Sunstrike - Memo PDF Suggested Answers

SUGGESTED ANSWERS 1. (a) In stanza 1 the prospector is seeing a mirage. What word besides the word ‘vision’ tells us this? (1) ‘Capered’ (b) How does the word imply a maliciousness on the part of the hot earth? (2) Capered has connotation...

SUGGESTED ANSWERS 1. (a) In stanza 1 the prospector is seeing a mirage. What word besides the word ‘vision’ tells us this? (1) ‘Capered’ (b) How does the word imply a maliciousness on the part of the hot earth? (2) Capered has connotations of gaiety/ as if the earth has no care for his plight. 2. Refer to line 8. Comment on the connotations of the word ‘unquenchable’ to explain why the poet used this particular word. (2) This word is usually associated with water, and a feeling of not getting enough, which in this case it refers to the fact that he is yearning for water but the sand is unable to fulfil his desire. 3. Refer to line 8. Discuss the irony in the speaker using the word ‘ripples’ to describe the sand. (3) It is ironic because ripples usually describe water, something the prospector wasn’t looking for but now desperately needs. 4. Refer to stanza 4. What is the irony of his discovery? (2) He has found what he is no longer looking for, and what cannot help him now. 5. Explain why the poet mentions the carrion crows? (2) The crows are a sign that the prospector is near his death. 6. Discuss the appropriateness of the title. (2) A prospector hopes for a lucky strike, and although he is lucky and find the gems, it is pointless because the sun has struck him and will kill him. 7. Refer to lines 13 – 14 a) Identify the figure of speech. (1) Personification b) Explain why the poet uses it. (2) This shows how the prospector feels mocked by the diamonds/ as if they are deliberately teasing him. 8. In the last stanza, discuss the effect of words like ‘swimming’, ‘drinking’ and ‘splashing’? (2) The words all link to water and the prospectors need – along with highlighting the fact that he doesn’t have any. 9. What deeper message do you think this poem can give us about life? (3) Learners answer may vary. The desire for materialistic items can be ones downfall. 10. In a paragraph of 200 – 250 word discuss how the imagery and use of diction in the poem emphasises the irony between what the prospector wanted to find, and what he did find. (10) The prospector wanted to find water/ and there is much imagery that mocks him / to emphasise there is none ‘waterless’, ‘unquenchable’. However the biggest irony is as he is looking for water he finds the precious stones he was originally looking for – he is described as ‘swimming’ ‘splashing’ and ‘drinking’ them. They are also described as ‘glittering drops’ These words all link to water which emphasise just how thirsty and desperate he is and how useless these stone now are to him.