final countdown poem

IT’S A FINAL COUNTDOWN PAPER 2 (Section D -POEM)
The Living Photograph
The poet’s background
JACKIE KAY
Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1961 to a
Scottish mother and a Nigerian father. She was adopted by a
white couple at birth and was brought up in Glasgow, studying at
the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and Stirling

University where she majored in English.
The experience of being adopted by and growing up within a
white family inspired her first collection of poetry, The Adoption
Papers (1991). The poems deal with an adopted child's search

for a cultural identity.

THEMES: 1
➢ Family love
➢ Appreciation
➢ Loving memories

MORAL VALUES:
➢ Love& care
➢ Appreciation
➢ Kindness
➢ Thoughtfulness
➢ Gratitude

MORAL LESSONS:
➢ We must try our best to have a good and strong relationship with our grandparents
➢ We should love and appreciate our elders especially in our family
➢ We should spend as much time as we can with our loved ones before they die
➢ We should take photographs with our loved ones and keep them
➢ We must not forget those who have died
➢ We must learn to move on and accept life and death as part of life cycle

The Living Photograph

My small grandmother is tall there,
straight-back, white broderie anglaise shirt,
pleated skirt, flat shoes, grey bun,
a kind, old smile round her eyes.
Her big hand holds mine,
white hand in black hand.
Her sharp blue eyes look her own death in the eye.

It was true after all that look.
My tall grandmother became small.
Her back round and hunched.
Her soup forgot to boil.
She went to the awful place grandmothers go.
Somewhere unknown, unthinkable.

But there she is still,
in the photo with me at three,
the crinkled smile is still living, breathing.

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A. Write the words from the poem that match the given meanings. Word

No. Meanings
1. creased (stanza 1)
2. a hairstyle usually sported by old ladies (stanza 1)
3. the posture of a younger person (stanza 1)
4. loss of life (stanza 1)
5. something unacceptable and terrible (stanza 2)
6. a bent back (stanza 2)
7. unrecognised (stanza 2)
8. lines that appear when one smiles (stanza 3)

B. Write the lines from the poem that match the given meanings. Lines

Stanza 1
No. Meanings
1. My grandmother wears a pleated skirt with shoes

without heels and her grey hair tied into a bun.
2. My grandmother’s big hand was holding my small

hand.
3. In the photo my grandmother looks tall even

though she is small.
4. My grandmother is dying as anyone can tell from

her eyes.
5. My grandmother has smiling eyes even though

they look old.
6. Our two hands differ in colour; mine is portrayed

as white while my grandmother’s hand is black.
Stanza 2

1. My grandmother shrank in size.

2. My grandmother became very forgetful

3. After taking the photo, my grandmother changed.

4. My grandmother is now in a place that is
unknown and one we do not want to think of.

5. My grandmother’s back started to hunch.

Stanza 3
1. My grandmother’s wrinkled smile is still there in

the photo as she is living and breathing in it.
2. To me, my grandmother is still alive.

3. She was in the photo with me when I was three
years old.

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C. Complete the summary of the poem using the given words or phrases.

T
he Living Photograph

In the poem The Living Photograph, the persona is describing her grandmother in a
photograph. Her grandmother is standing tall and straight, dressed in a white embroidered lace
blouse with a (1)____________ skirt, and flat shoes. Her grey hair is pulled neatly into a
(2)____________. She is smiling kindly while holding the (3)____________ in hers. As the
persona describes their linked hands, it is evident that they come from a (4)______________
family. The last line suggests that while her grandmother looks strong and healthy, her
(5)______________ is near.

The persona is right. She remembers the time when her (6)___________ becomes
older. Her grandmother has become smaller in size because her straight-back is now
(7)___________. Her once strong grandmother is now a fragile old lady who is also
(8)____________. Eventually she passes away and goes to an (9)___________ place that is
unknown to the persona.

The persona feels her grandmother’s presence whenever she looks at the photograph.
She sees her grandmother and herself at three years old with her grandmother’s
(10)_____________.

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SET 1

Read stanza 1 of the poem and answer the questions that follow.
a. In stanza 1, describe the grandmother’s attire.

________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. Why do you think the persona’s grandmother wore flat shoes?

________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. Which line in stanza 1 tells us that the persona’s grandmother was a warm-hearted person?

________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

d. Suggest two ways to help a dying grandmother?
i) ________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
ii) ________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

SET 2
a. In stanza 2, which word means ‘bent back’?
_______________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. In stanza 2, what is the meaning of the phrase ‘that look’?
______________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. ‘Her soup forgot to boil’, what can this line tell you about the grandmother’s condition?
______________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

d. ‘somewhere unknown, unthinkable’.
In your opinion, what does this line mean? Give a reason for your answer.
Meaning: _________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
Reason: __________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

SET 3
a. In stanza 3, who are the people in the photograph?

________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. In stanza 1, why do you think the grandmother looks tall in the picture?

________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. In stanza 2, what emotion was expressed by the persona?

_________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
d. Do you think it is important to keep pictures of people that we love? Give two reasons for
your answer.
Reason 1: ________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
Reason 2: ________________________________________________________ (1 mark).

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SET 4
a. Which word in stanza 1 refers to the grandmother’s posture?
_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. In stanza 1, what does “white hand in black hand.” imply?
_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. In stanza 2, which line indicates that the grandmother’s condition was getting worse?
_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
d. In stanza 2, what emotion was expressed by the persona?
_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
e. In your opinion, how can we treasure our loved ones? Suggest two ways.
i) _____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

ii) _____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

The Charge Of The Light Brigade

ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON The poet’s background
(1809-1892)
This poem was written to memorialize a suicidal charge by light
cavalry over open terrain by British forces in the Battle of Balaclava
(Ukraine) in the Crimean War (1854-56). 247 men of the 637 in the
charge were killed or wounded. Britain entered the war, which was
fought by Russia against Turkey, Britain and France, because
Russia sought to control the Dardanelles. Russian control of the
Dardanelles threatened British sea routes. The poem was written in
the same year.

THEMES:
➢ Bravery / Courage
➢ Honour
➢ War and conflict
➢ Death and destruction

MORAL VALUES:
➢ Bravery / Courage
➢ Loyalty
➢ Determination
➢ Confidence
➢ Honour
➢ Sacrifice

MORAL LESSONS: 5
➢ We must struggle for peace, not war.
➢ We must be loyal to our superiors.
➢ Discipline is important in life.
➢ Always be brave in facing challenges in life.

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The Charge Of The Light Brigade

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!' he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Some one had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do & die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed& thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

A. Based on the poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, write the words that match the
given meanings.

No. Meanings Word

1 a unit to measure distance (stanza 1)

2 an army unit or division (stanza 1)

3 the low ground between hills or mountains (stanza 1)

4 disappointed and unhappy (stanza 2)

5 made a serious mistake (stanza 2)

6 a weapon that shoots large metallic balls (stanza 3)

7 large number of bullets fired repeatedly (stanza 3)

8 made loud noise like thunder (stanza 3)

9 to suddenly attack a place (stanza 3)

10 bravely (stanza 3)

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B. Match the phrases with their meanings by writing the correct number in the box.

No. Phrases Meanings
1 half a league onward the six hundred soldiers on horseback

2 the valley of Death to attack for the enemy's guns

3 the six hundred attacks with cannon-fire that caused a
4 charge for the guns deafening sound
not to talk back, just follow the order

5 someone had someone had made a mistake

blundered

6 not to make reply to move forward by short distances

7 to do and die certain death or loss of lives

8 volleyed and thundered to act upon orders even though it
means to put one's life in danger

C. Read the poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade. Then, complete the diagram below
with information from the poem.

1. Name of the unit :
2. Mode of attack :

The soldiers 3. Number of soldiers in the unit:
4. Where are they heading to?

D. Fill in the blanks with the words or phrases given.

The poem tells the story of a (1)_________ consisting of 600 soldiers who rode on
(2)______________ into the ‘valley of Death’ for about two and a half kilometres. They were
obeying a (3)_______________ to charge the enemy forces that had been seizing their guns.

Not a single soldier was (4)______________ by the command to charge forward,
even though all the soldiers realized that their commander had made a (5)______________.
The role of the soldier is to (6)__________ and not to reason why.

The 600 soldiers were attacked by shots of (7)__________ and (8)_____________ in
front and both sides of them. Still, they rode (9)______________________ forward towards
their own (10)________________.

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SET 1
Read stanza 1 of the poem and answer the questions that follow.
a. In stanza 1, what does the phrase ‘half a league’ imply?
_________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. How many soldiers were there in the Light Brigade?
__________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. Which phrase in stanza 1 is a war cry?
__________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
d. In stanza 1, what do you think ‘valley of Death’ refers to? Why do you think so?
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

SET 2

a. From Stanza 2, what was the order given by the commanding officer to the Light Brigade?
__________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
b. From Stanza 2, which line tells us that the order given to the Light Brigade was a mistake?

__________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. From Stanza 2, which word means ‘upset’ or ‘disappointed’?
__________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

d. The soldiers knew that the order was a mistake but they still obeyed. Give two reasons for
their actions.
Reason 1: _________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

Reason 2: _________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

SET 3
a. In stanza 3, what does the word ‘blundered’ mean?
___________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

b. Which line in stanza 3 shows the soldiers’ bravery?

___________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

c. Why do you think the cannons were placed right, left and in front?

___________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

d. In stanza 3, what do you think the soldiers could do when they were‘ stormed at with shot
and shell’? Give a reason to support your answer.

Action: ____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
Reason: ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

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SET 4
a. State the weapons of warfare mentioned in the poem.
____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

b. In stanza 2, which line tells you that a mistake was made?
____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. Why did the poet repeat the word ‘cannon’ in stanza 3?
____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

d. The soldiers from the Light Brigade show great sense of patriotism during the war.
Suggest two ways we can show patriotism to our country.

(a) __________________________________________________________[1 mark]

(b) __________________________________________________________[1 mark]

A Poison Tree

THEMES: The poem is like someone narrating/ telling a story
➢ Anger about what happened or what he/she did.
➢ Hatred
➢ Deceit STANZA 1 :BEGINNING
➢ Friend versus Foe STANZA 2 : DEVELOPMENT (process)
➢ The power of communication
➢ Good versus Evil STANZA 3 : DEVELOPMENT (product)
STANZA 4 : ENDING
MORAL VALUES:
➢ Friendship
➢ Tolerance
➢ Patience
➢ Forgiveness
➢ Honesty/Sincerity
➢ Peace/Harmony

MORAL LESSONS:
➢ We must be cautious of the motives of other people
➢ Do not manipulate others, especially innocent people
➢ Have open communication in life
➢ Do not nurture hatred because it is destructive
➢ Anger management is important in life

➢ We should make friends with anybody and everybody
➢ Make peace, not war

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SET 1 MEANING
Match the words to the appropriate meaning.

WORD

1. Wrath • Cunning strategies used to manipulate someone else

2. Foe • partially conceal, disguise or obscure

3. Watered • Poured or sprinkled water over a plant

4. Sunned • Produced fruit

5. Deceitful • an enemy or opponent

6. Wiles • extreme anger

7. Bore • saw or observed

8. Beheld • Deceiving or misleading others

9. Veiled • fall with one’s arms and legs spread out in an awkward way

10. Outstretched • exposed something to the sun

SET 2
Fill in the blanks using the words provided in the box.

wrath sunned wiles foe watered
deceitful
bore beheld veiled outstretched

1. I was mad at my friend. When I expressed my …………….. to him, my anger stopped.
2. I was annoyed with my ………….. Of course I didn’t tell him about it and I became more
irritated.
3. After that, I …………….. the angry seed every time I cried.
4. At the same time, I also ……………. the angry seed with my smiles.
5. I became insincere as I kept doing …………… actions.
6. I used ………….. to manipulate my enemy.
7. My cunning strategies finally ……….. fruits.
8. My enemy …………… the accomplishment of my cunning manipulations.
9. My enemy broke into my territory when darkness …………… the sky.
10. I was over the moon to see my enemy …………………… under the tree.

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SET 3 Because of the
Fill in the boxes with the correct meaning. persona’s effort, his
plant eventually bore a
The persona was mad at The persona let
his friends. Then he told his anger grew. fruit; an apple.
He treated his
his friend about his anger like a plant, The apple was
anger and it very attractive
disappeared. a tree. to the enemy.

The persona was angry The enemy was The enemy
with his enemy and he lured into the knew the apple
kept quiet. Since the garden. He belonged to the
persona did not talk sneaked into the
about his anger, his persona’s garden persona.
anger intensified. at night. He stole
the apple.

The next morning, the The persona hid his
persona found the enemy anger with his
dead under the apple tree.
He must have had eaten friendly behaviour.
He acted in deceitful
the poisonous apple. ways, using lies and

tricks.

Lines Meanings
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end. 11
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears,
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree

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SET 4
Below are the possible lines that could have been said by the persona and her foe. Complete
the graphic organiser using the lines given.

• I should go take it when it’s dark.
• I am not going to show my weakness. Instead, I will deceive her. Ha! Ha! Ha!
• Finally, it works! I should celebrate.
• I find her such a pleasant person.
• She doesn’t deserve that. It should be mine!
• She makes me angry but I will not tell her!

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SET 5
Read the poem and answer the questions that follow.
1. In stanza 1, what does the word foe refer to?
………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)
2. In stanza 2, what are the 2 things that the persona did?
i) ………………………………………………………………………….…….. (1 mark)
ii) ……………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)

3. In your opinion, what type of person is the persona? Give a reason to support your

answer.

Type of person : …………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)
Reason : ………………………….………………………………………….. (1 mark)

SET 6
Read the poem and answer the questions that follow.
1. In stanza1, what does the phrase my wrath did grow indicate?
………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)
2. In stanza 3, what does the word it refer to?
………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)
3. In stanza 4, which line shows that the sky was dark?
………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)
4. What are the reasons why the persona was angry at his foe? Give two possibilities.
i) ………………………………………………………………………….…….. (1 mark)
ii) ……………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)

SET 7

Read the poem and answer the questions that follow.
1. Who made the persona angry?
………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)

2. In stanza 2, which phrase shows that the persona was insincere?
………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)

3. From stanza 3, what is the meaning of the word beheld?
………………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)
4. If you were the persona’s friend, how would you be able to persuade the persona to stop

being angry? Give two ways.
i) ………………………………………………………………………….…….. (1 mark)
ii) ……………………………………………………………………………….. (1 mark)

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What Has Happened to Lulu?

Charles Causley The poet’s background
(1917 – 2003)
Charles Causley (1917-2003) was a poet and writer from
Cornwall, England. His father died when he was only fifteen years
old. When he was 16, his mother announced she had got him a job
in a builder’s office, something that filled him with despair. Later
Causley became a teacher at a school in Launceston.

His work is characterised by its simplicity; his poems for
adults are very similar in style to those written for children. His
poetry often has deeper meanings hidden behind the simplicity.
Causley often includes spiritual references and takes inspiration
from the folklore of his native Cornwall. His poems for children
were popular. Even though he was an extremely private person,
he was nevertheless a very approachable man.

What Has Happened to Lulu? is a poem told in a Based on the persona’s observations:
child’s voice about his/her older sister who is
missing. A child is asking his/her mother what Stanza 1: Lulu is missing
has happened to his/her sister, Lulu. There is Old rag-doll & Lulu’s shoe
nothing in her room, and her money-box has
gone, with only an open window and an old rag- Stanza 2: Lulu’s open window & flapping
doll left behind. His/Her mother is crying and curtain
burning a note. He/She thinks he/she heard
A circle on the dusty shelf
voices and a vehicle in the middle of the
night, but his/her mother tells him/her that Stanza 3: Mother is crying
Mother crumples the note
he/she was only dreaming.
Stanza 4: Voices late at night
Engine roar

Stanza 5: Somebody cried in anger/pain
Stanza 6: Mother is wandering /

looking worried

THEMES: MORAL LESSONS:
➢ Family love ➢ Honesty is the best policy
➢ Family values ➢ We should help others in need
➢ Grief ➢ Two heads are better than one
➢ Adult versus child ➢ Many hands make light work
➢ We have to show our concern
MORAL VALUES:
➢ Love and care towards our family members
➢ Responsibility ➢ Blood is thicker than water
➢ Helpfulness
➢ Honesty 14
➢ Co-operation

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SET 1
Match the words to the appropriate meaning.

WORD MEANING
1. rag-doll • A piece of hard material attached to a wall
• Physical suffering or discomfort
2. wide • Liquid spilling from the eyes
3. flapping • Walk or move in an aimless way
• Make a loud prolong sound
4. shelf • A soft doll made from pieces of cloth
5. money-box • A great or more than average width
6. tear-drops • Coin container
7. crumpled • A brief strong rush of wind
• A strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure or hostility
8. roar • Something crushed and became creased and
9. anger
10. pain wrinkled
11. gust • Flutter or wave around
12. wander

SET 2

Match the phrases to the appropriate meaning.

PHRASES MEANING

1. an old rag-doll • liquid spilling from the eyes to express emotion

2. curtain flapping free • to stroll or amble around without any purpose

3. circle on dusty shelf • drapery blowing in the breeze

4. tear-drops fall • a loud noise coming from a vehicle

5. an engine roar • a sudden burst of something; emotion, sound or
rain

6. in anger or in pain • a floppy doll made from old piece of cloth

7. a gust of rain • emotion of wrath and hurt

8. wander about • round spot on a rack full of dust

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SET 3
1. In stanza 2, what does the phrase curtain flapping free refer to?
_____________________________________________________________(1 mark)
2. In stanza 3, how did the mother feel when she crumpled the note?
_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
3. What is the issue being highlighted in the poem?
_____________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
4. In your opinion, why does the mother refuse to tell the truth? Give a reason for
your answer.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

SET 4
1. In stanza1, what are the two things that can be seen in Lulu’s room?
i) ___________________________________________________________(1 mark)
ii) ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
2. In stanza 4, what does the phrase an engine roar refer to?
______________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
3. In stanza 6, what does the line What has happened to Lulu, mother?
Tell us about the feeling of the younger sibling?
_______________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
4. What could be the reasons the sister left home? Give two possibilities.
i) ___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
ii) __________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

SET 5
1. In stanza 1, how do you know that Lulu left in a hurry? Give evidence from the poem.

___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
2. In stanza 2, how did Lulu go out of the house?

___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
3. In stanza 4, what does the word voices indicate?

___________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
4. If you were Lulu’s brother or sister, would you be able to accept her decision?
Why?
Answer: ________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
Reason : ______________________________________________________ (1 mark)

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SET 6
1. In stanza 1, Lulu left behind an old rag-doll. The doll indicates the age group

of Lulu. What is her possible age group?

______________________________________________________ (1 mark)
2. From the poem, what type of person do you think Lulu is?
______________________________________________________ (1 mark)

3. In stanza 4, why does the mother tell the child that he or she was dreaming?
______________________________________________________ (1 mark)

4. In your opinion, what will happen to Lulu after she left home? Give a reason
to support your opinion.
Opinion : _____________________________________________________(1 mark)
Reason : _____________________________________________________ (1 mark)

SET 7
1. Who is I in the poem?
__________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
2. In stanza 3, which phrase shows that the mother is sad?
_________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
3. In your opinion, what would be written in the crumpled note mentioned in Stanza 3?
_________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
4. If you were Lulu’s friend, what advice would you give her? Give two advice that
can prevent Lulu from running away.

Advice 1 : ________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
Advice 2 : ________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

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