New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Analysing how Nichols presents ideas of belonging and place in 'Island Man'

I can explain how Nichols uses language, form and structure to express ideas of place and belonging in ‘Island Man’.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Analysing how Nichols presents ideas of belonging and place in 'Island Man'

I can explain how Nichols uses language, form and structure to express ideas of place and belonging in ‘Island Man’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The repeated imagery of the "sea" implies that the Island Man feels a sense of freedom and peace in his dreams.
  2. The use of free verse could reflect the freedom the Island Man feels when connected to the Caribbean.
  3. The use of free verse could also suggest that the Island Man feels out of place in London.
  4. The repetition could connect a sense of monotony and unhappiness to the Island Man's life in London.
  5. The lack of punctuation could also show a lack of emotion and sense of monotony.

Common misconception

That imagery has one set meaning and connotations.

The connotations of an image can change depending on the language used in relation to it.

Keywords

  • Migrant - a person who moves from one place to another

  • Monotonous - dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest

  • Nonconformity - the quality of living and thinking in a way that is different from other people

  • Belonging - a feeling of being happy or comfortable as part of a particular group

  • Groggy - weak and unable to think clearly or walk correctly, usually because of tiredness or illness

It would be useful to recap Nichols' 'Island Man' before this lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of the Edexcel 'Belonging' anthology for this lesson.

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
The act of saying a word more than once in a poem is called .
Correct Answer: repetition, repeating
Q2.
Images of the sea might represent which of the following?
Correct answer: peace
Correct answer: freedom
love
control
Q3.
Which of the following is the definition of free verse?
A 14 line poem with a regular rhyme and rhythm.
Correct answer: A poem with no set rhyme or rhythm.
A poem that celebrates a person or object.
A poem of serious reflection.
Q4.
'A person who moves from one place to another' is the definition of a .
Correct Answer: migrant
Q5.
Which of the following is the definition of 'monotonous'?
Correct answer: dull, tedious, and repetitive
full of excitement and noise
something pleasant and calming
Q6.
To 'muffle' a sound means to ...
make it louder.
Correct answer: make it quieter.
do nothing to it.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following words implies that the image of the car in Nichols' 'Island Man' does not mean freedom?
"soar"
"surge"
Correct answer: "dull"
Correct answer: "roar"
Q2.
By associating imagery of the sea with the Caribbean and monotony with London, where does Nichols' 'Island Man' suggest that the Island Man feels as if he belongs?
London
Correct answer: the Caribbean
the sea
Q3.
The repetition of "groggily" in Nichols' 'Island Man' implies that the Island Man feels which of the following in London?
Correct answer: sense of tiredness
sense of excitement
sense of wonder
Q4.
'The quality of living and thinking in a way that is different from other people' is the definition of .
Correct Answer: nonconformity, non-conformity, not conforming, non conformity
Q5.
Potentially, the lack of punctuation in Nichols' 'Island Man' could suggest which of the following?
a sense of control
Correct answer: a sense of monotony
a sense of heightened emotion
Correct answer: a lack of emotion
Q6.
Which of the following features does Nichols' use in 'Island Man'?
stanzas that are all the same length
Correct answer: lines that are out or alignment
a title that merges into the opening line
a cyclical structure