Tissue

Question 1

Poem’s form

Answer 1

The poetic voice is elusive, with the focus on humanity in general than a specific person or speaker. The lack of regular rhythm or rhyme and the enjambment across lines and stanzas gives the poem a freedom and openness, reflecting the narrator’s desire for freedom and clarity. The short stanzas mean that the poem is built up in layers, just as it suggest human life is.

Question 2

Poem’s structure

Answer 2

There are three main parts to the poem, moving through ideas about history, human experience and the creation of human life. The final, single line stands out and focuses the reader on their own identity and how it’s created.

Question 3

Poem’s themes

Answer 3

• Power of nature
• Power or man
• Conflict of identity