Working on your own, or in a group, consider how relevant the following contextual points relating to Imtiaz Dharker’s poem, Living Space are (i.e. how much knowledge of these facts would add to a reader’s appreciation of the poem.) Give each point a score out of 5 (5 being very important; 4 important; 3 fairly important; 2 not very important; 1 hardly important; 0 not important at all.) You should be able to make a case for your choices.
There are just not enough
straight lines. That
is the problem.
Nothing is flat
or parallel. Beams
balance crookedly on supports
thrust off the vertical.
Nails clutch at open seams.
The whole structure leans dangerously
towards the miraculous.
Into this rough frame,
someone has squeezed
a living space
and even dared to place
these eggs in a wire basket,
fragile curves of white
hung out over the dark edge
of a slanted universe,
gathering the light
into themselves,
as if they were
the bright, thin walls of faith.
Give each point a score out of 5 (5 being very important; 4 important; 3 fairly important; 2 not very important; 1 hardly important; 0 not important at all.) You should be able to make a case for your choices.
Working either on your own, or in a group, make a list of the 4 contextual points that you have decided are the most important in helping a reader appreciate Imtiaz Dharker’s poem, Living Space. Then, place these in rank order. You must be able to give reasons for what you say.