Intro to topic
Who is the author of the poem South
a.) William Shakespeare
b.) Kamau Brathwaite
c.) Stephen King
d.) Kama Brathwait
b.) Kamau Brathwaite
Explain how hyperbole is used to emphasize emotional intensity in the poem. Provide one example.
Hyperbole exaggerates the speaker's feelings to highlight the harshness of displacement and struggle in the north. For example, the line "The only water is rain and the tepid taste of the river” exaggerates the harshness of the Northern environment, and more emotional exaggerations like “past pains that would wreck us” and “sorrows arrest us”, emphasize how overwhelming past struggles felt.
Choose one example of personification from the poem and explain how it contributes to the mood or theme.
Examples include “The river reproves us our lack of endeavour and purpose”, “passing us toiling, waiting and watching”, and “Hatred that washes up on the flats”, making the emotions of nature feel alive while creating a mood of reflection and moral weight, showing how nature itself seems to hold the speaker accountable for their struggle and choices.
What do you think the thematic statement of South explores?
a.) The poem shows that life in the north is harsher than life in the Caribbean due to cold weather and isolation.
b.) The poem explores the enduring connection between a person and their homeland, showing how memory, nature, and the sea provide a sense of identity, belonging, and emotional restoration even after long journeys away.
c.) The poem focuses on the physical journey of a traveler moving between the north and south.
d.) The poem explains how nature is more beautiful in tropical regions than in foreign lands.
b.) The poem explores the enduring connection between a person and their homeland, showing how memory, nature, and the sea provide a sense of identity, belonging, and emotional restoration even after long journeys away.
Which emotion is emphasized through the simile "their flowing runs on like our longing"?
a.) Joy
b.) Anger
c.) Homesickness
d.) Confusion
c.) Homesickness
How does the tone shift when the speaker discusses the cold cities and the north?
a.) It becomes more joyful and energetic
b.) It turns heavier and emotionally distant
c.) It remains warm and nostalgic
d.) It becomes humorous and lighthearted
b.) It turns heavier and emotionally distant
Throughout the entire poem, what is the persona reflecting on?
The persona is reflecting on memories of their island home and how different life feels now that they have moved away.
What does the river primarily symbolize in the poem?
a.) The unpredictable force of nature that challenges human resilience
b.) The contrast between the North and South
c.) A nostalgic reminder of the speaker's childhood innocence and cultural heritage
d.) The passage of time, memory, and the inevitability of life's journey
d.) The passage of time, memory, and the inevitability of life's journey. It keeps flowing just like time.
Why is free verse effective in this poem?
a.) It creates a strict rhythm pattern
b.) It allows for playful rhythms
c.) It mirrors the speaker's emotional journey and natural flow
d.) It emphasizes the poem's comedic tone
c.) It mirrors the speaker's emotional journey and natural flow
What is the persona contrasting throughout the poem?
The persona contrasts the vibrant, warm island and it's bright beaches (the "South") with the cold, harsh environments of the North.
Which line(s) best illustrate the speaker's emotional bond with the ocean?
a.) "But today I recapture the islands'
bright beaches"
b.) “their flowing runs on like our longing,” '‘we who are born of the ocean," and "By these shores I was born."
c.) "Bright waves splash up from the rocks to refresh us,
blue sea-shells shift in their wake
d.) "The fisherman, hawking the surf on this side
of the reef, stands up in his boat
and halloos us."
b.) “their flowing runs on like our longing,” '‘we who are born of the ocean," and "By these shores I was born."
How does the metaphor "We who are born of the ocean" deepen the theme of identity in the poem?
a.) It shows that the ocean is simply a physical birthplace for the speaker.
b.) It symbolizes heritage, belonging, and emotional depth, tying identity to nature and culture.
c.) It emphasizes the ocean's destructive power over human life.
d.) It portrays the ocean as a barrier separating the speaker from home.
b.) It symbolizes heritage, belonging, and emotional depth, tying identity to nature and culture.
What is one way in which the poet displays the theme of Hardship and emotional struggle of life in the North?
Through the distinct contrast with the south, imagery of struggle such as "sharp slanting sleet," tone of loss or longing, personal experiences, and symbolism, the poet conveys the theme of Displacement & Hardship of the North.
Which theme is best conveyed through the poet's use of warm imagery, such as “blue mist from the ocean,” “bright waves splash up from the rocks,” and “small urchins combing the beaches”?
a.) The contrast between rural and urban environments
b.) The physical journey from the North to the South
c.) Nostalgia and longing for home as a source of identity and comfort
d.) The power of nature to influence climate and weather
c.) Nostalgia and longing for home as a source of identity and comfort
Name the strongest literary device in this poem, give one example of where it appeared, and briefly explain its effectiveness.
Visual Imagery. Examples: “blue mist from the ocean,” “bright waves splash up from the rocks,” “small urchins combing the beaches,” and “Gulls, white sails slanted seaward, fly into the limitless morning before us.” This is mainly effective in helping the readers to see, hear, and feel the island environment.