12. Homing

Question 1

who wrote the poem and what do we know about them?

Answer 1

Liz Berry born in 1980 in the West Midlands- she often writes about how identity is linked to place

Question 2

what is the poem about?

Answer 2

The narrator of the poem speaks to an absent person who grew up having to hide their Black Country accent (accent from Birmingham)- the narrator is now clearing their house saying how much they love the accent and how the narrator wants to take on the persons dialect and speak it proudly

Question 3

what are key feelings in the poem

Answer 3

1. longing- the narrator really ants to go back and connect with this person about their lost dialect.
2. prejudice- the poem suggests that accents are considered to be inferior.
3. pride- the narrator now wants to shout local words form the roof.

Question 4

what are key themes in the poem

Answer 4

identity (culture), identity (family heritage), belonging, prejudice, power and authority and education

Question 5

quote that addresses the absent person and gives them a strong presence in the poem- also suggesting hiding identity

Answer 5

you kept your accent in a box

Question 6

quote that shows the narrator wants to speak the dialect proudly

Answer 6

shout it from the rocks

Question 7

quote highlighting the heritage of black country’s industrial past

Answer 7

lick the coal

Question 8

quote that shows how the narrator highlights that the absent person had to hide their accent

Answer 8

hours of elocution