Exploring Deeper Truths in Don Paterson's Poetry
Don Paterson delves into the depths of ordinary experiences to unveil profound truths about humanity in his poems, such as "The Ferryman's Arms" and "11:00 Baldovan." Through the use of language, imagery, and thematic exploration, he transcends the mundane to offer insightful reflections on life, death, change, and growing up. By examining seemingly everyday events in a new light, Paterson's poetry reveals the hidden complexities of our existence.
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In this poem, Paterson uses an apparently ordinary experience to explore a deeper truth about humanity. By referring to this and another poem or poems by Don Paterson you have studied discuss how he uses poetry to explore the deeper truths behind ordinary experience.
Commonality (2) Identifying elements of commonality as identified in the question, such as Paterson s use of language to explore deeper truths behind ordinary experiences. Identification of, for example, theme, characterisation, use of imagery, setting, or any other key element. The Ferryman s Arms and 11:00 Baldovan are two poems by Don Paterson. Each of them take an apparently everyday event and turn it into a deeper look at our lives. The Ferryman s Arms would appear to be about a man waiting in an island pub for the Ferry that will fetch him home, however a deeper reading of the text reveals that it could actually be about death. A similar truth is revealed in 11.00 Baldovan when Paterson focuses on two young boys taking a bus journey without adults for the first time. Paterson uses this idea to explore the world and make a wider comment about the effects of change and growing up, leading to the downfall of the community the boys live in.
Commonality (2) Identifying elements of commonality as identified in the question, such as Paterson s use of language to explore deeper truths behind ordinary experiences. Identification of, for example, theme, characterisation, use of imagery, setting, or any other key element. The Ferryman s Arms and 11:00 Baldovan are two poems by Don Paterson. Each of them take an apparently everyday event and turn it into a deeper look at our lives. The Ferryman s Arms would appear to be about a man waiting in an island pub for the Ferry that will fetch him home, however a deeper reading of the text reveals that it could actually be about death and the use of imagery reveals this. A similar truth is revealed in 11.00 Baldovan when Paterson focuses on two young boys taking a bus journey without adult supervision for the first time. Paterson uses this premise to explore the world and make a wider comment about the effects of change and growing up, leading to the demise of the community the boy lives in.
Extract/Printed Text (2) Quote and explain in relation to the question. Add a detailed/insightful comment plus quotation/reference In The Ferryman s Arms there is a clear reference to death when Paterson writes about being drawn to the darkened pool room like a moth . This simile is effective on two levels. First of all, he compares himself to a moth and the pool room to a light. This suggests that he can t help himself in finding something to fill ten minutes. However, the poem has multiple references to Greek mythology and we see that here as a moth represents the soul and we could read it as his soul being taken somewhere. There is another idea of death here as well as the moth is being pulled towards the light, just like the western euphemism for death.
Elsewhere/secondary (6) Identify the point of the question, and then compare this with another poem. Do this three times. The title of the poem, 11:00: Baldovan, reflects its concerns with both time and place. 11:00 is also significant, as it might allude to the 11th hour before the apocalypse.
Elsewhere/secondary (6) Identify the point of the question, and then compare this with another poem. Do this three times. Worrying gets the boy nowhere ...the bus will let us down in another country... It is as if he has no control and can t do anything to stop it. The metaphor another country implies a foreign place that is unfamiliar to the speaker. This image signifies the poem s transition into a metaphorical world to explore the deeper issues about humanity we will all be in unfamiliar places and remember them until the end of time.
Elsewhere/secondary (6) Identify the point of the question, and then compare this with another poem. Do this three times. The bus the boys travelled on becomes a charred wreck . This image of destruction suggests the bus is damaged by its journey through time and could also imply that what is secure and familiar is destroyed by change.
Elsewhere/secondary (6) Identify the point of the question, and then compare this with another poem. Do this three times. The final stanza juxtaposes two alarming images - the black sea encroaching very slowly on the familiar Macalpine Road and the loss of nurturing figures: ...our sisters and mothers are fifty years dead. The sea could represent change itself, ever-present, working slowly, so that you wake up one day to realise you are suddenly on your own. The fifty years emphasises how quickly time can pass, which jars with the slow process of change. This reinforces Paterson s use of human experience in order to tell a deeper story.
Poems to study Waking with Russell The Ferryman s Arms 11:00 Baldovan The Circle Rain Nil Nil still to do
