Touch (seen poetry)

Question 1

What are the typical connotations of touch?

Answer 1

1. to cause/permit a body to come into contact
2. to show affection
3. to tap/feel/strike
4. to move/disturb by handling
5. to produce an emotional reponse
6. to compare to in quality/attainment

Question 2

Comment on the form of the poem

1) size of paragraphs
2) lengths of lines
3) connotations
4) line construction connotations

Hint: 1) size of paragraphs

Answer 2

MUST GIVE REFERENCE
1. Varying sizes/ lengths of lines cause a sense of chaose
2. lines broken unnaturally: sense of breaking
3. touches 7 times against margin: 7 years in prison. touch incidents

Question 3

What is the tone in Stanza 1?

Answer 3

Pleading tone

Question 4

What is the tone in Stanza 3?

Answer 4

anger/indignation (at his dignity being violated)

Question 5

Comment on the poet’s choice of diction in Stanza 4 (One: fists…)

3 things to comment on!

Answer 5

mad, fierce
paws
beating x2: anaphora shows length of suffering

Question 6

Provide evidence for the dehumanisation.

Answer 6

(any valid diction)

Question 7

What are the connotations of “untouched”?

Answer 7

1. not being touched
2. not being affected

Question 8

What are the connotations of “untouchable”?

Answer 8

1. to be inferior (Indian Caste system)
2. to be so powerful as to be unchallengeable (Apartheid governments and guards)

Question 9

Comment on the use of adverbs in Stanza 1.

Answer 9

1) “gently” and “slowly” have connotations of tenderness/ sensitivity in a relationship.
2) kindness in the one who touches, and warm acceptance/fulfilling of a need in the recipient.
3) Normal functional human contact: implies he has not had this.

Question 10

Explain the last two lines of Stanza 1.

Answer 10

physical contact can be an expression of emotion; life defined by physical and emotional connection. he states his desires to be part of human society again.

Question 11

Explain the connotations of the repeated word in Stanza 2.

Answer 11

• Touch x3
• all with negative connotations of not being touched; isolated emotionally and seperated physically.
• unable to touch/shunned: Black people made to feel inferior during Apartheid/ Hindu caste system.

Question 12

What are the 2 connotations of “touched” in Stanza 3?

Answer 12

1) physical laying of hands
2) things that have emotionally scarred him

Question 13

Explain the effect of the alliteration in Stanza 4.

Answer 13

beating, beating:
- plosive b represents the rythm of the sound of the fists hitting him.

Question 14

What is the effect of the synechdoche in Stanza 4?

Answer 14

the fists are not part of a huaman being; seperation between the fists and humanity.

Question 15

Comment on the irony in Stanza 4.

Answer 15

The whole poem, he has been wanting to be “touched”. here, screaming please dont touch me, is conflicting with that.
This is not the touch he wanted.

Question 16

Comment on the use of alliteration in Stanza 5.

Answer 16

paws, patting, prodding, probing, privacy: softer, but still plosive, evoking instrusiveness and violence
- anthropomorphism + synechdoche: inhumane treatment
- Indifferent: Both the guard not caring and the guard having to remain indifferent to do their job (sanity)

Question 17

Comment on the similarities between Stanza 1 and 6.

Answer 17

-> “I want”
-> desire to be touched
(frame to the poem)

Question 18

Comment on the effect of the repetition in Stanza 6.

Answer 18

Expresses the hope for life outside of prison/isolation that he has – his potential ability to be part of society again/ humanity again.

Question 19

Explain the effect of “I want to want”

Answer 19

Unsure if he is able to accept normal life outside of prison, hopes for it.

Question 20

Comment on the effect of the last lines.

Answer 20

They are a dignified/ polite request – thus tone poignant and reveals vulnerability.

he wishes to be touched physically and emotionally so that he can not longer feel out of touch.

Question 21

What is the tone in the last stanza?

Answer 21

A pleading tone