‘Nettles’ by Vernon Scannell

LO: To explore how Scannell uses imagery and metaphor to convey his

feelings about parenthood

Vernon Scannell

• This poem is about a father protecting his son.• It’s about the dangers of a dark, menacing world

in which nobody and nothing can be saved.• Nature will attack you, be cut down, grow back

and fight you again… just like the military will hunt you down and find you if you leave without consent.

• Scannell is protecting his son from a world he hates and fears.

Vernon Scannell• Sees war in everything • Was a dark character, 85 when he died.• Lived through 2nd World War and the

Cold War.• Joined the army aged 18.• He was addicted to desertion, leaving

the army without consent twice.• He was sent to a psychiatric hospital

the 2nd time.• He had 2 children (1 was handicapped

and died as a young child, the other died in a bike crash as an adult.)

Watch the YouTube clip to listen to the poem

My son aged three fell in the nettle bed. A‘Bed’ seemed a curious name for those green spears, BThat regiment of spite behind the shed:It was no place for rest. With sobs and tears

Oxymoron – emphasises contrast between image of stinging nettles with security of bed. Possession Emotive

Inverted commas suggest contemplation.

Full stop forced reader to slow down

personifies – like a battalion of soldiers

Metaphor – bayonets linked to military/ violence

The boy came seeking comfort and I saw AWhite blisters beaded on his tender skin. BWe soothed him till his pain was not so raw. AAt last he offered us a watery grin, B

Sibilance linked to emphasise the soothing of his injured son

Alliteration emphasises small blisters Shows he’s vulnerable

Protective images

Oxymoronic image – merging laughter of comfort with relief of pain. Reflects changing moods of children

2nd quatrain – language more tender and protective

Dark, violent image

Father anxious for his son to no longer feel pain

And then I took my billhook, honed the blade AAnd went outside and slashed in fury with it BTill not a nettle in that fierce parade AStood upright any more. And then I lit B

3rd quatrain – language changes to being very regimented

Military references

Personification helps to portray military images used when destroying nettles

Anger towards nettles / feeling that he is chopping away at bad memories of the past.

A funeral pyre to burn the fallen dead, ABut in two weeks the busy sun and rain BHad called up tall recruits behind the shed: AMy son would often feel sharp wounds again. B

Last line = negative image. Maybe about loss of his son or about pointlessness of trying to protectyour children.

Metaphor burning the wounded/ dead. Ultimate end reinforced by sounds of consonance

Natural forces

New recruits to replace those who have died

Lost at war

Surreptitious/ furtive

Links back to the beginning/ emotive/ possessive

Clue to deep rooted hatred towards the military

4th quatrain offers clue to his resentment towards military

My son aged three fell in the nettle bed.‘Bed’ seemed a curious name for those green spears,That regiment of spite behind the shed:It was no place for rest. With sobs and tears

The boy came seeking comfort and I sawWhite blisters beaded on his tender skin.We soothed him till his pain was not so raw.At last he offered us a watery grin,

And then I took by billhook, honed the bladeAnd went outside and slashed in fury with itTill not a nettle in that fierce paradeStood upright any more. And then I lit

A funeral pyre to burn the fallen deadBut in two weeks the busy sun and rainHad called up tall recruits behind the shed:My son would often feel sharp wounds again.

Metaphors linked to military

references

Theme: war/ violence/ danger (in nature and the everyday world)

Language• Metaphors are linked to the

military/ war/ painful images.• Anger – there’s danger in all

things. Negative poem. Physical hurts trigger memories of mental scars

• Protective – natural rhyme in poem reflects a nursery rhyme sung to comfort a child.

Structure• Simple ABAB rhyme scheme• Iambic pentameter• 4 quatrains • Simple melodic rhyme

scheme reinforcing sense of nursery rhyme for child.

Compare to: another poem that shows anger and strength of those feelings

NettlesVernon Scannell

How does Scannell use imagery and metaphor to convey his feelings about parenthood?

In your answer explain why Scannell has chosen to use military images to explore ideas about parenthood in this poem.