Response to 'How to Leave the World That Worships Should' (E3) by Alastair Matheson https://padlet.com/amatheson2/pqy9dvbm8iabhx0m en-us 2021-01-20 01:00:58 UTC 2025-12-15 17:16:21 UTC hello@padlet.com Group 3 yudd20241 https://padlet.com/amatheson2/pqy9dvbm8iabhx0m/wish/1267651887 Initial response: 
Barber believes that the human brain is overstimulated with deadlines and due dates, and humans continuously think about the future and the past, but never stops in the present. Therefore, the beauty of nature and the beauty of the present moment is never truly appreciated. 

Narrative: 
How to stop doing stuff just because other people do it. How to leave a structured, regimented life. How to leave a life that is scrutinised and based around your job.

Shape of poem: 
10 syllables per line. Iambic pentameter. Has a general ABAB rhyme scheme, although this is not followed in the first 4 lines. Has 2 stanzas instead. A “broken” sonnet. 

Analysis: 
While ostensibly, the poem How to leave the world that worships ‘should’ is about , it is really about the criticising of a life that is lived only in responding to work and life's communications suggesting that it’s superficial and plagued with distractions. She desires the reader to take a moment to stop and stare at the beauty of the world around them and gaze in awe and admiration at the wonder of nature. Barber’s satire explores this through the juxtaposition of a digital age with natural creations, specifically through words such as “emails” and “birds”, “drivers” and “sheep”, etc, it is prominent of the comparison she wants to draw our attention to.  ]]> 2021-03-04 07:18:53 UTC https://padlet.com/amatheson2/pqy9dvbm8iabhx0m/wish/1267651887 Group 4 cktc761 https://padlet.com/amatheson2/pqy9dvbm8iabhx0m/wish/1267676947 “How to leave the world that worships ‘should’” explores the idealisation of societal norms centered around working. The poem follows a string of leaving things unanswered with most stanzas beginning with the word “let”, as if it is out of the person’s control. The irregularity of rhyming in each stanza could be a direct representation of not fitting into boxes and not following the “rules” of poetry. The metaphor “bird tracks in the sand” depicts an image of birds walking on the sand instead of flying as a metaphor for one not reaching their full potential with self-limitation. 

]]> 2021-03-04 07:27:09 UTC https://padlet.com/amatheson2/pqy9dvbm8iabhx0m/wish/1267676947 Group 2 ashleyw20241 https://padlet.com/amatheson2/pqy9dvbm8iabhx0m/wish/1267685651 Implications of the Title - predictions
  • The word "should" implies that it is expected of you or an assumption that you will automatically do these things. 
  • the word "worship" has religious connotations, it might mean unquestionable devotion to something or someone
  • The author is sick of being told what to do
  • The title might show that the poem is negative

Initial response
  • “Let”s are referring to more freedom
  • Technology related 
  • the words "junkmail", "deadlines", "telegram" is related to technology
  • Be less controlled to something that is controlling us 
  • reflects about modern society and how work interrupts our life

Narrative
  • Talks about how time passes too quickly 
  • Forgetting about the fast-moving world and reconnecting the nature 

Shape of poem - form (line lengths, rhyme, syllables, stanzas, development)
  • In each line of the poem, there are 10 syllables. Sonnet 

Analysis (asking ‘how’) - words, phrases, techniques
- its shown to have a negative attitude of the way we live and work in the modern world and believes a more natural world would be less stressful. This idea is shown through Barber’s use of structure, poetic devices and language choices.
- The repetition of “let” emphasises this importance. But it could also bore the reader which would also echo Barber’s belief that modern society is becoming high maintenance.
- “Let junkmail build its castles”, he personifies an annoying occurrence of everyday life into an army. This exaggeration could shock the reader because it mirrors the idea that media also exaggerates a seemingly ordinary event into a scandal which the general public rarely notices.
- Through Ros Barber’s use of personification, repetition, irony, imagery and varied sentence length, he explains his negative attitude of modern technology and the stressful and saddening impact it has on our lives and work.


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