Nettles

Question 1

Who wrote Nettles?

Answer 1

Vernon Scannel

Question 2

What is the tone of Nettles?

Answer 2

Loving / Anger at the idea of his child being hurt

Question 3

What is the aim of Nettles?

Answer 3

Show the extent of parental love. That it can’t be enough to protect your child from the world.

Question 4

What is the content of Nettles?

Answer 4

‘Nettles’ employs military metaphors to evocatively suggest the pain of parenthood as one realizes that a parent cannot protect their child from life’s vicissitudes.

Question 5

What is the context of Nettles?

Answer 5

Vernon fought during WWII, his poetry often reflects war experiences. He joined at 18 in 1940 and deserted because of the horror. He was then imprisoned in Egypt. After his release, he went back and was wounded. Ran away again while recovering, was arrested in 1947, court-martialed, then released.

He had six children. One of his sons died as an infant and another died in a motorcycle accident.

Question 6

What type of language is used throughout the poem?

Answer 6

Military metaphors to evocatively suggest the pain of parenthood as one realizes that a parent cannot protect their child from life’s vicissitudes.

Question 7

What is the rhythm and rhyme/form and structure of the poem - affect?

Answer 7

Simple - suits the subject matter concerning the child
Iambic Pentameter - Rejemented which is appropiate for military theme

Question 8

What is the affect of the words ‘nettle bed’ used together? [2]

Answer 8

Emphasies the child pain and shock between what was expexted and the feeling

Question 9

What does Vernon say about the name ‘nettle bed’? [3]

Answer 9

‘A curious name for those green spears’
- Nettle beds name might sound inviting but it conceals danger
‘It was no place for rest’
- Extended metaphor

Question 10

What quote first personifies the nettles? [2]

Answer 10

‘Regiment of spite’
- As it personifies the nettles it suggests deliberate injury which makes the nettles seem crueler

Question 11

What does the enjambent and then caesura symbolise? [2]

Answer 11

Mirrors the boy running to his father and then coming to a halt

Question 12

What phrase emphaises the boy’s vunerability? [3]

Answer 12

‘Tender skin’
- Boy seems physically sensitive and vunerable
- Could also be a transferred epithet. The father feels emotionally raw as he emphasises with his son’s emotions

Question 13

How are the injures described - affect? [2]

Answer 13

‘White blisters beaded’
- Explosive b alliteration make the words stand out and emphasises the injury

Question 14

Quote that shows Vernon cutting down the nettles? [7]

Answer 14

‘Honed the blades’ / ‘slashed in fury’ / ‘till not a nettle stood in that fierce parade’
- War-like violent imagery
- Emphasises the persona’s anger at his son’s injury
- ‘slashed’ is a dynamic violent verb
- ‘fierce parade’ males it seem as if the nettles could show off military strength

Question 15

Quote that shows what Vernon did after cutting the nettles? [3]

Answer 15

‘A funeral pyre to burn the fallen dead’
Over-dramatic and hyperbolic reaction. This creates a comic effect which mocks the dignity of the ‘fallen dead’
‘Fallen dead’ was a phrase used to refer to the soldiers who died in WWI and WWII. Adds dignity to the nettles

Question 16

Quote that shows the nettles growing again? [3]

Answer 16

‘In two weeks the busy sun and rain had called up tall recruits’
- Nettles represent soldiers
- Small space of time ephasises how soldiers were easily replaced

Question 17

How does the poem end and what does it show? [4]

Answer 17

‘My son would often feel sharp wounds again.’
- Cycle of war is inevitable
- Efforts only gave temporary relief
- Both father and son have learnt a lesson

Question 18

What is the settting of the garden - affect?

Answer 18

• Garden is a microcosm which represents the wider worlds
• It is a metaphorical battle field for the child
• It represents opportunities bur also dangers - both physical and emotional`

Question 19

What quote contains enjambment? What is the effect?

Answer 19

‘The boy came seeking comfort and I saw white blisters beaded’
- Creates a sense of continuation, the role of father never seems to end

Question 20

‘It was no place of rest.’
Technique and effect?

Answer 20

Caesura creates an emotional impact and emphasises the father’s lack of control over the nettles.