasises a dull clatter. most simple of tasks and ‘get to the fact that the café is his feet’. to make lifecrowded evening snack-bar. A not fewdesigned heads turn in the easy for the disabled. The fixed tool is difficult Antoold man is get trying move and off. to get to his feet from the low round stool fixed to the floor.

The word choice of ‘levers’ highlights that everything the man does takes a huge amount of effort. The expression ‘hands have no power’ likens him to a machine that is broken. Slowly he levers himself up, his hands have no power. He is up as far as he can get. The dismal hump looming over him forces his head down. Personification is used here to explain the way the man’s hunched back (the ‘dismal hump’) pushes him down physically and leaves him feeling upset and vulnerable.

Despite the man’s difficulties, there is some sense of achievement as ‘he stands’ despite his difficulties. He stands in his stained beltless gabardine like a monstrous animal caught in a tent The poet builds a sense of revulsion at the man through the description of his in some story. He sways slightly, dirty clothes and untidy appearance. the face not seen, bent down in shadow under his cap.

The simile used here compares the man to an ‘animal caught in a tent’. This makes him sound like a kind of circus attraction or a monster. The sense that he appeared ‘in some story’ makes He stands inhim hisseem stained beltless gabardine. All this beyond our understanding. adds to the sense he his like a monster. like a monstrous animal caught in a tent in some story. He sways slightly, the face not seen, bent down in shadow his cap. Thisunder is a powerful line. His face is not seen because it is pointed downwards, yet it is also not seen because many choose not to see it.

The poet reveals further details of his disability suggesting that he is also blind. Even on his feet he is staring at the floor or would be, if he could see. I notice now his stick, once painted white but scuffed and muddy, hanging from his right arm. He carries a white stick as he is blind, but the fact that it is so scuffed and muddy suggests that nobody is looking after him or helping him.

The poet gives a list of the disabilities that afflict the man, building to the fact that he is ‘half paralysed’. The list helps to emphasise just how difficult his life must be. Long blind, hunchback born, half-paralysed he stands The structure here and the single line ‘he stands’ emphasises his determination despite the difficulties that he is faced with. There is a sense of defiance here. fumbling with the stick and speaks: ‘I want- to go to the- toilet. ’ Despite this, he must announce his most basic needs to strangers in a public place. This is both humiliating and degrading for him.

The fact that the toilet is ‘down two flights of stairs’ once again highlights how difficult life is for the man because of his disabilities. He must rely on the poet to help him. It is down two flights of stairs, but we go. I take his arm. "Give me- your arm- it's better, " he says. Inch by inch we drift towards the stairs. The poet’s word choice helps to emphasise how slowly they make their way through the café. It is done ‘inch by inch’ suggesting shuffling steps while the word ‘drift’ indicates that it is not a straight path.

The way the man helps this man on his mission reminds us of Simon, who volunteered to carry the cross of Jesus as he made his way to Calvary to be crucified. It is down two flights of stairs, but we go. I take his arm. "Give me- your arm- it's better, " he says. Inch by inch we drift towards the stairs.

The poet goes on to describe how the floor of the café becomes ‘like a landscape’ which once again highlights how even the most simple tasks require great effort from the man. A few yards of floor are like a landscape to be negotiated, in the slow setting out time has almost stopped. I concentrate my life to his: The slow pace of the man is explored when the poet states that ‘time has almost stopped’ suggesting how long it takes for him to move. Morgan also suggests that he must give the man his full attention in this moment.

The following section of the poem sees Morgan use description of …crunch of spilt sugar, the senses to examine how the café is full of potential hazards to the blind man. Here he uses both slidy puddles from the night's umbrellas, onomatopoeia and sibilance. table edges, people’s feet, Theof listthe thatcoffee follows machine, of seeminglyvoices everyday sights, sounds hiss and laughter, and smells of the café take on a new meaning when you imagine how they would be understood by the man as he smell of‘the a cigar, hamburgers, wet coats steaming, makes slow dangerous’ journey to the stairs. and the slow dangerous inches to the stairs.

The word choice of ‘clings’ indicates that the man is putting total trust in Morgan and is holding on tightly to him for protection. This word also implies the danger that is involved in this journey to the bathroom. I put his right hand on the rail takestocharge and guides and take his stick. The Hepoet clings me. The stick the man like a parent teaching a child to walk. The repetition of ‘and slowly we go down’ is in his left hand, indicates probingjust thehow treads. slowly each step is taken. I guide his arms and tell him the steps. And slowly we go down.

The description of the ‘white tiles and mirrors’ indicates a change in the setting and highlights how fresh and clean the toilet of the café appears in contrast to the man. White tiles and mirrors at last. He shambles uncouth into the clinical gleam. I set him in position, stand behind him The poet creates a contrast here. He and wait with his stick. contrasts the dirty and untidy appearance of the man with the ‘clinical’ and clean toilet. This helps to make his disabilities and his struggle even clearer.

The word choice of ‘brooding’ suggests that the man is reflective and sad and the suggestion that it darkens the mirror reflects the darkness and the misery that seems to surround the man and his daily struggle to live. His brooding reflection darkens the mirror But the trickle of his water is thin and slow, an old man’s apology for living. The poet uses a bitter tone in these lines to depict the struggle that the man must endure simply to survive. To suggest that this is his ‘apology for living’ suggests that his life has become hopeless and in many ways no longer worth living.

The word choice of ‘painful ages’ once again highlights the slow speed of the man’s movements. In contrast to our own fast see how difficult Painful ages topaced closelives, his we trousers and coat-life is for the man. I do up the last buttons for him. He asks doubtfully, "Can I - wash my hands? “ I fill the basin, clasp his soft fingers round the soap. The man’s pitiful position is made clear by Morgan as he is forced to ask permission He washes feebly, topatiently. There no towel. do the most basic is things, relying on the kindness and patience of other people. He also requires a great deal of help in the most private of tasks.

The word choice of ‘soft’ to describe the man’s fingers is a little surprising as it contrasts greatly with earlier descriptions. Here Morgan introduces a delicacy to the Painful ages to close his trousers and coatman and also a tenderness in the action as the poet assists him in cleaning his hands. I do up the last buttons for him. Again the word choice is key. Although the man is weak and He asks doubtfully, "Can I‘feeble’, - washhe my hands? “ acts ‘patiently’. His physical condition forces him this, but he must on I fill the basin, clasp his softinto fingers round the rely soap. others to be the same. He washes feebly, patiently. There is no towel.

The word hand drier is personified as a monster through the word ‘roar’. Designed to make life easier but wasted thepedal man asofhe cannot his hands together. I pressonthe drier, rub draw his hands gently into the roar. The of the air. of ‘contraption’ indicates wordhot choice that the technology that is designed to easier in fact makes his life But he cannot rub make themlife together, more difficult. This is significant as it adds further challenges to the man’s existence. drags out a handkerchief to finish. He is glad to leave the contraption, and face the stairs

The repetition of ‘he climbs’ with the inclusion of ‘we climb’ makes the poet fully involved in the man’s struggle. The tone of the poem is He climbs, and steadily enough. changing and there is a sense of This is one of the most important admiration for the man’s messages of the poem. Morgan is stating determination. He climbs, we climb. He climbs that despite the difficulties the man faces, he continues to proceed with great focus and patience. determination battle with many This pauses but with to that one on against the odds is to Morgan a true mark of humanity itself. of the undefeated persisting patience which is the nature of man when all is said.

The repetition of ‘and slowly we go up’ mirrors the earlier expression ‘and slowly we go down’ and repeats the painfully slow process going up the stairs. This emphasises how tedious and time consuming life is. And slowly we go up. The faltering, unfaltering steps Repetition is again used here to project a take him at last to the door dual message. Although his steps are ‘faltering’ and slow, he refuses to give up. across that endless yet not endless waste of floor. the repeated phrases, while highlighting the pace of the old man’s movement, also serve to illustrate that no matter how slowly he is moving, the old man refuses to give up.

Further evidence of how he must rely on the kindness of others in order to survive. I watch him helped on a bus. It shudders off in the rain The conductor bends to hear where he wants to go.

These powerful words suggest that the life the man leads is bleak and without hope. ‘Wherever’ suggests that no matter what happens, life for him will be dark (through blindness and feelings). Wherever he could go it would be dark In this stanza, Morgan’s message is and yet he must trust men. clear. This man must rely on a society that Without embarrassment or shame would prefer to ignore him. ‘No-one sees his face’ suggesting that he must announce his most pitiful needs nobody sees past the disability to see him as a person. in a public place. No-one sees his face.

Here, Morgan reminds us of the man’s physical appearance, describing it as ‘frightening’ and his ‘strangeness’. Despite this though, there is a sense of real sadness in the description of his hands. Does he know how frightening he is in his strangenes under his mountainous coat, his hands like wet leaves stuck to the half-white stick? His life depends on many who would evade him. And here is the real struggle for the man. Not only does he have these terrible physical disabilities…he must rely on a society that is hopelessly unaware of how to deal with them. He must put his life in the hands of those who fail to understand him.

The man’s one thing to do is to survive. Life itself has become a battle to get though. but he cannot reckon up the chances, having one thing to do, to haul his blind hump through the rains of August. Dear Christ, to be born for this. The harsh description of ‘haul his blind hump’ reduces his physical disability to one phrase while the final line is a desperate plea about the helplessness of the situation. The reader is left questioning if the life led by the man is indeed a life worth living.

Vocabulary Although most of the poem is fairly straightforward, there are some words that may seem quite tricky. Take a note of these definitions on your poem. Word • Formica • Dismal • Gabardine • Contraption • Persisting • Faltering • Evade Definition • Wipe clean plastic surface • Depressing or Dreary • A sturdy fabric used to make overcoats and trousers. • A mechanical device/ a gadget • To continue on even when faced with obstacles or difficulty. • To start to lose strength or momentum • To escape or avoid

We are now going to use this knowledge to help us to prepare ourselves for an important aspect of the National 5 exam. You will be tested on your knowledge of Edwin Morgan’s poetry (including ‘In the Snack Bar’ in the Critical Reading paper.

Today we are going to begin by answering some questions on the poem in our jotters. You should take care to ensure that your answers to these questions are as detailed as possible and that you use quotations wherever relevant.

• The disabled in society • Their dependence on wider society. • Their steadfast refusal to give in to fate. • The cruelty of fate. • The nature of human life. • The difficulties faced by disabled people. • The lack of real communication between the rest of us and the disabled.

The Scottish Text section of the paper will taste your knowledge of the Morgan poetry that you have covered in S 3 and S 4. You will be asked a range of questions about: • Ideas and themes • Key features of language • Similarities and differences to other poems by the same poet.

To begin with, we will focus on questions about ideas and language as you have only covered one poem. This will help you to see how to lay out your answers and the detail required. This paper tests your full understanding of the poem and it is vital that you express this. To begin with, we will focus on lines 1 to 24 of the text.

1 Identify two of the poem’s main themes. marks) 2 Show any two examples of the poet’s language highlight themes. (4 marks) (2

1 Identify two of the poem’s main themes. (2 marks) Two of the main themes of the poem are: • Disability • The cruelty of fate For this question, you are simply asked to identify themes. This means that you do not need to go into any detail about it.

2 Show any two examples of the poet’s language highlight themes. (4 marks) ‘The dismal hump looming over him forces his head down. ’ Word Choice • “dismal hump” • This word means unpleasant and gloomy • Connotations of hopeless, miserable, unpleasant • This word highlights that his disability is both physically and metaphorically weighing the man down. The word ‘dismal’ highlights how unpleasant it is to live his life as his disability is constantly there as it is described as ‘looming’ over him. The word choice highlights the difficulty that his disability adds to the sense of helplessness. For this question, you can use your Reading for U/A/E techniques. In this case word choice has been used. The key is to remember that the final step must address the question.

2 Show any two examples of the poet’s language highlight themes. (4 marks) ‘He stands in his stained beltless gaberdine like a monstrous animal caught in a tent in some story. ’ Imagery • “like a monstrous animal caught in a tent in some story. ” • This is a simile • The disabled man in the café is being compared to a wild creature from a fairytale. • Just as a monstrous animal is frightening and appears dangerous and wild so too does the man look frightening to the other people in the café. • This simile helps to highlight that the man’s disability makes him appear frightening and dangerous to the other people in the café. The reason for this is that the people do not understand the nature of his disability or how to help him. This highlights theme of disability because it emphasises the fact that society does not do enough to support the disabled.