• Write down what you think the phrase “Skating on thin ice” means. What sort of phrase is this?

Starter

Write down what you think the phrase “Skating on thin ice” means. What sort of phrase is this?• Doing something difficult, dangerous, likely to

fail or offend.• It is a metaphor.

Starter

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz Loxley

As we study this poem you will learn:• The true story of the poem • More about the terms,

Metaphor: Free Verse: Repetition:Pace & Rhythm

• You will also complete some mini tasks and an Exam question on the poem.

• NOTE: This poem will be set as a question in the Final Exam.

Learning Objectives

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz Loxley

At first we’ll meet as friends(Though secretly I’ll be hopingwe’ll become much moreand hoping that you’re hoping that too)

At first we’ll be like skaterstesting the thickness of ice(with each meetingwe’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake)

Later we will become less anxious to impressless eager than the skater going for gold.(The triple jumps and spinswill become an old routine:we will become content with simple movements).

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,the creeping cracks will be ignored.(And one day when the ice gives waywe will scramble to save ourselvesand not each other.)

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances(though secretly we’ll be enemies,hurt by missing out on a medal,jealous of new partners).

Last of all we’ll be like childrenHaving learnt the thinness of ice,(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,to break the ice between usand maybe meet again as friends.)

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz Loxley

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz Loxley

MINI TASK 1What do you think is the ‘story’ of the poem?

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyThe Story of the Poem

MINI TASK 1What do you think is the ‘story’ of the poem? The poem is not about ice skating, That is its subject, but not its theme, central idea or what the poet is trying to say! The whole poem is an extended metaphor that uses ‘ice’ and ‘ice skating’ as a way to describes how a couple meet, form a relationship, break up and eventually reconcile their differences. In the poem a Boy and Girl meet as friends and fall passionately in love. The newness of the relationship wears off, it becomes a routine and the passion dies. They break up and meet new people, but become jealous of each other’s new partner and they secretly hate each other a little. A few years go by but when they meet again they still feel a pull towards each other so there is a possible new beginning for them........as friends. Full circle!

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyStructure & Composition

MINI TASK 2How is the poem structured and composed?

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyStructure & Composition

MINI TASK 2How is the poem structured and composed?

The poem is composed of 6 stanzas of 4 or 5 lines. Line length is also uneven, varying between 5-10 syllables. It has no formal rhyme scheme and so it is written in Free Verse. There are however a few examples of alliteration in the poem.

MINI TASK 3. a) Identify the examples of alliteration in the poem. b) What is the effect of the alliteration?

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyStructure & Composition

MINI TASK 3. a) Identify the examples of alliteration in the poem. b) What is the effect of the alliteration? Adds rhythm to the poemAt first we’ll meet as friends(Though secretly I’ll be hopingwe’ll become much moreand hoping that you’re hoping that too)

At first we’ll be like skaterstesting the thickness of ice(with each meetingwe’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake)

Later we will become less anxious to impressless eager than the skater going for gold.(The triple jumps and spinswill become an old routine:we will become content with simple movements).

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,the creeping cracks will be ignored.(And one day when the ice gives waywe will scramble to save ourselvesand not each other.)

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances(though secretly we’ll be enemies,hurt by missing out on a medal,jealous of new partners).

Last of all we’ll be like childrenHaving learnt the thinness of ice,(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,to break the ice between usand maybe meet again as friends.)

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature - Repetition

MINI TASK 4. a) Identify the examples of repetition in the poem. b) Can you identify any patterns to the repetition? c) What is the effect of the repetition?

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature - Repetition

MINI TASK 4. a) Identify the examples of repetition in the poem.

At first we’ll meet as friends(Though secretly I’ll be hopingwe’ll become much moreand hoping that you’re hoping that too)

At first we’ll be like skaterstesting the thickness of ice(with each meetingwe’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake)

Later we will become less anxious to impressless eager than the skater going for gold.(The triple jumps and spinswill become an old routine:we will become content with simple movements).

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,the creeping cracks will be ignored.(And one day when the ice gives waywe will scramble to save ourselvesand not each other.)

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances(though secretly we’ll be enemies,hurt by missing out on a medal,jealous of new partners).

Last of all we’ll be like childrenHaving learnt the thinness of ice,(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,to break the ice between usand maybe meet again as friends.)

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature - Repetition

MINI TASK 4. b) Repetition in the poem – Patterning 1 – Friendship & hope.

At first we’ll meet as friends(Though secretly I’ll be hopingwe’ll become much moreand hoping that you’re hoping that too)

At first we’ll be like skaterstesting the thickness of ice(with each meetingwe’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake)

Later we will become less anxious to impressless eager than the skater going for gold.(The triple jumps and spinswill become an old routine:we will become content with simple movements).

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,the creeping cracks will be ignored.(And one day when the ice gives waywe will scramble to save ourselvesand not each other.)

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances(though secretly we’ll be enemies,hurt by missing out on a medal,jealous of new partners).

Last of all we’ll be like childrenHaving learnt the thinness of ice,(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,to break the ice between usand maybe meet again as friends.)

c) The poem starts and ends as ‘friends’ and with ‘hope’.

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature - Repetition

MINI TASK 4. b) Repetition in the poem – Patterning 2 – First, later, last.

At first we’ll meet as friends(Though secretly I’ll be hopingwe’ll become much moreand hoping that you’re hoping that too)

At first we’ll be like skaterstesting the thickness of ice(with each meetingwe’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake)

Later we will become less anxious to impressless eager than the skater going for gold.(The triple jumps and spinswill become an old routine:we will become content with simple movements).

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,the creeping cracks will be ignored.(And one day when the ice gives waywe will scramble to save ourselvesand not each other.)

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances(though secretly we’ll be enemies,hurt by missing out on a medal,jealous of new partners).

Last of all we’ll be like childrenHaving learnt the thinness of ice,(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,to break the ice between usand maybe meet again as friends.)

c) This breaks the poem into phases or stages.

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature - Repetition

MINI TASK 4. b) Repetition in the poem – Patterning 3 – We will,

At first we’ll meet as friends(Though secretly I’ll be hopingwe’ll become much moreand hoping that you’re hoping that too)

At first we’ll be like skaterstesting the thickness of ice(with each meetingwe’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake)

Later we will become less anxious to impressless eager than the skater going for gold.(The triple jumps and spinswill become an old routine:we will become content with simple movements).

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,the creeping cracks will be ignored.(And one day when the ice gives waywe will scramble to save ourselvesand not each other.)

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances(though secretly we’ll be enemies,hurt by missing out on a medal,jealous of new partners).

Last of all we’ll be like childrenHaving learnt the thinness of ice,(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,to break the ice between usand maybe meet again as friends.)

c) The frequent use of ‘we will’ emphasizes the relationship that is at the heart of the poem.

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature - Repetition

MINI TASK 4. b) Repetition in the poem – Patterning 4 – Thick or thin?

At first we’ll meet as friends(Though secretly I’ll be hopingwe’ll become much moreand hoping that you’re hoping that too)

At first we’ll be like skaterstesting the thickness of ice(with each meetingwe’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake)

Later we will become less anxious to impressless eager than the skater going for gold.(The triple jumps and spinswill become an old routine:we will become content with simple movements).

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,the creeping cracks will be ignored.(And one day when the ice gives waywe will scramble to save ourselvesand not each other.)

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances(though secretly we’ll be enemies,hurt by missing out on a medal,jealous of new partners).

Last of all we’ll be like childrenHaving learnt the thinness of ice,(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,to break the ice between usand maybe meet again as friends.)

c) The use of ‘skater/skating forms part of the core ice metaphor in the poem. Thick & Thin are opposites….opposite ends of the relationship….optimism versus realism or hope versus experience?

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature - Metaphor

The main key feature of this poem is METAPHOR as the whole poem is an extended metaphor that uses ice and ice-skating to describe a couple’s relationship. Because of the complex nature or the metaphor you need to look at each stanza individually to work out what the poet is trying say about this relationship.

MINI TASK 5 In groups discuss your given stanza and try to identify what the poet is trying to say and how she uses Ice as a metaphor in that stanza. On the board write a short summary of what you have discovered about your stanza.

At first we’ll meet as friends(Though secretly I’ll be hopingwe’ll become much moreand hoping that you’re hoping that too)

The couple meet and are attracted to each other but they are shy with each other at first. Both hope that the other feels the same about them.

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature – Metaphor

Stanza 1

At first we’ll be like skaterstesting the thickness of ice(with each meetingwe’ll skate nearer the centre of the lake)

The metaphor starts here….you don’t skate straight out into the centre of a frozen lake, you test it first. The same with a relationship, you try to get to know each other before you commit. Strength of ice = strength of growing relationship.

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature – Metaphor

Stanza 2

Later we will become less anxious to impressless eager than the skater going for gold.(The triple jumps and spinswill become an old routine:we will become content with simple movements).

As the couple get to know each other they do not feel the need to make constant impressive gestures to each other, ex. flowers or being taken out for a meal on every date. What were the complexities of the relationship at the start will become the commonplace, and they become content with that. Complacency begins to set in as they take each other for granted. ‘Going for gold’ can be seen as a reference to the gold of a wedding ring, a ‘medal’ that most women and some men wear to show their marital status.

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature – Metaphor

Stanza 3

Complacency and taking each other for granted begins to destroy the relationship. As ice thaws it thins and will eventually crack: so too with this relationship. When the cracks reach the point where the ice gives way, metaphorically this symbolizes break up of the relationship (divorce). At this point instead of trying to save the relationship the couple are only interested in saving themselves.

Later we will not notice the steady thaw,the creeping cracks will be ignored.(And one day when the ice gives waywe will scramble to save ourselvesand not each other.)

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature – Metaphor

Stanza 4

If they were married they have now divorced and time has passed, but the wounds caused by their breakup have not healed and there is a sense of bitterness and hatred here. ‘Medals’ are a metaphor for the trappings of life a couple usually acquire; nice house and car etc…and children/grandchildren. The jealousy is not metaphorical, but the fact there is jealousy shows they still have feelings for each other. Interestingly the poem seems to assume that both characters experience the same feelings .

Last of all we’ll meet as acquaintances(though secretly we’ll be enemies,hurt by missing out on a medal,jealous of new partners).

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature – Metaphor

Stanza 5

The final stanza of the poem returns us to the start, but now the ‘ice’ is measured by its thinness, not thickness; or the relationship by its weakness not strength. The reference to children is interesting as they have an innocent, unspoiled view of the world, adults tend to be more skeptical and cynical. Still, the poem does end on an optimistic note with the hope the couple can once again become friends .

Note the metaphorical ice moves a metaphorical 90° in this stanza, from ice that they skate on, to a wall that comes between them. This time ‘thawing’ is a good thing as it means the bitterness they felt is fading and now it is the thinness of the ice that is important, not its thickness.

Last of all we’ll be like childrenHaving learnt the thinness of ice,(Though secretly perhaps we may be hoping,to break the ice between usand maybe meet again as friends.)

The Thickness Of Ice - Liz LoxleyKey Feature – Metaphor

Stanza 6