ENGLISH
ENGLISH
IEB POETRY
IEB POETRY
,Poetry Answering Techniques
How to Answer Comparison Questions
Start by your winner: Focus more on the poem/poster/cartoon you think is better.
Give strong reasons why you like it (e.g., clearer message, better visuals, stronger emotional impact,
etc.).
Do NOT just say the opposite about the other one (e.g., if one is clear, don’t just say the other is
confusing — give a different reason).
Mention the second one, but only briefly.
In either your first or last sentence, explain why the second one is not as good (e.g., too busy, unclear
message, less relatable, etc.).
Use different reasons for both – don't just repeat the same idea.
Imagery is the picture created in the reader's mind through words.
Diction: Imagery:
Quote up to two words from the text.
Explain those words using synonyms.
Look at the connotations (what feelings or ideas the words suggest).
Figures of speech:
Quote and identify the figure of speech (e.g. simile, metaphor, personification).
Explain what the two things being compared have in common.
Effectiveness:
Explain why the imagery is powerful. Use words like:
emphasises
highlights
showcases
reinforces
, Enjambment (when a sentence runs onto the next line):
Shows progression of time
Speeds up the pace (creates urgency or breathlessness)
Can sound like a rant or mimic natural speech Structure:
Suggests a journey, development, or emotional flow
Number of lines per stanza:
May reflect the theme or emotional shift
Short stanzas = fragmentation, tension
Long stanzas = overwhelming emotion, flow of thoughts
Length of lines:
Regular lines = control, order, stability
Irregular lines = chaos, tension, unpredictability
Sudden short lines = emphasis or emotional punch
Free verse (no regular rhyme or rhythm):
Suggests emotional honesty
Raw, unfiltered expression
Lack of restriction = freedom of thought
Indentations:
Suggest isolation or separation
Visually mimic actions (e.g. stepping away, entering a space)
Can signal movement into another room, memory, or idea
Repetition:
Emphasises key ideas
Builds intensity or rhythm
Reflects obsession, insistence, or emotional overwhelm
Punctuation:
Rhetorical questions = provoke thought, inner conflict
Can slow down or speed up reading pace
Reflects tone (calm, chaotic, angry, unsure)
Anaphora (repetition of a word/phrase at the start of lines or sentences):
Builds rhythm and structure
Emphasises repeated ideas or emotions
Creates a persuasive or poetic effect
Pronouns: What They Suggest in Texts
I
Suggests authenticity and honesty
Pronouns:
Makes it feel personal and real
Often used to share individual experience or opinion
We
Inclusive and collective tone
Creates a sense of unity, teamwork, or shared responsibility
Builds connection between speaker and reader/audience
You
Direct address – creates a conversational tone
Can feel accusatory or challenging
Instructs, confronts, or engages the reader personally
They / Them
Creates a feeling of distance or separation
Can show othering, bias, or an "us vs them" mentality
Suggests exclusion or detachment
One
Universal tone – applies to anyone and everyone
Sounds formal, objective, and broad
Often used to express general truths or moral points
ENGLISH
IEB POETRY
IEB POETRY
,Poetry Answering Techniques
How to Answer Comparison Questions
Start by your winner: Focus more on the poem/poster/cartoon you think is better.
Give strong reasons why you like it (e.g., clearer message, better visuals, stronger emotional impact,
etc.).
Do NOT just say the opposite about the other one (e.g., if one is clear, don’t just say the other is
confusing — give a different reason).
Mention the second one, but only briefly.
In either your first or last sentence, explain why the second one is not as good (e.g., too busy, unclear
message, less relatable, etc.).
Use different reasons for both – don't just repeat the same idea.
Imagery is the picture created in the reader's mind through words.
Diction: Imagery:
Quote up to two words from the text.
Explain those words using synonyms.
Look at the connotations (what feelings or ideas the words suggest).
Figures of speech:
Quote and identify the figure of speech (e.g. simile, metaphor, personification).
Explain what the two things being compared have in common.
Effectiveness:
Explain why the imagery is powerful. Use words like:
emphasises
highlights
showcases
reinforces
, Enjambment (when a sentence runs onto the next line):
Shows progression of time
Speeds up the pace (creates urgency or breathlessness)
Can sound like a rant or mimic natural speech Structure:
Suggests a journey, development, or emotional flow
Number of lines per stanza:
May reflect the theme or emotional shift
Short stanzas = fragmentation, tension
Long stanzas = overwhelming emotion, flow of thoughts
Length of lines:
Regular lines = control, order, stability
Irregular lines = chaos, tension, unpredictability
Sudden short lines = emphasis or emotional punch
Free verse (no regular rhyme or rhythm):
Suggests emotional honesty
Raw, unfiltered expression
Lack of restriction = freedom of thought
Indentations:
Suggest isolation or separation
Visually mimic actions (e.g. stepping away, entering a space)
Can signal movement into another room, memory, or idea
Repetition:
Emphasises key ideas
Builds intensity or rhythm
Reflects obsession, insistence, or emotional overwhelm
Punctuation:
Rhetorical questions = provoke thought, inner conflict
Can slow down or speed up reading pace
Reflects tone (calm, chaotic, angry, unsure)
Anaphora (repetition of a word/phrase at the start of lines or sentences):
Builds rhythm and structure
Emphasises repeated ideas or emotions
Creates a persuasive or poetic effect
Pronouns: What They Suggest in Texts
I
Suggests authenticity and honesty
Pronouns:
Makes it feel personal and real
Often used to share individual experience or opinion
We
Inclusive and collective tone
Creates a sense of unity, teamwork, or shared responsibility
Builds connection between speaker and reader/audience
You
Direct address – creates a conversational tone
Can feel accusatory or challenging
Instructs, confronts, or engages the reader personally
They / Them
Creates a feeling of distance or separation
Can show othering, bias, or an "us vs them" mentality
Suggests exclusion or detachment
One
Universal tone – applies to anyone and everyone
Sounds formal, objective, and broad
Often used to express general truths or moral points
