‘‘GLASGOW 5GLASGOW 5THTH MARCH, MARCH, 1971’1971’

by Edwin Morganby Edwin Morgan

General InformationGeneral Information

before you can even think of going into before you can even think of going into the exam you must the exam you must knowknow this poem this poem really wellreally well – not just roughly what it is – not just roughly what it is aboutabout

commit to memory the commit to memory the ideasideas created created know the know the language/vocabularylanguage/vocabulary that that

highlight these ideas (inc. techniques)highlight these ideas (inc. techniques) be aware of be aware of social concernssocial concerns about the about the

events depicted in the poem (eg. themes)events depicted in the poem (eg. themes)

Form v ContentForm v ContentOne of the most startling things to remember One of the most startling things to remember

about this poem is the way it is written.about this poem is the way it is written.

7 sentences - statements of fact7 sentences - statements of fact no rhymeno rhyme no rhythmno rhythm no stanzasno stanzas newspaper column layoutnewspaper column layout objective styleobjective style present tense throughout - sense of present tense throughout - sense of

immediacyimmediacy

Form v ContentForm v ContentThe form is in stark contrast to the The form is in stark contrast to the horrifying content and this gives the horrifying content and this gives the

poem its emotional impactpoem its emotional impact..

no obvious emotion is displayedno obvious emotion is displayed clinical, objective, matter-of-fact clinical, objective, matter-of-fact

statementsstatements highlighting decline in moral highlighting decline in moral

standards, the disintegration of societystandards, the disintegration of society

Realism Realism Glasgow is a real placeGlasgow is a real place Sauchiehall Street is a real locationSauchiehall Street is a real location The events depicted could have The events depicted could have

happened and are happening happened and are happening anywhere/everywhereanywhere/everywhere

InstamaticInstamatic captures a moment in timecaptures a moment in time

photograph (title)photograph (title)

focus (tight/concise)focus (tight/concise)

powerfulpowerful

immediateimmediate

The MessageThe Message

written over 30yrs agowritten over 30yrs ago is the situation in society is the situation in society

even worse now?even worse now?

The messageThe message The form is important in highlighting the theme The form is important in highlighting the theme

but techniques are used to emphasise the events:but techniques are used to emphasise the events: ImageryImagery

metaphormetaphor““bristling with fragments of glass” (bristling with fragments of glass” (metaphorical metaphorical beard of glass)– pain, tingling (onomatopoeia) beard of glass)– pain, tingling (onomatopoeia)

““starfished” – starfished” – illustration of illustration of young people, vulnerable, young people, vulnerable, exposed, delicateexposed, delicate

Word ChoiceWord Choice

Always remember that Always remember that wordswords themselves are themselves are never shocking/horrifying it is the more never shocking/horrifying it is the more subtle subtle connotationconnotation of the word that conjures of the word that conjures up these images of pain, terror and danger.up these images of pain, terror and danger.

““caught” – caught” – not shocking - connotationsnot shocking - connotations

““arterial” – arterial” – connotations of life bloodconnotations of life blood

““beginning” – beginning” – more to comemore to come

Word ChoiceWord Choicehospital reference/imageryhospital reference/imagery

Throughout the poem there are subtle hints of Throughout the poem there are subtle hints of the pain the couple are suffering and the pain the pain the couple are suffering and the pain that is going to continue if they are to survive that is going to continue if they are to survive the attack.the attack.

““White coat” – White coat” – doctors/surgeonsdoctors/surgeons

““operation” – operation” – doctors/surgeons/operating doctors/surgeons/operating theatretheatre

““smartlysmartly” – clinical/detached like a surgeon” – clinical/detached like a surgeon

Remember Remember

Violent act Violent act Social apathySocial apathy Decline in moralsDecline in morals Shattered dreamsShattered dreams Ruined livesRuined lives IndifferenceIndifference FearFear SympathySympathy