Working with Mr Broster...

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the poetry studied in the As-levels course, the girls and boys who were doing the course at the Wynberg schools came together for an evening of revision.

Mr Broster, the As-level teacher at the Boys’ High led the session and succeeded in refreshing the listeners and encouraging them to be thinking differently about the poetry. He spoke on the “easy and difficult” method of approaching the poetry exam. Although the ears of the listeners perked at the use of the word “easy” in conjunction with the word “exam”, they were disappointed to hear that both methods would land up being difficult. 

The “difficult” method is to learn all the poems in some detail and be able to construct a comparison between them according to a theme. Through glancing over some of the titles of the poems, it became clear that a great many themes were encompassed in what had been studied. It was challenging to look at the poems afresh and see what similarities lay between them. 

The “easy” method was to do a textual analysis of a poem that would be given to you. Although this does seem easier, the pupils knew from experience that textual analysis is not as easy as it sounds and requires a “CSI” type of problem-solving skill. He emphasized the various technical aspects of analysis. Something which was guaranteed to ensure that those writing the exam would not forget to comment on the rhythm, was watching a Billy Joel live performance video. 

The session was ended off by reading selected extracts from the some of the poems. The challenge to those writing the exam is to take what they have learned from the poets themselves and relate it to their own experience. The subtlety contained in the words can be difficult to express, but the feeling contained in them makes the effort worthwhile. 

“I think continually of those who were truly great
Who, from the womb, remembered the soul’s history
Through corridors of light where the hours are suns,
Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition
Was that their lips, still touched with fire,
Should tell of the Spirit, clothed from head to foot in song.
And who hoarded from the Spring branches
The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms.”

Stephen Spender
extract from ‘The Truly Great’

report by Kirstin Eloff