The Lotos-eaters and Choric Song

Hello class and welcome to my blog.

Today we entered class with a list of previous poems we had studied. the list consisted of: Ulysses, Tithonus, Godiva, The Lady of Shalott and Mariana. We then had to pick the odd one out and choose a reason for why we thought this. (if you weren't in, it would be good if you can think about this.)

Next, we were given song A and B. Each piece we listened to, and had to say how the instruments, tone, pitch or voice created the possible theme the music could be. For example, song A had deep male voices, signifying that it could be a thriller or a killing could be occuring. Song B however, was a much more softer tone and slower pace showing that it could be a love piece.

After that, we had to write down our own responsibilities and things we like doing. For example Homework is one responsibility but watching Tv is something we enjoy (depending on what we like.) Keep the previous taks in mind as it links to the poem we studied called `The Lotos-eaters and Choric Song.` This is perhaps the most complex poem yet, so spend significant time on it. The poem contrasts the character's views of work and pleasure, after many years fighting at war.

The next half of the lesson was mainly disscussion about the poem. We concluded that an Anaphora was a consecutive repeat of a word, either at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle and we also learnt that sibilance is alliteration of the letter (S). The structure of the poem is always changing throughout the piece due to the Choric Song and narrative style stanza's taking turns after the first 5 stanzas. Afterwards, we were brought to the idea of a Spenserian Stanza- this is a stanza with 9 lines and the rhyming pattern of; ABABBCBCC. Another technique is used in the poem and this is called Assonance; this is sound based repetition, usually of a vowel sound.

Homework: Analyse the sibilance, Anaphora and Assonance of the poem. Bear in mind AO2 and AO4 due to the poem being about men on drugs, who are angry about their lives- linking to the death of Tennyson's Hallam. (The Choric Song stanza's sound like chanting when we read them as a class.) Remember, that the drugs have made them forget about returing home, thats why they are in the current situation of being on the island.

Hope this helped!!

Chris W :)