Tissue

Question 1

Message

Answer 1

Critique of human power. Nature and God overpowers power of man

Question 2

What does paper symbolise

Answer 2

The power of mankind

Weak yet powerful

Question 3

‘Paper that lets the light shine through’

Answer 3

Could symbolise power of God ‘light’
‘Paper’ bible/ religious book or human power.
Power of God overpowers human power.
OR
‘Light’ could symbolise/ be metaphor for nature and the natural world- power of nature will overcome human power.
(Ozymandias)

Question 4

Enjambment + free verse (no rhyme or regular rhythm)

Answer 4

Lacks control, defies restrictions
Freedom of limes reflects the lack of power mankind has (My Last Duchess)
As much as they try to order and control

Question 5

Forced break between stanzas 1+2

Answer 5

Symbolises difference between power of God and man

1: ’lets the light shine through’
2: ’hand has written’

Question 6

‘Height and weight, who died where and how’

Answer 6

The act of writing family notes in the holy book ‘Koran’.

Metaphor for man disrespecting God and trying to take his place.

Question 7

‘Koran’

Answer 7

Could be the power of paper/ mankind

Question 8

Repetition of ‘transparent’

Answer 8

Paper is transparent
Power- honest and clear
Saying those in power need to be honest, open and clear.

Question 9

‘Maps’

Answer 9

Segregate/ divide natural world through mans power.

Man trying to exert power of nature

Question 10

‘Their borderlines, marks that rivers make, roads, rail tracks, mountainfolds’

Answer 10

‘,’ commas
Listing, tight control
Man exerting power over nature by segregating and dividing
Enjambment undermines this

Question 11

‘Fine slips’

Answer 11

• receipts can ‘fly our lives like paper kites’
  Extended metaphor of paper
  Receipts- paper kites: can fly our lives but are fragile and easily destroyed.
  Not permanent (HUMAN POWER ISN’T PERMANENT)
  MAN DOESN’T HAVE POWER, NATURE HAS POWER (Ozymandias+ extract from the prelude)

Question 12

‘Shines through’

Answer 12

Nature’s power
Sun ‘shines through’
Overpowers/ shines through the paper/ mankind’s power
Nature’s power is permanent and overpowers mans attempt to control.

Question 13

‘But let the daylight break through capitals and monoliths’

Answer 13

Daylight— nature breaks through the manmade power (capitals and monoliths)— nature is more powerful than human power.

Poet is mocking mans attempts at dominance + power- nature and God overpowers. (Like Ozymandias)

Question 14

‘Turned into your skin’

Answer 14

Human power is fragile like tissue paper.

Question 15

Alternatively … conflict

Answer 15

First poem in ‘The Terrorist at My Table’ collection
What causes terrorism today?

We cause our own conflict because we give things power that don’t deserve/ shouldn’t have power.

E.g. ‘buildings’, ‘maps’ (divides in politics and culture), ‘fine slips’ (money), ‘capitals and monoliths’ (government), ‘Koran’ (religion)

Causes fundamentalism and terrorism (conflict)