Registers by James Johnson

IGCSE Past Paper Poetry Questions

jj24 — 2016-01-05 11:20:00 UTC

How Does Laskey Make Registers so moving?

Laskey Reading His Poetry

jj24 — 2016-01-27 20:02:35 UTC

The abruptness of the phrase 'he's gone' suggests that Laskey has not had time to come to terms with his son reaching school age. The milestone has come all too soon, leaving him unprepared for the absence and making it all the more moving.

jj24 — 2016-01-27 20:25:24 UTC

When de describes the 'warm primordial cave / of our conversations' Laskey suggests that his son will be moving away from the 'warm' safe-haven of home and all its comforts to something more dangerous. He is naturally concerned by this progression and we, as readers, are moved by his fears. The use of 'our' suggests that these conversations felt intimate and personal to Laskey making the loss all the more painful.

jj24 — 2016-01-28 11:09:27 UTC

mayorthf — 2016-01-29 09:03:08 UTC

Laskey is clearly embarrassed about how he is still 'listening' out for his son. He feels that he needs to 'catch' himself to stop this reaction. This embarrassment shows how he cannot get over his son leaving, even though he feels he should. -Theo

Stanza 3

birdje — 2016-01-29 09:03:37 UTC

The word 'Clasping' describes a final embrace prior to their separation. This suggests unwillingness to depart and the word 'detaching', in this context, further emphasises this. Finally, the phrase 'protracted kiss goodbye' emphasises the regret at their parting, as protracted suggests the elongated manner of the event.

wamgrant — 2016-01-29 09:04:01 UTC

The Caesura after 'good boy' separates this as a lone phase to stress the point, and emphasise the sorrow that the narrator has, making 'Registers' more moving.

morssdavieshaf — 2016-01-29 09:04:39 UTC

Last Stanza Enjambment

jonesc14 — 2016-01-29 09:05:10 UTC

Laskey uses enjambment as Jack diminishes down "into the huge unknown/assembly hall". This creates a sense of tension as the enjambment creates a pause between the "huge unknown" and the realisation that it is just an assembly hall. This illustrates to the reader the feelings of the narrator at seeing his child leave the comforts of home for the first time. The narrator feels his son is moving into a scary wider world.

First Stanza

willhardy2000 — 2016-01-29 09:05:27 UTC

The words 'primordial cave' are moving as they imply that this father and son relationship is all that Jack has known and now he will be taken away from his safe and loving environment. It also gives a sense that this father son relationship has been happening from the start of human existence

Third stanza

2016-01-29 09:06:27 UTC

We see the 'clicks' and 'churns' of the washing machine, followed by a 'protracted' goodbye kiss from his son. The fact that the kiss is 'protracted' makes registers so moving as Laskey is really dwelling on the extended kiss goodbye.

Registers Analysis

sarowiwaslc — 2016-01-29 09:07:11 UTC

A very insightful look into the poem by Mrgibbenglish

By using the phrase "primordial" Laskey is emphasizing the very natural relationship between the father and the son. The relationship is as old as time itself making it particularly moving when they are separated.

turnbulljat — 2016-01-29 09:07:12 UTC

Third Stanza

banwellstm — 2016-01-29 09:08:11 UTC

The constant turning of the washing machine shows the continuous loneliness of the father as he looks for her son, only to realise he is not there, ultimately making it moving.

Last stanza

maxsommers — 2016-01-29 09:08:14 UTC

The father describes his son as "diminishing down the long corridors." The choice of the word "diminishing" emphatically portrays how the son is beginning to distance himself from his "sensible house" and caring father. Therefore this is a moving and eloquent moment as we begin to understand the son's departure from the "warm primordial cave", getting smaller and fading as he walks down the school "corridors.

First Stanza

morssdavieshaf — 2016-01-29 09:10:25 UTC

The words 'chit-chat' imply light hearted conversations suggesting intimacy and closeness between the son and father. This is moving because the poem implies that they have lost this as the son grows older.

Last stanza

hjkl39140 — 2016-01-29 09:10:43 UTC

There are a lot of conflicting emotions in the words ‘Good boy’ which begin the final stanza. The Father clearly is regretful and sad that his son is making the next step in his life and leaving the poet behind. This would be moving for those who have watched their own kids grow up as they can relate to the feeling of regret as the kid grows up and maybe seems to leave them behind.

Second Stanza

solovyevv — 2016-01-29 09:11:31 UTC

By describing the house as 'sensible' Laskey suggests that the house is now quite adult, ordered and boring. That juxtoposes the 'primodial cave' and the lively mood of the house and makes this very moving.

2nd stanza

matteopetrozzi — 2016-01-29 09:12:12 UTC

Laskey employs the phrase "I catch myself still listening out" which is moving as it portrays the feelings of guilt, shame and embarrassment.

Stanza 2

verkhoturovi — 2016-01-29 09:12:31 UTC

The narrator says 'I catch myself listening out', depicting his embarrassment and the inability to adapt to the new atmosphere of the house.

First Stanza

turnbulljat — 2016-01-29 09:13:43 UTC

In the first stanza Laskey says that there will not be any more " blankets pegged over chairs and nipped in draws". This shows that the father and son will no longer be making any more camps. This is particularly moving as it is something that every father must experience in their life and it shows that the son is growing up.

Line 1

dentbre — 2016-01-29 09:17:13 UTC

The use of the words 'warm' and 'primordial' imply a safe secure environment between the father and son, which has existed since the beginning of time, at least from Jack's point of view. This is saying that this environment is all Jack has ever known. It could also show the father and son relationship which has always existed

Some Notes

banwellstm — 2016-01-29 09:17:41 UTC

http://www.buckinghamshireutc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Registers-GCSE-English-Literature-%E2%80%93-Poems-Deep-and-dangerous-Study-Guide.pdf

Third Stanza

odunugaob — 2016-01-29 09:18:57 UTC

The poet then remembers the boy’s 'protracted' goodbye kiss when he threw his arms around his neck. This is quite moving because it shows how unwilling Jack is to leave his dad. The image of Jack almost clinging on to his dad is quite powerful.

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mclennanfaj — 2016-04-07 07:54:02 UTC