Island ManIsland Man

by Grace Nicholsby Grace Nichols

Different Cultures – Cluster 1Different Cultures – Cluster 1

Grace NicholsGrace Nichols

• Born Georgetown, Born Georgetown, Guyana Guyana (Caribbean) 1950(Caribbean) 1950

• Lived in UK since Lived in UK since 19771977

• Poet and writer of Poet and writer of children’s bookschildren’s books

Island Man by Grace NicholsIsland Man by Grace Nichols

• A man from a Caribbean island now A man from a Caribbean island now lives and works in London. The lives and works in London. The poem shows his state of mind in the poem shows his state of mind in the early morning. early morning.

• He wakes with the sound of the sea He wakes with the sound of the sea in his head, then prepares himself for in his head, then prepares himself for the reality of his day’s work.the reality of his day’s work.

Island ManIsland Man Lines 1 - 5Lines 1 - 5

MorningMorningand island man wakes upand island man wakes upto the to the ssound of blue ound of blue ssurfurfin his headin his headthe the ssteady breaking and teady breaking and

wombingwombing

The sea is the source (the The sea is the source (the womb) of all life on earthwomb) of all life on earth

rhythms which suggest the

movements of the sea

Island manIsland man Lines 6 - 11Lines 6 - 11

wild wild sseabirdseabirdsand and ffishermen pushing out to ishermen pushing out to

sseaeathe the ssun un ssururffacing deacing deffiantlyiantlyffrom the earom the eassttof his of his ssmall emerald islandmall emerald islandhe always he always comes backcomes back

groggily groggily groggilygroggily

S and f sounds suggest the S and f sounds suggest the sounds of the sea sounds of the sea (alliteration / (alliteration / onomatopoeia)onomatopoeia)

Repetitions contribute to the hypnotic rhythm

Island manIsland man Lines 12 - 15Lines 12 - 15

Comes backComes back to sands to sandsof a grey metallic of a grey metallic soarsoar

to surge of to surge of wheelswheels

to dull North Circular roarto dull North Circular roar

Is the traffic sound Is the traffic sound “soaring” (increasing in “soaring” (increasing in volume) ?volume) ?

Island manIsland man Lines 16 - 18Lines 16 - 18

muffling mufflingmuffling muffling

hhis crumpled pillow wavesis crumpled pillow waves

island man island man hheaves eaves hhimselfimself

Alliteration suggestive of Alliteration suggestive of laboured breathinglaboured breathing

What do these lines mean and

how do they relate to others ?

Island manIsland man Line 19Line 19

Another London dayAnother London day

London days are all the same: dull, repetitive, mechanical

Island Man by Grace NicholsIsland Man by Grace Nichols

• Lines 1 – 5Lines 1 – 5 The man wakes up and in his The man wakes up and in his head head hears the surf hears the surf

• Lines 6 – 11Lines 6 – 11He hears other sea sounds and sees He hears other sea sounds and sees the sun rise, then starts the sun rise, then starts

to to realise where he isrealise where he is

• Lines 12 – 15Lines 12 – 15 The sounds change to London The sounds change to London traffic traffic soundssounds

• Lines 16 – 18Lines 16 – 18 He struggles out of bed...He struggles out of bed...

• Line 19Line 19 ...to face another day in London...to face another day in London

Island Man by Grace NicholsIsland Man by Grace Nichols

• The poem covers only a few minutes in the The poem covers only a few minutes in the early morning. It describes the first part of a early morning. It describes the first part of a man’s day as he comes to consciousness. The man’s day as he comes to consciousness. The man is not identified except as a stereotype man is not identified except as a stereotype “island man”. He is a West Indian, living in “island man”. He is a West Indian, living in London.London.

• He wakes with the sound of the Caribbean sea He wakes with the sound of the Caribbean sea in his head (“the sound of blue surf”). Other in his head (“the sound of blue surf”). Other sea sounds develop (“wild seabirds and sea sounds develop (“wild seabirds and fishermen”) and he imagines the sun rising. fishermen”) and he imagines the sun rising. His head begins to clear (“groggily groggily”).His head begins to clear (“groggily groggily”).

• The sea sounds transform into metallic traffic The sea sounds transform into metallic traffic sounds; sand transforms into road surface; sounds; sand transforms into road surface; blue and emerald turn to grey.blue and emerald turn to grey.

• The only waves are in his crumpled pillow as The only waves are in his crumpled pillow as he “heaves himself” up to prepare for he “heaves himself” up to prepare for “Another London day”.“Another London day”.

How “Island Man” is written:How “Island Man” is written:1. Shape and sense1. Shape and sense

• 19 lines of different lengths19 lines of different lengths• 5 sections of different lengths5 sections of different lengths• No punctuation apart from 3 sections No punctuation apart from 3 sections

beginning with capital lettersbeginning with capital letters• Lines are often, but not always, complete Lines are often, but not always, complete

phrases, units of sensephrases, units of sense• Sometimes the relationship between lines Sometimes the relationship between lines

is ambiguousis ambiguous• One line (l.11) is unusually brokenOne line (l.11) is unusually broken

How “Island Man” is written:How “Island Man” is written:2. Language2. Language• Much of the poem has rhythms which suggest the Much of the poem has rhythms which suggest the

movement of the sea, with some long movements and some movement of the sea, with some long movements and some short, rather gentle and hypnotic.short, rather gentle and hypnotic.

• Repetitions contribute to the rhythms (comes back/comes Repetitions contribute to the rhythms (comes back/comes back; groggily/ groggily; muffling/muffling) and suggest the back; groggily/ groggily; muffling/muffling) and suggest the hypnotic effects of the sea’s movement.hypnotic effects of the sea’s movement.

• Alliteration is used (sound/surf; seabirds/sea/ sun). In the Alliteration is used (sound/surf; seabirds/sea/ sun). In the first half of the poem, sequences of s and f sounds suggest first half of the poem, sequences of s and f sounds suggest sea sounds.sea sounds.

• There are only 2 rhymes (soar/roar; sea/defiantly), which There are only 2 rhymes (soar/roar; sea/defiantly), which seem accidental or natural rhymes.seem accidental or natural rhymes.

• There is some use of colour (blue/emerald/grey) to contrast There is some use of colour (blue/emerald/grey) to contrast the brightness of the Caribbean with the dullness of the brightness of the Caribbean with the dullness of London.London.

• There are some unusual uses of words (l.5 wombing; l.13 There are some unusual uses of words (l.5 wombing; l.13 soar).soar).

• The absence of punctuation (and of finite verbs) makes The absence of punctuation (and of finite verbs) makes some word sequences ambiguous, particularly l.16-18 and some word sequences ambiguous, particularly l.16-18 and perhaps l.6-11.perhaps l.6-11.

Island Man: questions to Island Man: questions to considerconsider

• What contrasts are suggested between the What contrasts are suggested between the man’s life on a Caribbean island and his man’s life on a Caribbean island and his life in London ?life in London ?

• Why is he living in London ?Why is he living in London ?

• Why does he remember his home island so Why does he remember his home island so vividly ?vividly ?

Comparisons with themes from other Comparisons with themes from other poemspoems

• Separation from one’s homelandSeparation from one’s homeland(compare (compare Presents from my Aunts in PakistanPresents from my Aunts in Pakistan

Hurricane Hits EnglandHurricane Hits England))• Living in a different cultureLiving in a different culture

(compare (compare Search for My TongueSearch for My Tongue Unrelated IncidentsUnrelated Incidents Half CasteHalf Caste))

• Village lifeVillage life(compare (compare BlessingBlessing

Night of the ScorpionNight of the Scorpion))