Analysing the Poem 'Tissue' by Imtiaz Dharker
I can explain how Dharker presents her attitude to power in ‘Tissue’.
Analysing the Poem 'Tissue' by Imtiaz Dharker
I can explain how Dharker presents her attitude to power in ‘Tissue’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Paper is presented as seemingly important to our lives but is ultimately insignificant.
- This free verse poem, without regular rhyme, reflects the unsteady nature of tissue, power and the transience of life.
- The early focus is on paper ‘tissue’ and its connection to human power. The latter focus is on human ‘tissue’ and life.
- The poem uses an extended metaphor throughout, comparing ‘tissue’ to human life.
Keywords
Free verse - poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular rhythm
Quatrain - a stanza in a poem consisting of four lines
Extended metaphor - a type of metaphor that is developed throughout a piece of writing
Transient - something lasting for a short time only (life can be described as transient)
Common misconception
The poem has a regular, repetitive structure of nine, unrhyming quatrains.
Although most of the poem is written in this way, there is a sudden and sharp break to this form with the final stanza being a single line. You may wish to discuss this with your class (learning cycle 2 discusses the significance of this break).
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the poem 'Tissue' by Imtiaz Dharker which can be found in the AQA 'Power and Conflict' poetry anthology for GCSE.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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