Exploring the Power of Divergent Thinking in Poetry Analysis
Delve into the significance of divergent thinking in the study of poetry through an analysis of Imtiaz Dharker's poem "Tissue." Uncover the multiple interpretations and symbolic meanings within the complex poem, focusing on themes of power, conflict, and the dual nature of paper as both powerful and fragile. Discover how divergent thinking enhances understanding and interpretation of literary works.
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Challenge: What is the purpose of divergent thinking? The Alternative Uses Test Developed by J.P. Guilford in 1967, the Alternative Uses Test stretches your creativity by giving you two minutes to think of as many uses as possible for an everyday object like a chair, coffee mug, or brick. Here s a sample brainstorm for paper clip uses: Hold papers together Cufflinks Earrings Imitation mini-trombone Thing you use to get your sim card out Keeping headphones from getting tangled up Bookmark uses can you think of for a spoon? Your Turn: How many
Why Divergent Thinking? The test measures divergent thinking across four sub- categories: 1 Fluency how many uses you can come up with? 2 Originality how uncommon those uses are (e.g. sim card remover is more uncommon than holding papers together ) 3 Flexibility how many areas your answers cover (e.g. cufflinks and earrings are both accessories, aka one area) 4 Elaboration level of detail in responses; keeping headphones from getting tangled up would be worth more than bookmark . Why is divergent thinking so important in the study of poetry?
Tissue The most complex/difficult poem. There is no simple literal meaning: many interpretations. Impressionistic poem full of symbolic meaning. What does it say about power and conflict? How many uses can you come up with for paper?
First Reading How many of the references to the paper match your divergent thinking list? Are the images presented powerful or fragile? How can you tell? (support your ideas with quotations) Challenge: What is the significance of the references to light?
Context Imtiaz Dharker Born 1954 in Pakistan Brought up in Scotland Scottish Pakistani Muslim Calvinist Adopted by India and Wales. Themes: cultural and geographical displacement, communal conflict and gender. Appeared in a collection of poems about fundamentalism.
Meaning Thin paper can change things and therefore has power. Like the paper in religious books or family histories. But paper is also weak: you can t build a building out of it. Paper has power when used as a map to segregate and control. Paper seems to have power in commerce/finance e.g. receipts but this is an illusion, it s not real like a kite . Paper can be used to create e.g. architect. Human skin, like paper, is fragile.
Stanza 1 What kind of paper is being described? What is light ? I am the way, the truth and the light Allah is the Light of the Heavens and the earth. The power of God can change things (religious power) Light is also used as a metaphor for nature: sunshine/daylight later in the poem.
Stanza 2 and 3 Power of man Enjambment flows onto next stanza (forced stanza break) 1-2, 2-3. Why? Defies restriction and reflects the lack of control that man has (Like in My Last Duchess). Between stanza 1 and 2 it may be to highlight the difference between man and God. No definite answer.
Stanza 4-8 Focus on manmade items: human governments (monoliths) building, maps etc. Man decides how to divide the world and segregates using borders. An example of man trying to have power over nature.
Stanza 6 Receipts are man made and used to control the governance of money. But it s not real power.
Language Ambiguous title and lines No need to understand everything. Focus on Power and Conflict in your analysis. Consider the multiple meanings of tissue: paper and human, both are fragile. Extended metaphor: fragility of human power. Repetition of transparent . Honest clear/see through. Those in power need to be open and honest. Listing aspects of maps to show man s desire to have power and control over nature. Simile: like paper kites . Fragile. Extended metaphor: paper
Structure and form Free verse. No control just like man. Enjambment- shows lack of control Single line stanza final line. Return to the title.
Tissue as a poem about Power A critique of human power. The fragility of man s power and the power of nature. Compares well with Ozymandias and Prelude Paper is a metaphor for human power. The power of nature: nature s power is permanent and stronger than man s power. E.g. the sun is stronger than manmade power. Like Ozymandias, the poem mocks man s power.
Tissue as a poem about Conflict We cause our own conflict: we give things power that don t deserve it such as money and governments. We should treat them as tissue. Symbols of conflict especially terrorism/fundamentalism: Koran, buildings, maps and receipts: religion, cities, borders, politics, money and wealth.
Check your learning Let s apply our divergent thinking. How many interpretations of these phrases can you think of? Luminous script transparent with attention. let the daylight break
Putting it into writing Extended metaphor: a metaphor which is repeated and re-appears in a poem How and why do you think Dharker uses the technique of an extended metaphor in her poem? Can you use the phrase divergent thinking within your response?
Extended response 20mins (AO1,2) If we accept the interpretation that the paper represents human life, what do the images in the poem tell us about Dharker s impression of life? Use the sentence starters below to help you if needed: Dharker presents the image of paper to represent the varied qualities and aspects of human life. The quotation ....... suggests that life is... Additionally the quotation ..... implies Dharker s belief that life ..... Overall the reader is given the impression that human existence..... Challenge: What else could the paper represent? How does this change the message of the poem?
Homework Create a mindmap/table or venn diagram to show how Tissue can be compared with either Ozymandias or The Prelude . Ensure that you use critical terminology and quotations. Extra challenge: turn one of your comparisons into a PEE+E paragraph (level 4).
Venn Diagram: Tissue Ozymandias Tone Message Poetic voice Structural techniques: Line length Enjambment Rhythm/rhyme Language Techniques: Use of imagery Use of metaphor Use of repetition Use of irony Use of contrast
Comparative statements Both of the poems show that human weakness is....... However, the poems present different a contrasting appreciation of human weakness by using...... Both poets use (insert language device)...... to show this, for example.......... In Ozymandias..... Whereas in Tissue..... The impact of these images is to show the reader. The structure of the poems is very different, in Ozymandias............ In both examples they understand that..... On the other hand, in Tissue.... Both of these poets use powerful word choice to demonstrate............. Overall the reader can understand that both poets feel.... For example in Ozymandias the .............. demonstrates.......... However, ultimately...... Similarly in Tissue the ........ shows The readers can therefore interpret.......
