Meaning
what is the poem about?
who is the speaker? - are they dramatized (a character)
who is being spoken to or addressed?
MITSL
Meaning, Imagery, Tone, Structure, Language (My Itchy Toes Smell Loads)
what is being spoken about?
Theme(s) of the poem - what is it really about? Always link everything to meaning. Ask yourself how does this
contributes to the meaning? Why has the poet used this technique?
Setting/culture - where’s the poem set? Culture it is from/about?
where does the poem “get to” from start to end?
Tone
Structure How would the poem be spoken? (angry, sad,
Rhyme - is there a rhyme scheme? Couplets? Internal rhyme? nostalgic, bitter, humorous etc)
Rhythm - how many syllables per line? Is it regular or free verse? Why
are some different lengths? Language
Stanzas - How many? How do they change? Is there a narrative? What kinds of words are used?
Lines - how many are their in each verse? Do some stand out? Puns - a pun is a play on words - “Shear Class!” if Shearer scores.
Enjambment - do the lines “run on” to the next line or stanza? Connotation - associations that words have (as "stallion" connotes a
certain kind of horse with certain sorts of uses)?
End stopping - does each line finish at the end of a sentence?
Form - does the poem have a shape to it? Double meanings - “butts in” - putting bottoms in or interrupting.
Ambiguity - is the word or phrase deliberately unclear? Could it mean
opposite things or many different things?.
Imagery Word order - are the words in an unusual order – why?
Alliteration - the repeating of initial sounds.
Adjectives - what are the key describing words?
Assonance - is the term used for the repetition of vowel sounds Key words and phrases - do any of the words or phrases
within consecutive words as in, 'rags of green weed hung down...'.
stand out? Do they shock? Are the words “violent” or “sad” etc?
Metaphor - comparing two things by saying one is the other.
Slang or unusual words and misspellings - Does the
Simile - comparing two things saying one is like or as the other. poet use slang or informal language? Are American words used?
Personification - giving something non-human human qualities. Intertextuality - does the poem reference another text?
Onomatopoeia - words that sound like the thing they describe. Style - does the poet copy another style? (Newspaper, play etc)
Repetition - does the poet repeat words or phrases? Characters - if there are characters how do they speak?
Objectives
By the end of today’s lesson you will be able to:
Complete a MITSL
analysis of the poem
“Kid” by Simon
Armitage.
What are
Heroes?
How can a hero
be a negative
influence?
Kid
Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I've scotched that 'he was like a father
to me' rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that 'he was like an elder brother'
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I'm not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I've doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I'm taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker;
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I'm the real boy wonder.
What’s it about?
• The poem is a dramatic monologue by Robin
the Boy Wonder, the loyal sidekick to
Batman in the comic strips, television
programmes and films.
• Robin talks about how he has separated
from Batman and is learning to lead his own,
independent life.
• In the process he publicises some of
Batman's secrets so that we see the
'superhero' in a new light.
Statement True/False Evidence
Batman was like an
elder brother to
Robin.
Batman never did
anything wrong.
Batman made Robin
do the shopping.
Batman agreed that
Robin should leave.
Batman stopped
Robin wearing
ordinary clothes.
Batman enjoyed
playing tennis.
Discussion
• How would you sum up Batman’s
treatment of Robin, as you see it.
• Describe Robin’s attitude toward Robin.
• What does Robin hope will happen to
Batman in the future?
• What does Robin hope his own future will
hold?
• Do you like/admire anything about Robin?
Ambiguity of identity
Kid
Alliteration, Each line has 10
gives a Batman, big shot, when you gave the order syllables
punchy (pentameter)
opening to grow up, then let me loose to wander
Leaving leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
childhood
Bitter tone
behind as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather, explained, feeling
of abandonment;
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
echo ageing
Trying out a Now I've scotched that 'he was like a father
mixture of
things, like to me' rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
growing up
on that 'he was like an elder brother' Adult world/taboos, a
(“baby” line 24)
darker world
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her Uses comic book
slang/language
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Robin is trying to impress
us with these powerful The rhyme scheme echos the Batman loses his status
words/phrases famous theme tune as the poem goes on
Spoof of tabloid Using a name
headlines; holy Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! shows power
is a word Robin
would have used
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I'm not playing ball boy any longer
Growing up – Adult clothes,
Batman, now I've doffed that off-the-shoulder
not playing ditched the
someone Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number dressing up box
elses game
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
Hero worship can’t
now I'm taller, harder, stronger, older. sustain you, you
need to toughen up
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture: to grow up; assert
your own identity
Forging own
identity, applicable
you without a shadow, stewing over
Only ghosts have no
to many “kids”
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker; shadows
Robin now belittles next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
Batman and Things from the past
shows he has punching the palm of your hand all winter,
broken free from
you baby, now I'm the real boy wonder.
his idol, taking the Symbol of old age, not
power What is Batman without Robin? moving on
My Itchy Toes Smell Loads
• Meaning
• Imagery
• Tone
• Structure
• Language
Meaning
what is the poem about?
who is the speaker? - are they dramatized (a character)
who is being spoken to or addressed?
MITSL
Meaning, Imagery, Tone, Structure, Language (My Itchy Toes Smell Loads)
what is being spoken about?
Theme(s) of the poem - what is it really about? Always link everything to meaning. Ask yourself how does this
contributes to the meaning? Why has the poet used this technique?
Setting/culture - where’s the poem set? Culture it is from/about?
where does the poem “get to” from start to end?
Tone
Structure How would the poem be spoken? (angry, sad,
Rhyme - is there a rhyme scheme? Couplets? Internal rhyme? nostalgic, bitter, humorous etc)
Rhythm - how many syllables per line? Is it regular or free verse? Why
are some different lengths? Language
Stanzas - How many? How do they change? Is there a narrative? What kinds of words are used?
Lines - how many are their in each verse? Do some stand out? Puns - a pun is a play on words - “Shear Class!” if Shearer scores.
Enjambment - do the lines “run on” to the next line or stanza? Connotation - associations that words have (as "stallion" connotes a
certain kind of horse with certain sorts of uses)?
End stopping - does each line finish at the end of a sentence?
Form - does the poem have a shape to it? Double meanings - “butts in” - putting bottoms in or interrupting.
Ambiguity - is the word or phrase deliberately unclear? Could it mean
opposite things or many different things?.
Imagery Word order - are the words in an unusual order – why?
Alliteration - the repeating of initial sounds.
Adjectives - what are the key describing words?
Assonance - is the term used for the repetition of vowel sounds Key words and phrases - do any of the words or phrases
within consecutive words as in, 'rags of green weed hung down...'.
stand out? Do they shock? Are the words “violent” or “sad” etc?
Metaphor - comparing two things by saying one is the other.
Slang or unusual words and misspellings - Does the
Simile - comparing two things saying one is like or as the other. poet use slang or informal language? Are American words used?
Personification - giving something non-human human qualities. Intertextuality - does the poem reference another text?
Onomatopoeia - words that sound like the thing they describe. Style - does the poet copy another style? (Newspaper, play etc)
Repetition - does the poet repeat words or phrases? Characters - if there are characters how do they speak?