What encounter, as in experience, does the poet tell us about in the poem?
How a blind man asked him for help to go to the toilet and back in a snack bar
How a cup fell over in a snack bar and everyone ignored it
How a blind man needed to be helped onto a bus outside a snack bar
What is the effect of the poem being written in free verse using the present tense?
This makes the poem flow more as though it is a story
This makes the incident sound more natural as though it is happening in front of the reader, making it more real
This makes us feel as though we are free to enjoy the poem
What is alliteration?
A poetic technique in which there is a comparison using like or as
A poetic technique in which there is an effective use of word choice
A poetic technique in which there is repetition of the first letter at the start of each word to create a sound effect and a pun
Which of these is a good example of alliteration?
‘A cup capsizes along the formica…’
‘stuck to the half-white stick’
‘…patience of the undefeated’
Which of these is a good example of a simile used to present a repulsive picture of the poor blind man?
‘like a monstrous animal caught in a tent in some story’
‘like a huge giant trapped in a cage’
‘like a beggar in the street caught in a trap in a novel’
Why does the poet use dashes when he repeats the blind man’s requested statement ‘I want- to go to the- toilet’?
To echo his movement and patient approach, but also to convey his sense of hopelessness and fear
To echo his anger and internal rage at having to make such a request in the first place to a stranger
To echo his desperation and fear of being rejected and convey his lack of expectancy
Which word is used repeatedly to emphasise how long it seemed to take for the poet and the blind man to go to the toilet and back?
‘clings’
‘slowly’
‘patiently’
Which two words juxtaposed highlight a contrast between the old man and the toilet?
‘trickle’ and ‘apology’
‘feebly’ and ‘gently’
‘uncouth’ and ‘clinical’
Which of these words is an example of personification in the poem which gives the bus human qualities and emotions as it picks up the blind man to take him home?
‘stutters’
‘shivers’
‘shudders’
Why does the poet end the poem with the words ’Dear Christ, to be born for this!’?
To highlight the poet’s exasperation and despair that the old man has to live such a sad existence with no one to help him
To highlight the poet’s rage that the man was not going to reward him for helping him
To highlight the poet’s discontent at the state of the world in general