Intermediate 2 English Poetry Question For ‘Hollow.’:

Choose a poem in which an incident or character is effectively described.

Explain how the content of the poem and the poet’s use of poetic techniques make the description effective.Your answer should make reference to your chosen text and to such elements as content, structure, rhythm, word choice, sound, tone, ideas, imagery…

Before we begin…We need to go over a number of key techniques, images created and word choice that the poet uses to describe this girl.

Questions on Hollow1. Why are we not told the girl’s name?2. The girl is denying herself food. What

else is she denying herself?3. Plosives (‘p’ and ‘b’ sounds – which are

created when you put your lips together, so they create an explosion of sound!) are used to describe the girl’s appearance – e.g ‘lumpy bones.’ How does this sound enforce this image of her?

4. Another key image is that of her ‘tinsel earrings’ which ‘crash crazily’ against her hollow cheeks. Why is this image effective in showing us her state of mind?

Paragraph 1: Introduction:

Your introductory paragraph should outline what your essay is going to do.

You can use the question to do this.

Include the name of the poem and poet.

It should be clear what the poem is about.

For Example:The poem “Hollow” by Elissa Soave creates a clear picture of a girl who is suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and also lets us appreciate the girl’s strange way of thinking. This will be discussed with regard to word choice, imagery and the theme of denial which runs throughout the poem.

Paragraph 2:

This paragraph is going to explain why the title is effective.

Provide a topic sentence (a sentence which tells you what the paragraph is going to be about.)

Explain why the title is effective. Remember the theme of the poem is denial (not just of food, but of her emotions too.)

Paragraph 3:This paragraph is going to tell us how the

poet gives us a very clear picture of what the girl looks like.

Provide a topic sentence which tells us what the paragraph is going to be about.

  You need to include her jewellery, clothes

and body. Explain how the poet uses good word choice and imagery as this is mentioned in the question.

For Example:Elissa Soave provides a very clear image of what the girl

looks like. She states that the girl “can’t wear jewellery any more” because it hurts too much.” The girl must be very thin for jewellery to have this effect. The poet describes the girl as having “lumpy bones.” This clever word choice lets us know that the girl’s bones must be very prominent. Soave uses alliteration to describe how the girls earrings “crash crazily” against the girl’s face. This word choice lets us know that the girl’s body is in danger from something as delicate as jewellery because she is so thin. Soave uses imagery to describe the girl’s dresses. The simile “like soggy rags” suggests a picture of the dresses being empty. The girl is “all scooped out.” This word choice provides an image of the girl as full of dents and holes like ice cream after a scoop has been used.

Paragraph 4:

This paragraph is going to show how the poet lets us know the girl’s strange way of thinking.

Provide a topic sentence which lets us know what the paragraph is about.

You can mention her lying about eating, dreaming of scones and pasta, the exclamation “Mummy!” etc. Remember to mention the word choice and imagery.

Paragraph 5:This paragraph is going to show the stage the

girl is at now.  Provide a topic sentence which lets us know

what the paragraph is going to be about.

Why is the girl finding it difficult now?

How does the poet demonstrate that despite the difficulties she will continue dieting?

 Why does the girl continue to diet?

Does the reader think the girl’s wish will become reality?

Paragraph 6: Concluding Paragraph Summarise the main points of your essay,

making sure you refer back to the question. Write how effective you thought the

portrayal of the girl was through the use of word choice and imagery.

Remember to write what you thought of the poem and its theme of denial.