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BlessingImtiaz Dharker
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Learning IntentionsKey Teaching Points: To read the poem To
consider how thepoem presentspeople and their wayof life
Key Terms: Metaphor Image
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ThePoet
Imtiaz Dharker
wasborninLahorein1954,grewupinBritainandnowlivesinIndia.Shegrewupina
MuslimfamilyinGlasgow.ShemovedtoBombay
whereshemarriedaHindu,AnilDharker,former
editorofDebonairandwell-knowncolumnist.Shesaysthatsheenjoysthetransitionfromoneculture
andcountrytoanother.ShedescribedBombayasa
cityheldupwithstringandsellotape.Shepublished
abookofpoemscalledPostcardsfromGod.Shedescribesthisasbeingaboutaveryconfused,
human,god.
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Blessing
WhatcanthewordBlessingmean?
AgiftfromGodANDaprayerforaspecialoccasion.
Nowreadthepoem.
Whatblessingisbeingreferredto?
ThecentralmetaphorofthepoemistheideaofwaterasagiftfromGod.
Lookatstanzas1&2whatsituationisdescribed?
Lookatstanzas3&4whateventsarebeingdescribed?
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There are a number of different possible reactions to
thescenario presented in this poem. The poet does notexpress any
opinion directly but presents us with a series ofimages.Think about
the possible reactions. The reader could:
Be angry about the water shortagePity the people who have to
live without a constantwater supplyBlame these people for their own
povertyShare their excitement when the pipe burstsSee their
excitement as patheticSee life as fragile and easily damagedSee
life as beautifulThink their suffering is intense.
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Blessing: the imagesImages EffectTheskincrackslikeapod
Thevoiceofakindlygod
Thesuddenrush/of
fortune
Silvercrashestothe
ground
Aroaroftongues
Frantichands
Theliquidsun
Theirhighlightspolishedto
perfection
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Whatimpactmighteachimagehaveon
thereader?
Afewhints:
Podadisturbingimage
Drip/kindlygodacontradiction?(ifthegodiskindlywhyonlyadrip?
Highlightspolishedseemsinanimate
smallbonesweak?Isbeautyfragile?
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Language and StructureNote:
Theuseofshortandlongsentences.Where
dotheyoccurandwhy?
Thelistofobjectswhatsortarethey?
Theunequalstanzalengthswhymightthis
be?
Thewaythepoemaddressesthereader
directlywiththewordImagine.....
Whatistheeffectofthesefeatures?
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Comparing Poems for the ExamForHomework:
MakecomparisonswithIslandMan
andTwoScavengersintermsof:
Howpeoplearepresented Thewritersattitudetothepeopletheyare
writingabout
Themostsignificantfeaturesoftheways
thepoemsarewritten.
