Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

It's lovely to see you here today.

My name's Dr.

Clayton, and I'm here to guide you to your learning journey today.

So today's lesson is called Writing about the self and the world with Simon Armitage.

So we're going to reflect on what Armitage says about the nature of poetry and the process of writing poetry, before you have a good writing your own poem.

So if you're ready, grab your pen, laptop, whatever you use for this lesson and let's get started.

So by the end of the lesson, you will be able to follow Armitage's advice on writing a poem about a newsworthy event or about the self.

So we have four words today we're going to be using as our keywords.

They'll be identified in bold throughout the learning material.

And I'll try to point them out as well, so you can see them being used in context.

So our first word is communicate, which is to share or exchange information, news, ideas or feelings.

Armitage says that poetry is about trying to communicate an idea or an emotion to the reader.

Our second keyword is metaphor, which means a word or phrase used to describe something as if it was something else.

Armitage suggests we use metaphors in everyday life all of the time.

Our third keyword is provoke, which means to excite to some action or feeling.

Armitage suggests that the inspiration of our poetry can be provoked by situations.

And our final keyword is impact, which is to have a strong effect or influence on a situation or person.

We're going to be thinking about how Armitage's ideas about poetry might impact you and the way you see poetry.

So I'll just get you to write down those keywords and their definitions.

So pause the video, write them down now.

Fantastic.

Let's get started with the lesson.

So we have three learning cycles in our lesson today.

For our first learning cycle, we're going to reflect on what Armitage says about poetry and think about how it might impact the way we see poetry.

For our second learning cycle, we're going to think about what Armitage says about the process of writing poetry.

And for our third learning cycle, Armitage is gonna set up a task about writing a poem about the self or the world.

So here are some of the things that Armitage has said about poetry.

Poetry has more in common with sculpture because its shape reflects its meaning.

Poetry exists everywhere in society because we use poetic languages such as metaphors all of the time.

So we're constantly referring to something by comparing it to something else.

Poetry is about trying to communicate an idea or an emotion to the reader.

Every word in a poem has been chosen for a specific reason.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

So which of the following has Armitage said about poetry? Is it A: It has more in common with prose than sculpture, B: It doesn't exist in everyday life, or C: It tries to communicate an idea or an emotion? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now Armitage says poetry has more in common with sculpture because of the way its shape connects to its meaning.

And he says that poetry exists in everyday life.

So the correct answer is C, it tries to communicate an idea or an emotion.

So very well done if you've got those right.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now at the first task of the lesson.

Now what I'd like you to do is reflect on these ideas that poetry has more in common with sculpture because its shape reflects its meaning.

Poetry exists everywhere in society because we use poetic language such as metaphors all of the time.

Poetry is about trying to communicate an idea or an emotion to the reader.

Every word in a poem has been chosen for a specific reason.

Now, what I'd like you to think about is which idea do you think has the most impact on you and how you think about poetry? So which idea do you think has the strongest effect on you? Why? I'd like you to write a short answer to explain your ideas.

So pause the video, write your answer now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great work there.

What I'd like you to do is share your answer with a peer and reflect on the following: So, did you have similar or different ideas about which idea had the most impact on you? Why? How do you think those ideas might affect the way you approach poetry going forwards? So pause the video, reflect on the questions now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now this is an entirely subjective question.

Everyone might have completely different ideas about which of Armitage's ideas have the most impact on them.

Amazing work, everyone.

We're now at the second learning cycle.

We're going to listen to Armitage talk about the process of writing poetry.

So we're going to begin by listening to Armitage talk about where he gets his ideas from.

Now, we're going to watch this video through twice to make sure you can take in all of the information.

On this first watch, I'd like you to answer following questions.

So question one, what does Armitage say about where his ideas come from? Question two, what has Armitage previously said to students is important? And question three, what does Armitage worry about? So let's watch the video now.

<v ->There was an Irish poet, Michael Longley,</v> who was once asked where he got his ideas from, and he said, "I don't know.

If I did know, I'd go and get more of them." And I know exactly what he means.

I don't really know where the ideas come from.

All I know is that occasionally I find myself writing a poem.

I've talked a lot to students about the importance of daydreaming, about just letting the mind tumble forward and gather up a little bit of language.

Just letting one thought drift onto the next.

And one of my worries about the, you know, the social media age that we live in is that we don't give ourselves time to daydream anymore because whenever there's a gap in a conversation, we just get our devices out and our attention is taken off in another direction.

So I'm a big fan of the daydream and just sort of goofing off and, you know, letting the brain wander and meander.

Sometimes poems are provoked by situations.

Sometimes they're sparked by overhearing something or something will catch your eye.

I think you have to be in a certain mood to write a poem.

And all the poets I know are not in that mood all the time, which is what makes poetry, I suppose, kind of rare, really.

And I'm never able to put myself in that mood.

I'm either up for it or I'm not.

<v ->Welcome back, everyone.

</v> I really hope you enjoyed the video.

Now, Armitage says he doesn't know where the ideas come from.

He's previously talked to students about the importance of daydreaming, and he worries we don't give ourselves enough time to daydream in the modern media world.

So now we're going to watch the video again.

This time I'd like you to answer following question: What does Armitage say can spark inspiration for a poem? So let's watch the video again.

<v ->There was an Irish poet, Michael Longley,</v> who was once asked where he got his ideas from, and he said, "I don't know.

If I did know, I'd go and get more of them." And I know exactly what he means.

I don't really know where the ideas come from.

All I know is that occasionally I find myself writing a poem.

I've talked a lot to students about the importance of daydreaming, about just letting the mind tumble forward and gather up a little bit of language.

Just letting one thought drift onto the next.

And one of my worries about the, you know, the social media age that we live in is that we don't give ourselves time to daydream anymore because whenever there's a gap in a conversation, we just get our devices out and our attention is taken off in another direction.

So I'm a big fan of the daydream and just sort of goofing off and, you know, letting the brain wander and meander.

Sometimes poems are provoked by situations.

Sometimes they're sparked by overhearing something or something will catch your eye.

I think you have to be in a certain mood to write a poem.

And all the poets I know are not in that mood all the time, which is what makes poetry, I suppose, kind of rare, really.

And I'm never able to put myself in that mood.

I'm either up for it or I'm not.

<v ->Welcome back, everyone.

</v> Armitage says poems can be provoked by situations, sparked by overhearing something or having something catch your eye.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false Armitage doesn't see the value in daydreaming? Pause the video and take a few moments to think about it.

Now the correct answer is false.

Now I'd like to tell me why it's false.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said: Armitage suggests that daydreaming and letting the mind wander are important for finding inspiration for writing.

So very well done if you've got those right.

So now I'd like us to listen to Armitage talk about how to find interesting perspective to write from.

Now again, I'm gonna watch the video through twice.

On this first watch I'd like you to answer the following questions: So question one: What does Armitage say that poetry does best? And question two: What does Armitage say that writing poetry is all to do with? So let's watch the video now.

<v ->I always feel that what poetry does best is</v> to describe the universal through the particular.

So you can talk about really big issues by focusing on very fine details.

And I think as readers we understand what's being conveyed there.

It's all to do with metaphor and comparison.

Because I think when you make comparisons, you don't just understand them, you comprehend them, you feel them at an experiential level.

And I think that's what we do as humans all the time.

We're always comparing one thing with another.

It's a very human trait.

And so if you talk about something small and apparently unrelated, but which is clearly related to the bigger picture, you will end up saying something about the bigger picture.

I can't remember who said this, but they, it was something along the lines of, if you try and write a poem about the meaning of life, you will end up staring at a brick wall.

But if you try and write a poem about a brick wall, you might end up saying something about the meaning of life.

I think that's what I'm trying to say.

<v ->Welcome back, everyone.

</v> Armitage says poetry describes the universal through the particular.

He says that writing poetry is all to do with using metaphors and comparisons.

Because as human beings, we make comparisons all of the time.

So now we're going to watch the video again.

This time I'd like you to answer following question: What final message does Armitage leave us with? So let's watch the video again.

<v ->I always feel that what poetry does best is</v> to describe the universal through the particular.

So you can talk about really big issues by focusing on very fine details.

And I think as readers we understand what's being conveyed there.

It's all to do with metaphor and comparison.

Because I think when you make comparisons, you don't just understand them, you comprehend them, you feel them at an experiential level.

And I think that's what we do as humans all the time.

We're always comparing one thing with another.

It's a very human trait.

And so if you talk about something small and apparently unrelated, but which is clearly related to the bigger picture, you will end up saying something about the bigger picture.

I can't remember who said this, but they, it was something along the lines of, if you try and write a poem about the meaning of life, you will end up staring at a brick wall.

But if you try and write a poem about a brick wall, you might end up saying something about the meaning of life.

I think that's what I'm trying to say.

<v ->Welcome back, everyone.

</v> You might have said: Armitage says if you try to write a poem about the meaning of life, you'll end up staring at a brick wall.

But if you try to write a poem about a brick wall, then you might say something about the meaning of life.

So now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is tell me whether the following statement is true or false.

Is it true or false that Armitage suggests that metaphor is an effective way to communicate? Pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Now the correct answer is true.

Now I'd like you to tell me why it's true.

So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

You might have said, Armitage says that, as human beings, we use metaphors and comparisons all of the time.

So very well done if you've got those right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

We're now at the second task of the lesson.

Now what I'd like you to do is write a summary of what Armitage says about the process of writing poetry.

Now a summary is a short, clear description that gives the main facts or ideas about something.

And I'd like you to try and include: what Armitage says is important to do when thinking of ideas.

What Armitage says that writing poetry is all to do with.

So pause the video, write your summary now.

Welcome back, everyone.

Some great work there.

What I'd like you to do is think about Izzy's summary and whether or not you agree.

So Izzy said, "Armitage says it's important to allow yourself time to daydream and let your mind wander when you're trying to think of ideas.

Furthermore, he says that poetry is all to do with creating metaphors and comparisons because we as human beings are always comparing one thing to another." So pause the video, think about whether or not you agree with Izzy.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now moving on to the third learning cycle, where you are going to have a go at writing your own poem.

Amazing work, everyone.

And now the third learning cycle, where we're going to listen to Armitage set up a writing task.

Then you are going to have a go at writing your own poem.

So we are going to watch Armitage set up a poetic writing task.

Now we're going to watch this video three times through because there's a lot of information to take in.

On this first watch, I'd like you to answer the following question: What does Armitage say he does when he is writing about a newsworthy event? So let's watch the video.

<v ->I always think with poetry</v> that you should do the opposite of what you're being told to do.

So if somebody asks you to write a poem about red, go and write a poem about green.

Poetry is very unbiddable.

It's very contrary.

And so I'm slightly hesitant about setting a task because I think if I do, I want you to actually go and do something else.

But if you want a task to write about a current event, about a news event, one thing that I often do is to watch the news with the sound turned down.

So all you get are the pictures.

And you might want to focus on a particular news item where you'll get, you know, the news reader saying something that you don't quite understand.

And then you'll go to images and pictures of what's being described and maybe a reporter on the ground.

And I think that's a good time for writing.

Watch what's happening and then write your own commentary as a poem into that space.

Write a poetic news report rather than listening to what they're saying and using their language and their words.

I've always found that profitable and fruitful and interesting.

If you want to write a poem about yourself, I would say don't.

Try writing a poem without using the word "I." Try and come at you from an outside perspective.

Maybe make a list of words that you think characterises you or words that you like.

Another thing you could do would be to find a photograph that's got you in it, which gives you a kind of external view of yourself.

And then write about that photograph.

Write about the colours in the photograph.

Write about the time of day, write about the temperature, write about what happened yesterday, what happened the next day.

Write about what's going on in the top left hand corner of the photograph that you've never noticed before.

Write about something that somebody's saying, either inside the photograph or just outside it.

But just try and think of a device or a way of coming at a subject which is slightly different.

And I'll give you an example.

When I was younger, I tried to write a poem about something that had happened to me in our family that was very important.

I wrote this poem about four times.

I kept taking it into class, wasn't getting anywhere, probably getting worse and worse each time.

And eventually the teacher said, "Okay, you need to bring, you need a different angle of approach here." So I said, "I don't know what you mean." And he said, "All right, bring the dog in." And I said we didn't have a dog.

He said, "Alright, bring next door's dog in." And they didn't have a dog either.

There wasn't a dog for about a 50 mile radius.

But eventually I remembered, in my grandma's house where this incident had taken place, there was a pot dog, an ornament on the mantelpiece, and it used to change colour with the weather.

And I just wrote about this ornament because it was a family heirloom and it became a metaphor for the way the temperature in the room had changed around this particular event.

It became a metaphor for the whole thing.

So yeah, don't try and hit a subject head on.

Try and find a slightly weird or stranger or different angle or route into the subject that might be very familiar to you.

And you're likely to come up with unusual language, fresh language, language that readers will find engaging.

<v ->Welcome back, everyone.

</v> Now Armitage says he often watches the news with the sound turned down.

He watches what's happening through the images, then he writes his own commentary as a poem to create a poetic news report.

So now we're going to watch the video again, and this time I'd like you to answer the following questions.

So question one: What does Armitage say about writing a poem about yourself? And question two: What advice does he give? So let's watch the video again.

<v ->I always think with poetry</v> that you should do the opposite of what you're being told to do.

So if somebody asks you to write a poem about red, go and write a poem about green.

Poetry is very unbiddable.

It's very contrary.

And so I'm slightly hesitant about setting a task because I think if I do, I want you to actually go and do something else.

But if you want a task to write about a current event, about a news event, one thing that I often do is to watch the news with the sound turned down.

So all you get are the pictures.

And you might want to focus on a particular news item where you'll get, you know, the news reader saying something that you don't quite understand.

And then you'll go to images and pictures of what's being described and maybe a reporter on the ground.

And I think that's a good time for writing.

Watch what's happening and then write your own commentary as a poem into that space.

Write a poetic news report rather than listening to what they're saying and using their language and their words.

I've always found that profitable and fruitful and interesting.

If you want to write a poem about yourself, I would say don't.

Try writing a poem without using the word "I." Try and come at you from an outside perspective.

Maybe make a list of words that you think characterises you or words that you like.

Another thing you could do would be to find a photograph that's got you in it, which gives you a kind of external view of yourself.

And then write about that photograph.

Write about the colours in the photograph.

Write about the time of day, write about the temperature, write about what happened yesterday, what happened the next day.

Write about what's going on in the top left hand corner of the photograph that you've never noticed before.

Write about something that somebody's saying, either inside the photograph or just outside it.

But just try and think of a device or a way of coming at a subject which is slightly different.

And I'll give you an example.

When I was younger, I tried to write a poem about something that had happened to me in our family that was very important.

I wrote this poem about four times.

I kept taking it into class, wasn't getting anywhere, probably getting worse and worse each time.

And eventually the teacher said, "Okay, you need to bring, you need a different angle of approach here." So I said, "I don't know what you mean." And he said, "All right, bring the dog in." And I said we didn't have a dog.

He said, "Alright, bring next door's dog in." And they didn't have a dog either.

There wasn't a dog for about a 50 mile radius.

But eventually I remembered, in my grandma's house where this incident had taken place, there was a pot dog, an ornament on the mantelpiece, and it used to change colour with the weather.

And I just wrote about this ornament because it was a family heirloom and it became a metaphor for the way the temperature in the room had changed around this particular event.

It became a metaphor for the whole thing.

So yeah, don't try and hit a subject head on, try and find a slightly weird or stranger or different angle or route into the subject that might be very familiar to you.

And you're likely to come up with unusual language, fresh language, language that readers will find engaging.

<v ->Welcome back, everyone.

</v> Armitage says you should try to write about yourself from an outside perspective.

He says you might make a list of words that characterise you or find a photograph with you in it and write about the photograph.

So for example, the colours, the temperature, or what's in the background.

So now we're going to watch the video for the final time.

This time I'd like you to answer the following question: So what example does Armitage give of approaching a subject from a different angle? So let's watch the video again.

<v ->I always think with poetry</v> that you should do the opposite of what you're being told to do.

So if somebody asks you to write a poem about red, go and write a poem about green.

Poetry is very unbiddable.

It's very contrary.

And so I'm slightly hesitant about setting a task because I think if I do, I want you to actually go and do something else.

But if you want a task to write about a current event, about a news event, one thing that I often do is to watch the news with the sound turned down.

So all you get are the pictures.

And you might want to focus on a particular news item where you'll get, you know, the news reader saying something that you don't quite understand.

And then you'll go to images and pictures of what's being described and maybe a reporter on the ground.

And I think that's a good time for writing.

Watch what's happening and then write your own commentary as a poem into that space.

Write a poetic news report rather than listening to what they're saying and using their language and their words.

I've always found that profitable and fruitful and interesting.

If you want to write a poem about yourself, I would say don't.

Try writing a poem without using the word "I." Try and come at you from an outside perspective.

Maybe make a list of words that you think characterises you or words that you like.

Another thing you could do would be to find a photograph that's got you in it, which gives you a kind of external view of yourself.

And then write about that photograph.

Write about the colours in the photograph.

Write about the time of day, write about the temperature, write about what happened yesterday, what happened the next day.

Write about what's going on in the top left hand corner of the photograph that you've never noticed before.

Write about something that somebody's saying, either inside the photograph or just outside it.

But just try and think of a device or a way of coming at a subject which is slightly different.

And I'll give you an example.

When I was younger, I tried to write a poem about something that had happened to me in our family that was very important.

I wrote this poem about four times.

I kept taking it into class, wasn't getting anywhere, probably getting worse and worse each time.

And eventually the teacher said, "Okay, you need to bring, you need a different angle of approach here." So I said, "I don't know what you mean." And he said, "All right, bring the dog in." And I said we didn't have a dog.

He said, "Alright, bring next door's dog in." And they didn't have a dog either.

There wasn't a dog for about a 50 mile radius.

But eventually I remembered, in my grandma's house where this incident had taken place, there was a pot dog, an ornament on the mantelpiece, and it used to change colour with the weather.

And I just wrote about this ornament because it was a family heirloom and it became a metaphor for the way the temperature in the room had changed around this particular event.

It became a metaphor for the whole thing.

So yeah, don't try and hit a subject head on, try and find a slightly weird or stranger or different angle or route into the subject that might be very familiar to you.

And you're likely to come up with unusual language, fresh language, language that readers will find engaging.

<v ->Welcome back, everyone.

</v> Now, Armitage says he was trying to write a poem about a family moment, and eventually he was told to try and find a different angle.

So he wrote an ornament on his grandmother's mantelpiece, and that became a metaphor.

So now for a quick check for understanding, so which the following does Armitage suggest you might do when writing a poem? Is it A: Listen to footage of a newsworthy event and write your own description, B: Look at a photograph of yourself and try to describe how you feel, or C: Look at a photograph of yourself and try to describe yourself from an external perspective? So pause the video, take a few moments to think about it.

Welcome back, everyone.

Now the correct answers are A: Listen to footage of a newsworthy event and write your own description.

And C: Look at a photograph of yourself and try to write about yourself from an external perspective.

So very well done if you've got those right.

Fantastic work, everyone.

We're now at the final task of the lesson.

So you can choose to either write about a newsworthy event or a poem about yourself.

Now, if you're writing about newsworthy event, I'd like you to: watch or think of footage of a recent newsworthy event.

Write your own narrative description of what is happening in that footage.

Take your narrative description and manipulate it into a poem.

If you're writing a personal piece, I'd like you to: Find or think of a photograph that's been taken of you recently.

Write a narrative description of that photograph without focusing on yourself.

So for example, write about the background, the colours, or the temperature.

Take your narrative description and manipulate it into a poem.

Now you might manipulate a narrative description into a poem by: adding in line breaks and punctuation, tweaking the language to help communicate an idea or an emotion to the reader.

Adding in poetic language such as metaphors to help communicate an idea or an emotion.

Adding in structural features such as repetition to emphasise an idea or emotion.

So pause the video, write your poem now.

Welcome back, everyone, some great work there.

What I'd like you to do is read back through your poem and reflect on the following ideas: So why did you choose either a newsworthy event or a personal poem? What do you think your poem is communicating to the reader? Is there anything you'd like to change now about your poem to help it communicate more effectively? So pause the video, reflect on your poem now.

Welcome back, everyone.

I really hope enjoyed reflecting on Armitage's ideas about poetry and the process of writing today and writing your own poem.

You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

Armitage suggests that daydreaming is an important part of finding inspiration.

Armitage worries we don't give ourselves enough time to just let our minds wander in modern society.

Armitage says that poetry is all to do with metaphors and comparisons.

Armitage says that often you have to approach poetry writing through a different angle rather than head on.

I really hope you enjoyed the lesson, everyone.

I hope to see you for another lesson soon.

Goodbye.