Technique/idea Key Quotes and analysis
Key themes: What does Britain Numerous references to Britain are
this poem explore? Immigration made, from the ‘scummed cliffs’ to
Hardship the ‘Bedford vans’ to the migrants
being ‘flecked by the chalk of
Britannia’.
The poem is told from the
perspective of a migrant, with
‘swarms’ of other migrants ‘grafting
in’ to Britain.
The poem deals with the
dehumanisation of the migrants,
only after the ‘passport us to life’
can ‘it be human’.
Language: Any patterns Semantic field of sea Throughout the poem, there is a
of language? Poetic imagery semantic field of sea imagery. The
techniques? Eg: similes, Predatory and violent verbs speaker is ‘stowed in the sea’, whilst
metaphors, verbs, etc. Grotesque imagery ‘gobfuls of surf’ drench him. Tourists
Pathetic fallacy are ‘lording the ministered waves’, a
Plosives play on words to the British
Anthimeria government, lords and ministers,
whilst ‘seagull and shoal life’ fly
above him.
The predatory, militaristic verb
‘invade’ mirrors the nationalist
attitude of immigrants “stealing our
jobs”. The migrants deal with the
‘lash of the diesel breeze’, the
violent verbs foreshadowing the
anger that they face in seeking a
better life.
Grotesque imagery of ‘gobfuls of
surf phlegmed’ suggest the
disrespect and prejudice the
immigrants face. Could also link to
how some are spat on by
xenophobic people.
Pathetic fallacy of ‘thunder
unbladders’ symbolises the hatred
and misery that immigrants go
through just for seeking a better life.
The plosives ‘poling sparks across
pylon and pylon’ mimics the waves
crashing, as well as the feelings of
displacement and misery felt.
Anthimeria is used to reference
Tony Blair with ‘Blair’d’ to allude to
his policies concerning immigration
which caused nationalist backlash.
Key themes: What does Britain Numerous references to Britain are
this poem explore? Immigration made, from the ‘scummed cliffs’ to
Hardship the ‘Bedford vans’ to the migrants
being ‘flecked by the chalk of
Britannia’.
The poem is told from the
perspective of a migrant, with
‘swarms’ of other migrants ‘grafting
in’ to Britain.
The poem deals with the
dehumanisation of the migrants,
only after the ‘passport us to life’
can ‘it be human’.
Language: Any patterns Semantic field of sea Throughout the poem, there is a
of language? Poetic imagery semantic field of sea imagery. The
techniques? Eg: similes, Predatory and violent verbs speaker is ‘stowed in the sea’, whilst
metaphors, verbs, etc. Grotesque imagery ‘gobfuls of surf’ drench him. Tourists
Pathetic fallacy are ‘lording the ministered waves’, a
Plosives play on words to the British
Anthimeria government, lords and ministers,
whilst ‘seagull and shoal life’ fly
above him.
The predatory, militaristic verb
‘invade’ mirrors the nationalist
attitude of immigrants “stealing our
jobs”. The migrants deal with the
‘lash of the diesel breeze’, the
violent verbs foreshadowing the
anger that they face in seeking a
better life.
Grotesque imagery of ‘gobfuls of
surf phlegmed’ suggest the
disrespect and prejudice the
immigrants face. Could also link to
how some are spat on by
xenophobic people.
Pathetic fallacy of ‘thunder
unbladders’ symbolises the hatred
and misery that immigrants go
through just for seeking a better life.
The plosives ‘poling sparks across
pylon and pylon’ mimics the waves
crashing, as well as the feelings of
displacement and misery felt.
Anthimeria is used to reference
Tony Blair with ‘Blair’d’ to allude to
his policies concerning immigration
which caused nationalist backlash.
