Extended metaphor demonstrated in a poem

Extended metaphor demonstrated in a poem

The closure of the pier by Johnnie Young
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Preparation for the lesson.

Ask the students to write down a list of things that they would find on a pleasure pier.
Once they have written their list ask them to adds notes to the items on the list to bring them alive.
So if, for example, they put ‘candy floss’ get them to add ‘pink, fluffy, smiling faces, melting in the mouth, sunshine through the thin substance’ and so on.
In this way they expand the associations of each item on the list.

Sharing the findings

Ask a few students to read out examples from their lists until the language of association brings strong images in the mind of a pleasure pier in full swing in all its glory.

The visualisation

Now ask them to listen very carefully and walk around the room reading this to them: “So there it is. The pier, stretching out over the sea loaded with attractions. Can you see the big dipper and can you hear the screams of the excited holiday makers holding their hotdogs and milkshakes and laughing and singing and smiling? Look over there. The kids are putting coins in the amusement machines. See the crane arm reaching down to grab that bar of chocolate that sticks out of the pile so temptingly?…there it is…into the air…oh…it’s dropped it…big sighs! And what’s this? A woman looking at the mysterious Gypsy Fortune Teller automation. She has placed her coin in the slot and the gypsy has come alive. Oh, the ghostly green light that has come upon her face…oh the ghostly voice telling her fortune… Now, listen.
Let’s step back from this summer busy place and all its activity and imagine a sad thought. The pier has got into trouble. It will cost too much to repair and therefore it must be closed down. All the attractions are to be sold off and broken up and taken away. Boards are to be put up and the spaces there, once the scene of so much laughter and fun are now to be empty gaping gaps with hollow shadows.”

This all leads to a metaphor poem and a suggestion chart for the students to write their own.