Time
How does the poet present their feelings about TIME in the following verse?
How does the poet present their feelings about TIME in the following verse?
Time by Roger Waters
Time by Roger Waters
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day;
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day;
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground called your home town;
Kicking around on a piece of ground called your home town;
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.
Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain;
Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain;
But you are young and life is long and there is time to kill today;
But you are young and life is long and there is time to kill today;
And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you,
And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you,
No one told you when to run: you missed the starting gun.
No one told you when to run: you missed the starting gun.
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking;
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking;
Racing around to come up behind you again.
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older;
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older;
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time;
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time;
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines;
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines;
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way:
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way:
The time is gone, the song is over;
The time is gone, the song is over;
Thought I'd something more to say.
Thought I'd something more to say.
For the first poem, just make sure you write about the following things:
For the first poem, just make sure you write about the following things:
- A brief summary of what the poem is about
- Analyse some language - two or three specific words will do
- Analyse a couple of techniques - again, two or three techniques will be plenty
- Say something about the structure of the poem.
An example answer:
An example answer:
In this poem, the poet feels that time is running away from them, and they wish that they had more of it.
In this poem, the poet feels that time is running away from them, and they wish that they had more of it.
The opening word here "ticking" immediately reminds us of the passage of time, though the fact that his day is "dull" suggests that he is actually wasting his time and not enjoying it. He uses the verb "kicking" to describe his time at home, as though he slightly hates it; though "kicking around" is a commonly used phrase it suggests a kind of disdain for the activity.
The opening word here "ticking" immediately reminds us of the passage of time, though the fact that his day is "dull" suggests that he is actually wasting his time and not enjoying it. He uses the verb "kicking" to describe his time at home, as though he slightly hates it; though "kicking around" is a commonly used phrase it suggests a kind of disdain for the activity.
The second verse opens with three pieces of assonance that slow the reader down: "tired, lying, sunshine..." have open vowel sounds that make the pace drag as though time itself is slowing down. Given the pace of the previous verse this could seem quite comforting, though in reality it almost frustrates us as the poet reminds us that we "are young and life is long and there is time to kill today." In some ways the reference to time killing us is almost painful, as it reminds us that young people in general treat time as though it is a thing to be wasted, while many readers will know that it is actually the only really valuable commodity we have.
The second verse opens with three pieces of assonance that slow the reader down: "tired, lying, sunshine..." have open vowel sounds that make the pace drag as though time itself is slowing down. Given the pace of the previous verse this could seem quite comforting, though in reality it almost frustrates us as the poet reminds us that we "are young and life is long and there is time to kill today." In some ways the reference to time killing us is almost painful, as it reminds us that young people in general treat time as though it is a thing to be wasted, while many readers will know that it is actually the only really valuable commodity we have.
The the third verse the writer uses an image of racing - we "run and run" while the sun "races" to come up "behind us again." Here, we're trying as hard as we can to make something of our lives, while the sun is always one step ahead. The fact that the sun comes up "behind us" almost seems to imply that the sun is some kind of trickster, as though it's ready to jump us when we're not looking.
The the third verse the writer uses an image of racing - we "run and run" while the sun "races" to come up "behind us again." Here, we're trying as hard as we can to make something of our lives, while the sun is always one step ahead. The fact that the sun comes up "behind us" almost seems to imply that the sun is some kind of trickster, as though it's ready to jump us when we're not looking.
Though the poem is constantly in control of its rhythm, the rhythm is actually quite varied. The first verse is AABA, while the second contains internal rhymes and a powerful use of assonance; the third is a different rhyme scheme again while the last one has a whole new rhyme scheme, and it has 5 lines. The strong rhythm gives the poem a strong, clear rhythm - like a ticking clock; whilst the varied rhyme scheme plays with our understanding of where the beats will come - in the same way that the author is suggesting that time can feel different during any given moment.
Though the poem is constantly in control of its rhythm, the rhythm is actually quite varied. The first verse is AABA, while the second contains internal rhymes and a powerful use of assonance; the third is a different rhyme scheme again while the last one has a whole new rhyme scheme, and it has 5 lines. The strong rhythm gives the poem a strong, clear rhythm - like a ticking clock; whilst the varied rhyme scheme plays with our understanding of where the beats will come - in the same way that the author is suggesting that time can feel different during any given moment.
Reflecting on that answer:
Reflecting on that answer:
While writing that, I knew which focus each section of my answer would come from - the red, blue, green or purple. I knew I'd leave the purple until last, and so I went through the poem picking a different thing to look at for each verse.
While writing that, I knew which focus each section of my answer would come from - the red, blue, green or purple. I knew I'd leave the purple until last, and so I went through the poem picking a different thing to look at for each verse.
If a new idea came to me, I'd write it but just check back and make sure I was covering all the key bases.
If a new idea came to me, I'd write it but just check back and make sure I was covering all the key bases.
So I basically wrote about the poem, in order, but checked back to that list to make sure I was writing about a summary, language and techniques.
So I basically wrote about the poem, in order, but checked back to that list to make sure I was writing about a summary, language and techniques.
I also kept an eye on the clock and when I knew my time was running out, I wrote about the structure - which forces me to focus back on the whole poem.
I also kept an eye on the clock and when I knew my time was running out, I wrote about the structure - which forces me to focus back on the whole poem.
Basically, throughout writing the essay I was just very regimented and organised: I went through the poem, writing about each of those four areas, and that way I didn't run out of things to say.
Basically, throughout writing the essay I was just very regimented and organised: I went through the poem, writing about each of those four areas, and that way I didn't run out of things to say.
The key is that by focusing on different elements of the poem you can see more than if you try to focus on the whole thing.
The key is that by focusing on different elements of the poem you can see more than if you try to focus on the whole thing.
If you're not sure why this is the case, then take the Rorschach Test again...
If you're not sure why this is the case, then take the Rorschach Test again...
Compare how the poets present their feelings about TIME in the following to poems.
Compare how the poets present their feelings about TIME in the following to poems.
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day;
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day;
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground called your home town;
Kicking around on a piece of ground called your home town;
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.
Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain;
Tired of lying in the sunshine, staying home to watch the rain;
But you are young and life is long and there is time to kill today;
But you are young and life is long and there is time to kill today;
And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you,
And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you,
No one told you when to run: you missed the starting gun.
No one told you when to run: you missed the starting gun.
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking;
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking;
Racing around to come up behind you again.
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older;
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older;
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time;
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time;
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines;
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines;
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way:
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way:
The time is gone, the song is over;
The time is gone, the song is over;
Thought I'd something more to say.
Thought I'd something more to say.
And indeed there will be time
And indeed there will be time
For the yellow smoke that slides along the street,
For the yellow smoke that slides along the street,
Rubbing its back upon the window-panes;
Rubbing its back upon the window-panes;
There will be time, there will be time
There will be time, there will be time
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;
To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;
There will be time to murder and create,
There will be time to murder and create,
And time for all the works and days of hands
And time for all the works and days of hands
That lift and drop a question on your plate;
That lift and drop a question on your plate;
Time for you and time for me,
Time for you and time for me,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of a toast and tea.
Before the taking of a toast and tea.
In the room the women come and go
In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michelangelo.
Talking of Michelangelo.
And indeed there will be time
And indeed there will be time
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
To wonder, “Do I dare?” and, “Do I dare?”
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
Time to turn back and descend the stair,
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair —
With a bald spot in the middle of my hair —
(They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”)
(They will say: “How his hair is growing thin!”)
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin —
My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin —
(They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”)
(They will say: “But how his arms and legs are thin!”)
Do I dare
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
Poem A & Poem B
Poem A & Poem B
Below I've written some comparisons between the two poems. If you'd picked up on two or three of these you could probably get 6 or 8 out of 8 for the final exam:
Below I've written some comparisons between the two poems. If you'd picked up on two or three of these you could probably get 6 or 8 out of 8 for the final exam:
Poem A pushes the idea that you've not got as much time as you think you have, while poem B suggests that people feel they've got more time than they thought they did.
Poem A pushes the idea that you've not got as much time as you think you have, while poem B suggests that people feel they've got more time than they thought they did.
The opening of Poem B talks about how "there will be time" in quite a relaxed way, while poem A talks immediately reminds us about the clock that is ticking.
The opening of Poem B talks about how "there will be time" in quite a relaxed way, while poem A talks immediately reminds us about the clock that is ticking.
Poem B keeps to quite long sentences, almost completely ignoring line breaks, whereas poem A has a really clear rhythm that runs over the lines, even though the rhyme scheme changes.
Poem B keeps to quite long sentences, almost completely ignoring line breaks, whereas poem A has a really clear rhythm that runs over the lines, even though the rhyme scheme changes.
Poem B uses repetition, while poem A seems not to have the time for repeating anything. Poem B has the time to talk about something and then talk about it again, while poem A doesn't.
Poem B uses repetition, while poem A seems not to have the time for repeating anything. Poem B has the time to talk about something and then talk about it again, while poem A doesn't.
Poem B has a very irregular structure, in that it breaks up the rhyme and stanza length almost indiscriminately. Although poem A has an irregular rhyme scheme the rhythm remains regular throughout.
Poem B has a very irregular structure, in that it breaks up the rhyme and stanza length almost indiscriminately. Although poem A has an irregular rhyme scheme the rhythm remains regular throughout.
Towards the end of poem B you get the feeling that the author is so wasteful with his time that he almost begins to realise just how wasteful his life has been. Whereas in poem A the writer seems to feel that from the off, and is, in fact, driving through that message throughout the poem.
Towards the end of poem B you get the feeling that the author is so wasteful with his time that he almost begins to realise just how wasteful his life has been. Whereas in poem A the writer seems to feel that from the off, and is, in fact, driving through that message throughout the poem.