Roller Skaters by Grace Nichols - PowerPoint Presentation

Roller Skatersby Grace Nichols

Who is Grace Nichols and how doe her background influence her poetry?No more than 100 words by Roller Skaters by Grace Nichols Homework

As we study this poem you will learn:the story of the poem More about the terms, Assonance: Oxymoron: Enjambement: Alliteration: Imagery: Pace/Tempo: Metaphor & Extended Metaphor. how to read out one stanza to the class in a group You will also complete some mini tasks and a quizon the poem.Roller Skaters - Learning Objective s

Write about the most ‘dangerous’ or exciting activity that you have ever taken part in. Roller Skaters - Starter

Defying law death and gravity as they do a wheely Landing back in the smooth swoop of youth And faces gaping gawking, impressed and unimpressed Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heels Two teenage earthbirds zig-zagging down the street Rising unfeathered –in sudden air leap Only Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth Roller Skaters by Grace Nichols

Mini Task 1: Write down the story of the poem. Roller Skaters - The Story Of The Poem

Mini Task 1: Write down the story of the poem.Two teenagers, boys or girls or both, are roller-skating and doing tricks in a public street. Some of the people watching are impressed by their stunts, but others are not impressed. Their mother is also watching, terrified that they will hurt themselves. Roller Skaters - The Story Of The Poem

Mini Task 2a: How is the poem structured? Roller Skaters - The Structure Of The Poem

Mini Task 2a: How is the poem structured?The poem is composed of six three line stanzas with a final single line stanza. Roller Skaters - The Structure Of The Poem

Roller Skaters - The Story Of The Poem Mini Task 2b: Count the line length of each stanza. Stanza 1: ____ Stanza 2: _____ Stanza 3: ____ Stanza 4: ____ Stanza 5: ____ Stanza 6: ____ Stanza 7: ____

Roller Skaters - The Story Of The Poem Mini Task 2b: Count the line length of each stanza. Stanza 1= 11 - Stanza 2= 11 - Stanza 3=10 - Stanza 4= 13 Stanza 5= 9 - Stanza 6= 13 - Stanza 7= 11

Roller Skaters - The Structure Of The Poem Mini Task 2c: Describe line length in the poem.

Mini Task 2c: Describe line length in the poem.The line length is very short 2-6 syllable long. The exception is the final line/stanza which is 11 syllables long. Roller Skaters - The Structure Of The Poem

Mini Task 2d: Describe stanza length in the poem. Roller Skaters - The Structure Of The Poem

Mini Task 2d: Describe stanza length in the poem.However most stanzas are between 11-13 syllables long which does give the poem a unity and even feel. Roller Skaters - The Structure Of The Poem

Mini Task 3a: Write down the explanation for the Key Feature – ImageryImagery is used in this poem to describe two roller–skaters as they skate through town and perform a single stunt. We are also told about effect the stunt has on the people watching and their mother. Roller Skaters - Key Features - Imagery

Mini Task 3b: List one Image from each stanza in the poem. Roller Skaters - Key Features - Imagery Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heels Two teenage earthbirds zig-zagging down the street Rising unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law death and gravityas they do a wheelyLanding backin the smooth swoop of youthAnd faces gaping gawking, impressedand unimpressedOnly Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth

Mini Task 3b: List one Images from each stanza in the poem. Roller Skaters - Key Features - Imagery Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heels Two teenage earthbirds zig-zagging down the street Rising unfeathered – in sudden air leapDefying lawdeath and gravityas they do a wheely Landing backin the smooth swoopof youth And faces gaping gawking, impressed and unimpressed Only Mother watches – heart beat in her mouth

Mini Task 3c: Copy down the description of imagery in the poem. Roller Skaters - Key Features - Imagery Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heels Two teenage earthbirds zig-zagging down the street Rising unfeathered – in sudden air leapDefying lawdeath and gravityas they do a wheely Landing backin the smooth swoopof youth And faces gaping gawking, impressed and unimpressed Only Mother watches – heart beat in her mouth The skaters seem to be ‘flying’ past. It’s as if they have ;wings’ on their heels. ‘ Earthbirds ’ like chickens can’t fly, but these skaters seem to be able to fly. ‘zig- zgging ’ moving side to sid down the street. ‘Rising …air leap ’ as they jump into the air ….. Defying the laws of gravity. ‘ wheely ’ as they perform another stunt on their skates. Their ‘smooth landing’ after the stunt. The ‘impressed’ and ‘unimpressed’ faces of the people in the street. The shocked and terrified face of the mother of one of the skaters.

Mini Task 4: On your copy of the poem, use arrows to indicate the enjambment in Stanzas 2-6 Roller Skaters - Key Features - Enjambment Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heels Two teenage earthbirds zig-zagging down the street Rising unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law death and gravity as they do a wheely Landing backin the smooth swoopof youthAnd faces gapinggawking, impressedand unimpressedOnly Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth

Flying by  on the winged-wheels  of their heels Two teenage earthbirdszig-zagging  down the street Rising  unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law  death and gravity  as they do a wheely Landing back in the smooth swoop of youthAnd faces gaping gawking, impressed and unimpressedOnly Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth Roller Skaters - Key Features - Enjambment Mini Task 4 : On your copy of the poem, use arrows to indicate the enjambment in Stanzas 2-6

Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heels Two teenage earthbirds zig-zaggingdown the streetRising unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law death and gravity as they do a wheely Landing back in the smooth swoop of youth And faces gaping gawking, impressed and unimpressed Only Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth Mini Task 5: On your copy of the poem, underline or highlight one example of : Assonance Oxymoron AlliterationToolbox terms:Assonance: is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other. Oxymoron: two words used together which have, or seem to have, opposite meanings. Alliteration: Similar sounding beginnings to words that are close to each other. Roller Skaters – Other Poetic Devices

Mini Task 5 : On your copy of the poem, underline or highlight one example of : Assonance Oxymoron Alliteration Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heelsTwo teenage earthbirds zig-zagging down the street Rising unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law death and gravity as they do a wheely Landing back in the smooth swoop of youthAnd faces gapinggawking, impressedand unimpressedOnly Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouthToolbox terms:Assonance: is the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other. Oxymoron: two words used together which have, or seem to have, opposite meanings. Alliteration: Similar sounding beginnings to words that are close to each other. Roller Skaters – Other Poetic Devices

Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heels Two teenage earthbirds zig-zaggingdown the streetRising unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law death and gravity as they do a wheely Landing back in the smooth swoop of youth And faces gaping gawking, impressed and unimpressed Only Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth Mini Task 6: On your copy of the poem, underline or highlight one example of Rhyme/Chime.Roller Skaters - Rhyme/Chime

Flying by on the winged-wheels of their heels Two teenage earthbirdszig-zaggingdown the street Rising unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law death and gravity as they do a wheely Landing back in the smooth swoop of youth And faces gaping gawking, impressedand unimpressedOnly Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouthMini Task 6 : On your copy of the poem, underline or highlight one example of Rhyme/Chime.Roller Skaters - Rhyme/Chime

Mini Task 7: Write down the explanation for Pace in the poem.The pace of the poem is fairly fast, reflecting the speed at which the skaters ‘fly’ past. The fast pace is helped by alliteration, the occasional use of assonance and rhyme/chime: Ex. ‘wheels’ & ‘heels’ ‘street’ & ‘leap’ ‘gravity’ & ‘ wheely’ ‘smooth swoop’ & ‘youth’ Mini Task 8: Write down the explanation for Rhythm in the poem.The presence of all these devices and features gives the poem a strong rhythm and a tone of excitement/danger. Roller Skaters – Pace & Rhythm

Flying by  on the winged-wheels  of their h eelsTwo teenage earthbirds zig-zagging  down the street Rising  unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law  death and gravity as they do a wheelyLanding back in the smooth swoop of youthAnd faces gaping gawking , impressed and unimpressedOnly Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth Here is a copy of the poem with the rhythmic devices highlighted: Enjambment Assonance, Alliteration Rhyme/Chime Mini Task 9 : F rom this highlighting of the poem what do you notice about the final stanza. Roller Skaters – Rhymic Devices

Flying by  on the winged-wheels  of their h eelsTwo teenage earthbirds zig-zagging  down the street Rising  unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law  death and gravity as they do a wheelyLanding back in the smooth swoop of youthAnd faces gaping gawking , impressed and unimpressedOnly Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth Mini Task 9: F rom this highlighting of the poem what do you notice about the final stanza? The final stanza contains no rhythmic devices. Mini Task 9a: Why are there no rhythmic devices in the final stanza? Roller Skaters – Rhymic Devices

Flying by  on the winged-wheels  of their h eelsTwo teenage earthbirds zig-zagging  down the street Rising  unfeathered – in sudden air leap Defying law  death and gravity as they do a wheelyLanding back in the smooth swoop of youthAnd faces gaping gawking , impressed and unimpressedOnly Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth Mini Task 9a:Why are there no rhythmic devices in the final stanza? Suddenly everything stops and this helps to emphasize the shock the mother feels as she watches her children perform the stunts. Her heart ‘is in her mouth’ and time would seem to stand still for her and the lack of rhythmic devices in the final stanza help to convey this. Roller Skaters – Rhymic Devices

If an object/person is not being described literally, then the chances are they are being described metaphorically.. In the poem the skaters are described as ‘Flying by’ and as having ‘Winged wheels'. Both of these descriptions are metaphors as the skaters are not ‘flying’ nor do they have ‘wings’ on their heels. ‘Earthbirds’, ‘ unfeathered’ and ‘heartbeat’ are examples of other metaphors used in the poem. Roller Skaters - Metaphor Mini Task 10: Copy the explanation for how Metaphor is used in the poem.

Mini Task 11: Write down the explanation for how the whole poem can be seen as an Extended Metaphor. Roller Skaters - Metaphor Toolbox Term: Extended Metaphor: A metaphor that is continued or developed throughout a poem or other literary work.

Mini Task 11: Write down the explanation for how the whole poem can be seen as an Extended Metaphor. Roller Skaters - Metaphor The whole poem can be viewed as one extended metaphor that explores the rebellious nature of youth and the risks young people take when growing up as they seek thrills and excitement. The final line/stanza uses the metaphor ‘heartbeat in her mouth’ to make reference to the most difficult thing a parent has to do – learn to let go and trust their children

Mini Task 12Write out an explanation for the ‘heartbeat in her mouth’ metaphor. Roller Skaters - Metaphor

Mini Task 12Write out an explanation for the ‘heartbeat in her mouth’ metaphor. Roller Skaters - Metaphor This line cleverly combines two different phrases to help convey the mother’s tension and concern for her children. In a tense moment we can be described as having our ‘heart in our mouth’ so the poem is saying that for a moment, a ‘heartbeat’, the mother was terrified by what her children were doing.

Write about a time, real or imagined, when you did something exciting or possibly dangerous that you know your parents would not really want you to do. Describe what you felt when you took part in this activity. Describe how your parents reacted when they found out? What did you think and feel about their reaction?200-300 words handwritten. Roller Skaters – Writing Task