From The Journey of a Disappointed Man by Andrew Motion

Question 1

STRUCTURE

How can the overall structure of the poem be described?

Answer 1

very repetitive
consistent layout of 4 line stanzas
11 stanzas
even line lengths

Question 2

STRUCTURE

What does it give a visual impression of? What might readers link this to?

Answer 2

solid blocks and chunks of text

traditional association between masculinity and strength through its consistency and regular shape

Question 3

STRUCTURE

What other interpretation could a reader have of the structure of the poem?

Answer 3

a stronger link with idea of cycles in society

individuals conform to the societal expectations rather than showing elements of individuality

Question 4

STRUCTURE

What serves as a contrast to the regular stanza layout? What does it bring to the poem?

Answer 4

enjambment

diversity to pace of the poem

Question 5

STRUCTURE

What do most of the stanza conclude with? Where is this pattern not followed?

Answer 5

terminal caesura in form of an end-stopped line

beginning of poem where ideas and imagery are allowing to continue onto the next stanza

Question 6

STRUCTURE

What effect does enjambment have? What is an alternate interpretation of this?

Answer 6

• imagery is more effective as it is uninterrupted for longer
• it develops ‘story-like’ setting of the scene

the enjambment can be seen as oversimplifying the poem to make it more blunt and realistic. particularly for the recount of manual labour

Question 7

STRUCTURE

What does the varied punctuation do to poem?

Answer 7

impacts the rhythm and pace

Question 8

STRUCTURE

Name some example of punctuation used.

Answer 8

1st stanza - commas as part of list
2nd stanza - semi-colons
3rd stanza - hyphens and introduction of speech

Question 9

STRUCTURE

What may the varied use of punctuation in contrast to the simple stanza structure represent?

Answer 9

the ways in which external presentation of masculinity may differ to the internal thoughts and experiences

while on outside there may be appearance of conformity, not the same internally

Question 10

STRUCTURE

Overall, what does the structure seem to offer the reader?

Answer 10

two alternate versions of masculinity

Question 11

STRUCTURE

By the end of the poem, what is shown?

Answer 11

neither kind of man has an answer to the ‘secret problem’

Question 12

POETIC TECHNIQUES

What does the persistent use of contrasting imagery and ideas help to do?

Answer 12

create an interesting shift in perspective
shows onlooker as different to the men being observed
e.g. workers are working practically, in contrast to the more intellectual thoughts of the onlooker

Question 13

POETIC TECHNIQUES

What does, arguable, the writer, use as a perspective? What effect does this have?

Answer 13

an ‘us versus them’ perspective

it criticised hyper-masculine imagery by highlighting individuality

Question 14

POETIC TECHNIQUES

What does the use of “I” and personal observations help?

Answer 14

to create a greater sense of being for the narrator

Question 15

POETIC TECHNIQUES

However, what does the “I” perspective point out?

Answer 15

that there is a distance between the descriptions of “men” and the personal “I”

could be interpreted as the narrator not feeling a part of this “type” of man (if a man)

Question 16

POETIC TECHNIQUES

Where are plosives used? What do they achieve?

Answer 16

‘b’ - baffled
‘p’ - pulleys, powerful

emphasise masculine tone and elements

Question 17

POETIC TECHNIQUES

What is the difference between the ‘p’ and ‘b’ sound? What does this represent?

Answer 17

‘p’ - voiceless where the vocal cords do not vibrate when making the sound

‘b’ - effective at creating a more consistently strong sound

‘p’ presents the “I” perspective and how he does not feel powerful as the working men who present the ‘b’ sound

Question 18

POETIC TECHNIQUES

Where is figurative language used? What does the range suggest?

Answer 18

“mystic” - linking ideas of altered state of consciousness, applied ideas of knowledge and education onto the workers
“monsters”
“original thinker”
“majesty”

suggest ambivalent (mixed) attitude

Question 19

POETIC TECHNIQUES

Name 2 other techniques used.

Answer 19

Juxtaposition

Lists

Question 20

POETIC TECHNIQUES

What does the imagery of piers represent?

Answer 20

structures that don’t go anywhere
remarkable feats of engineering

by contrast, neither the workmen nor the narrator are able to offer a way forward
takes us to disappointment of title

Question 21

POETIC TECHNIQUES

How is contrast of language shown? What does it suggest?

Answer 21

“ruminative” vs “let go”
difference with the narrators complex vocabulary vs workers monosyllabic words

significant because they are all men. differing versions of men.

Question 22

What themes are presented?

Answer 22

Work
Gender
Society and Culture

Question 23

How is the theme of work presented?

Answer 23

direct consideration of how work can impact an individual

Question 24

How is theme of gender presented?

Answer 24

strong focus on ideas of masculinity

makes reader consider their ideas of masculinity and how different men may see themselves

Question 25

How is theme of society and culture represented?

Answer 25

Motion encourages reader to consider views of masculinity

how society can be seen to expect certain behaviours