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GCSE English GCSE English Paper 2 Paper 2 Poetry Poetry

Revising for Cluster 1? Revising for Cluster 1?

You need to know…You need to know…

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‘‘Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Scavengers in a Truck, Two Beautiful People in a Two Beautiful People in a

Mercedes’Mercedes’

by Lawrence Ferlinghettiby Lawrence Ferlinghetti

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The Writer…The Writer…

Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a 1950s Lawrence Ferlinghetti is a 1950s American poet. American poet.

In In Two Scavengers...Two Scavengers... he writes about he writes about the differences that he has noticed in the differences that he has noticed in society.society.

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What the poem is about…What the poem is about…

The poem deals with one moment in The poem deals with one moment in time. time.

It is a snapshot of society taken “at It is a snapshot of society taken “at nine a.m. downtown San Francisco”. nine a.m. downtown San Francisco”.

The poem takes place in the present The poem takes place in the present and describes what it is that the poet and describes what it is that the poet sees.sees.

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What the poem is about… What the poem is about…

continuedcontinued The unusual layout of the poem The unusual layout of the poem

suggests that it follows the poet’s suggests that it follows the poet’s thought processes as he watches the thought processes as he watches the scene before him. scene before him.

The details build up gradually. The details build up gradually. The lack of main verbs and full stops The lack of main verbs and full stops

makes it seem as if the poet is just makes it seem as if the poet is just noticing things.noticing things.

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The structure of the poem…The structure of the poem…

The poem is divided into three The poem is divided into three sections.sections.

The first sets the scene (lines 1 – 9).The first sets the scene (lines 1 – 9). The second adds details (lines 10 – The second adds details (lines 10 –

30).30). The final section reflects on what this The final section reflects on what this

tells the poet about society as a tells the poet about society as a whole.whole.

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The mood of the poem… The mood of the poem…

It is not an emotional poem; rather it It is not an emotional poem; rather it focuses on the details that set the focuses on the details that set the two groups of people apart. two groups of people apart.

Nothing actually Nothing actually happenshappens during the during the poem which concentrates on two poem which concentrates on two groups of people.groups of people.

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Similarities and differences Similarities and differences between the characters…between the characters…

There are similarities between the characters (There are similarities between the characters (look look at how they lookat how they look). There are strong differences ). There are strong differences between them. between them.

The garbagemen look “down / as from a great The garbagemen look “down / as from a great distance” into the Mercedes; the occupants of distance” into the Mercedes; the occupants of which seem not to notice. which seem not to notice. Why do you think Why do you think they don’t appear to notice the garbage men?they don’t appear to notice the garbage men?

The poet observes that there are differences in The poet observes that there are differences in class between the garbagemen in their “red plastic class between the garbagemen in their “red plastic blazers” and the “elegant couple” in their luxury blazers” and the “elegant couple” in their luxury car. car.

The garbage men are “grungy” and “hunched” The garbage men are “grungy” and “hunched” while the couple in the Mercedes are “coifed” and while the couple in the Mercedes are “coifed” and clearly well off. clearly well off.

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The language…The language…

Look closely at the language used in the poem.Look closely at the language used in the poem. Pick out some more examples which observe Pick out some more examples which observe

the social differences.the social differences. The language of the poem reflects American culture The language of the poem reflects American culture

of the time through the use of words such as “hip” of the time through the use of words such as “hip” and “grungy”.and “grungy”.

There is a clear political message in this poem. There is a clear political message in this poem. Ferlinghetti suggests that “everything is always Ferlinghetti suggests that “everything is always possible”. However there is a “small gulf / in the high possible”. However there is a “small gulf / in the high seas / of this democracy”. seas / of this democracy”. Who is everything Who is everything possible for? Is everything possible for the possible for? Is everything possible for the garbage men? garbage men?

In a democracy, everyone is equal. In a democracy, everyone is equal. Is this true in Is this true in this poem? this poem?

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You could compare this poem You could compare this poem with:with:

‘‘Two Scavenger…’ (politics / unusual Two Scavenger…’ (politics / unusual presentation )presentation )

‘‘Nothing’s Changed’ Nothing’s Changed’ (politics / (politics / change)change)

‘‘Limbo’Limbo’ (unusual presentation)(unusual presentation) ‘‘Vultures’Vultures’ (the nature of evil)(the nature of evil)