Tuesday 15 October 2013

11bEn1 - 'Even Tho' homework

Hello new Year 11s!

We've not been through this poem for a while, so I thought it'd be an excellent revision tool to post some questions for you to answer.



Pick one and write a paragraph in response using the 'comments' box (at the bottom):


  1. How does the structure of the poem show conflicted emotions in the speaker?
  2. Why are the stanzas of irregular lengths? Pick out two examples and explain them.
  3. What is the rhythm of the poem like and what does this show?
  4. Why does Grace Nichols mention "seamoss", "jellyfish" and "tongue"?
  5. What is the effect of the fruit imagery?
  6. What aspect of relationships is the speaker trying to avoid? Give two examples and explain them.
  7. What is the significance of the "carnival"?
Due to be completed by Wednesday 23rd October.

Mrs D

16 comments:

  1. Question 1
    In the poem the structure of the poem show different emotions. For example the different stanzas lengths show that Nichols's feelings for the man are different. This can be seen in the fith stanza, which is also the longes stanza. The short and simple sentences in this stanza makes the reader read it faster. This is almost like Nichols's emotions have been carried away and she is lost in then. However, the next stanza is shorter, as if Nichols has relished what she has done and stopped herself before it becomes a relationship showing that she dose not like the man in that way. Furthermore, at the beginning of stanzas two and three it starts as,"even tho," like she is trying to push him away. However at the beginning of stander four and five it starts as, "come."This suggests that she is egging him on and wanting him close. Both of these show that her feelings change a lot throughout the poem proving the battle of emotions that is happening inside Grace Nichols.

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  2. 6. What aspect of relationships is the speaker trying to avoid? Give two examples and explain them.

    Grace Nichols, author of the poem Even Tho, avoids portraying a controlling, possessive aspect of love. This can be seen with 'leh we break free', accompanying 'brace up and sweet one another up'. Whilst 'break' represents the need for personal space in relationships, 'free' portrays the freedom she believes is needed.
    Her attempt at avoiding this aspect can also be seen with 'keep to de motion of we own person/ality' which shows her strong belief that couples should be individuals in relationships; being joined together by their feelings whilst not having personalities that merge into one. The use of the '/' shows how strongly she feels about this subject, feeling the need to make sure her readers understand the aim of the poem. This divide could also be seen to represent the divide between partners needed in relationships.
    Both of these quotes portray her representation of the aspect she is aiming to avoid and also the individuality she believes those within a relationship should not lose.

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  3. the effect of fruit imagery is that it is exotic. The fruits mentioned are exotic e.g. watermelon
    star apple and plum. They are tropical fruits only found in some parts of the world and she is talking about an exotic subject (sex). She talks about these fruits as they are sweet, and she is implying she is sweet and does not want to be eaten yet. She doesn't want to be picked as she is still ripening - Michael

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  4. Grace Nichols mentions the words 'jellyfish' 'seamoss' and 'tongue' to portray her inner self. These three words are all soft objects, so by using these words she is suggesting to the readers that she has a soft interior which brings you back to the idea that she is an 'avocado', hard on the outside, soft on the inside. Also, these words may suggest that she is not portraying herself as she really is, but is putting up a barrier to protect herself from getting emotional hurt. By putting these words in the short stanza, she is giving readers a short insight of who she is behind the barrier.

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  5. Question 1:

    The structure of the poem shows that the author is conflicted because she constantly turns it back around, she says in one stanza that she wants to be close to her partner and bond with them but in the next she will turn it back around and talk about keeping their own space and distance from one another. The short sentences in the stanza make the poem flow faster as you read further, this goes with the carnival theme and matches with what Grace Nichols is saying about moving to the music and becoming one with her partner. The poem shows her emotions and feelings towards her partner change as the poem goes on, as there are some stanzas that start with 'even tho' which shows that she is making excuses and trying to get away from the ever growing possibility of it becoming a serious relationship but then in another stanza she says 'come' as if she wants it to become something more than what they already have and as if she isn't scared anymore.

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  6. Tarik Maizi
    what is the effect of fruit imagery??
    the effect of the sweet fruit links with that sex is a sweet and fruitful subject. she mentions watermelons, star apples and plums. these fruits are all very sweet and exotic and that they relate to the whole point of the poem which is about sex. also bananas and avocados have to ripen up before they are edible. maybe is suggesting that she is not ready yet and he has to give her some time before they do things together.

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  7. What is the effect of fruit imagery?
    The effect of fruit imagery links with the idea of sex being a fruity subject. Grace Nichols mentions fruits such as watermelon, star apples and plums which are all quite sweet and exotic fruits. The image of a avocado and banana mirror the image of a penis and vagina which links back to the idea of sex. Additionally fruits such as banana and plum both need to ripen before they are able to be eaten, which reflects the women in the poem needing to ripen up before she is ready to be eaten.

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  8. Anjali Patel
    Question 1
    The structure of the poem shows the confilcted emotions of Grace Nichols. This can be shown through the use of irregular stanzas. The conflicted emotions is portrayed by, ' leh we hug up.....leh we break free' the juxtapostion of the two different stanzas shoes that she can not make up her mind. The use of saying this tells the reader that she want him to come closer but then she is pushing him away as if she likes to tease him. The structure of the poem is fast paced, everything is rushing through her mind at once, not knowing what she wants to do. However, in the last stanza there are just two lines, the poem coming to a sudden stop. That she has made up her mind that you have to be your own person, a individual and no matter what conflicted emotions you have in the end you have to keep your pesronality and be true to yourself.

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  9. What is the effect of fruit imagery?
    The effect of the fruit imagery is that it makes you think about sex. This links to when she says 'Come leh we go to de carnival you be banana I be avocado'.She is using a banana as a phallic symbol. These fruits are exotic and this makes us think of bright colours like there are at a carnival. This could relate to her background as she could be afro-Caribbean as this is where exotic fruits are grown. Also the language she uses sounds like afro-Caribbean patois.

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  10. what is the effect of fruit imagery?
    the effect of fruit imagery is that it gives you a rough idea about sexual contact. this is show when the writer says 'come let we go to de carnival, you be banana and I be avocado'. the word 'banana' suggests that's a male private part and the word 'avocado' suggests that's a females private part. she also says 'Come leh we hug up and brace-up and sweet one another up' this all interprets the fact that the poem is about sex.

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  11. through out the poem even tho, grace nichols potrays vibes of indecisiveness, through irregular stanzas and change of mind. Nichols ambiguously tells the reader that she is strictly against possessive relationships and merging characters. Her attempt at avoiding this aspect can also be seen with 'keep to de motion of we own person/ality' which shows her strong belief that couples should be their individual characters throughout their relationships. Whereas in the 4th stanzas she says 'come, leh we hug up and brace up', during this part of the poem it begins to speed up, showing her true feelings and that she is no longer scared of the possibility of being joined to her partner.
    ANITA THOMPSON

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  12. Question 7-What is the significance of carnival?
    Carnival is a time of celebration and is a festive occasion. Grace Nicolas uses the word 'carnival' to signify the way she would like her love life and relationship to be with this man. In the poem it reads 'Man I love but won’t let you devoir’. This implies she wants freedom and power in the relationship referring back to the use of the word 'carnival' which is a time that people forget their worries come together as one and celebrate the gift of life. This links to the religious history of carnival. Furthermore Grace Nicolas wants to be one with her partner in some respects seen when it reads 'you be the bananas I be the avocado 'but she also wants to keep her identity and not be a stereotypical wife or girlfriend that are belittled by their man.

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  13. What is the effect of fruit imagery?
    The effect is that it is exotic seeing that she includes many exotic fruits like watermelons and apples.Grace talks about these fruits as if they are sweet, plus she is hinting that she is sweet and does not want to be eaten yet.She doesnt want to be eaten yet as she is still ripening which is a metaphor for a fruit just like the exotic ones she mention.

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  14. Question 5:
    In the poem "Even Tho",food imagery is constantly used throughout the poem. For example, in the 4th stanza, Nichols writes
    "Come
    leh we go to de carnival
    You be banana
    I be avacado"

    The word "Come" shows that she is being seductive, building the momentum onto the next line. The second line "leh we go to de carnival" shows that she wants to them to get together with "carnival" symbolising that fun awaits. "You be banana" refers to a men's private area and "I be avacado" which is being a vessel for the banana; tough of the outside, slippery in the inside. These two lines represent sex between the couple which the layers of avacado showing conflict within herself. The use of exotic fruits "banana" and "avacado" which are only found in certain parts of the world such as where she had grown up, implying through the use of exotic fruits that sex is special and unforgettable, likewise her childhood. - Bevaan Shoban :)

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  15. Question 5:
    Grace Nichols, the poet uses food imagery throughout the poem through the use of exotic words and personification. For example, in the 4th stanza, she says:
    "Come
    leh we go to de carnival
    You be banana
    I be avocado"
    The use of the word "Come" is the build up the momentum to lead onto the next line which is "leh we go to de carnival" which means let us go together to the carnival which shows that they are looking forward to it as it is going to be very 'fun'. The third line, "You be banana" refers to a man's genitals which leads to a build up of information till the next and final line of the 4th stanza which is "I be avocado" which shows it is a vessel for the banana implying sexual intercourse between the two. Avocado is also tough on the outside (personifying the poet), soft and slippery in the inside (vulnerable in the inside) but hard at the centre (sticks to her moral obligations). The layers of the avocado also symbolise conflict within herself. The use the words "banana" and "avocado" are exotic fruits found in tropical islands, like where she had been born which is close to her heart and special. She therefore, through the use of these words also show that this relationship is unique, something she keeps dear to her heart but is unsure if she should carry on with the relationship.

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  16. 5.What is the effect of the fruit imagery?
    the author uses fruit imagery to show that sex is fruity, sweet and exotic. 'leh we go to de carnival
    You be banana I be avocado.' she uses an avocado too symbolise a vagina while using a banana to symbolise a penis while using other fruits like watermelon and plum to show that sex is sweet like those fruits. I think she uses the fruits to make it sexual ,but by using the fruits it shows that she doesn't want to just tell you what's happening, she wants you to think about it.

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