Poetry Analysis - The Lesson By Roger McGough (My poem)



After reading the poem, The Lesson by Roger McGough, I was suddenly inspired to write another poem which somehow relates to it. This is a poem written by me and entitled "The attack". It describes how a student goes into the teacher's office and create a havoc, killing teachers with amazing weapons.


THE DEMONSTRATION

Silence ruled OK in the office
as bravely as a student walked in
the discipline master ignored him
stood helplessly in the middle of the scene

"The lesson today for my class was violence
and homework was set
I'm going to show you how our teacher taught us
one that you'll never forget

He picked on a teacher who was chatting
and throttled him then and
then garrotted the teacher behind him
and it never end

With a sword in hand he hacked his way
between the HOD rows
'First come, first severed' he declared
'heads, fingers, or toes'

He threw a sword at the headmaster
it struck with deadly aim
then taking a machine gun
and continued his game

The continuous shot cleared the VIP office
(where those who are important hang out)
they collapsed like rubber dinghies
when the plug's pulled out

'May you please leave the office?'
a trembling vandal enquired
'Not until I have finished, sir' he answered
put the machine gun to his temple and fired

The bully popped a head round the door
to see why a din was made
nodded understandingly
then tossed in a grenade

The student shot with a bazooka
with blood on every chair
silence shuffed forward
with its hands up high in the air

The student surveyed the carnage
the dying and the dead
he waggled a finger severely
'Now this is what my teahcer did' he said

Poetry Analysis - The Lesson By Roger McGough


This is the poem, The Lesson by Roger McGough:



Chaos ruled OK in the classroom

as bravely the teacher walked in
the hooligans ignored him
his voice was lost in the din

"The theme for today is violence
and homework will be set
I'm going to teach you a lesson
one that you'll never forget"

He picked on a boy who was shouting
and throttled him then and there
then garrotted the girl behind him
(the one with grotty hair)

Then sword in hand he hacked his way
between the chattering rows"
First come, first severed" he declared
"fingers, feet or toes"

He threw the sword at a latecome
rit struck with deadly aim
then pulling out a shotgun
he continued with his game

The first blast cleared the backrow
(where those who skive hang out)
they collapsed like rubber dinghies
when the plug's pulled out

"Please may I leave the room sir?"
a trembling vandal enquired
"Of course you may" said teacher
put the gun to his temple and fired

The Head popped a head round the doorway
to see why a din was being made
nodded understandingly
then tossed in a grenade

And when the ammo was well spent
with blood on every chair
Silence shuffled forward
with its hands up in the air

The teacher surveyed the carnage
the dying and the dead
He waggled a finger severely
"Now let that be a lesson" he said

Well, after reading this well-written poem, you may feel that there is an irony in the poem. In the second stanza, the poet stated that the teacher who was frustrated and angry with his rowdy class wanted to teach them a lesson that his students would never forget. However, the teacher then took out his weapons and killed his students heartlessly. Most students were then dead in the carnage. As a result, no students would be able to remember this lesson by their teacher if they were already dead. Hence, here is the irony where the teacher was unsuccessful to achieve his objective.

Structure of poem (SLIMS):
In this poem, we can observe that it has 10 stanzas with 4 lines each. Each stanza has two lines that rhyme. Its sequence is couplet end rhyme, however, it does not have internal or sight rhyme.

After reading this poem, you may have some thoughts in your mind right now. You may be amazed by the way the poet describes how the teacher used his weapons and killed his students. I especially like the way the poet brings out the scene where students were shot by guns or killed by grenade. Hence, we can observe that the poet uses imagery in his poem to "put" the reader in the poem and helps the reader to "see" the scene in the poem. Imagery plays a vital role in a poem as it helps to create the tone and mood of the poem. It uses senses and figurative language to describe the scene in the poem. The figurative language used includes metaphors, similes, symbolism and allusion. One example of it is in the sixth stanza where "they collapsed like rubber dinghies".

Lesson 6 - Compulsory Blog Entry - Gambling costs more than your money.....

After my previous blog entry on the dire effects of lotteries, I will be taking about gambling and its serious consequences on the youth. I will be also discussing whether the choice of building casino in Singapore is right in my point of view. Before I start, I have done a lot of research on the topic, gambling and will like to show the statistics.

-Situation of Singapore
Based a reading from MCYS Gambling Participation Survey 2008, I had realised that the rate of the youth getting addicted to gambling and lotteries is soaring as more gambling opportunities are found in Singapore. Here is the reading of the amount of youth starting to gamble:

KEY FINDINGS FROM MCYS GAMBLING PARTICIPATION SURVEY 2008


Age at first gambling experience: Approximately 75% of the respondents of the surveys who ever gambled began gambling as early as the age of 24 or younger -

These statistics also show a significant increase from 63% in 2005. Hence, we can infer from this evidence that Singapore is facing an early onset of gambling. This can be worse if there are more gambling opportunities.

Some gamblers might even:

  • Gambling longer than intended.


  • Gambling until the last dollar is spent.


  • Thinking of gambling losses causes stress e.g. loss of sleep, depression or even suicide.


  • Using income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid.


  • Repeated but unsuccessful attempts to give up or control gambling.


  • Borrowing money to finance one's gambling needs.


  • Bankrupt

Source: National Council of Problem Gambing

In my opinion, I feel that gambling is really very harmful and dangerous at the same time as you may get bankrupt for just one bet. It may even lead you to more severe consequences and it may even cause your family relationships to turn worse. Hence, Singapore has finished building the casino, there will be more gambling opportunities and this will eventually cause a higher risk of the youth being exposed and addicted to gambling. As a result, problem gambling will soon occur, causing the youth of Singapore to be so obsessed with gambling that they might even gamble for their lifes and end up bankrupt.

-Severe Consequences of problem gambling
Problem gambling may be associated with mental health and well-being issues. These include feeling a loss in control, decision making, ability to cope and autonomy. In addition, gamblers may also engage in some other negative behaviours:

  • Personality disorders
  • Compulsive shopping
  • Anorexia / Bulimia / Eating Disorder
  • Psychiatric problems
  • Thoughts or fantasies of suicide
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Substance abuse or other addictions
  • Alcoholism
  • Drug use

Source: TSheedy/FutureDirections/Singapore/July07

Hence, this proved that if Casino is ready, there will be more problem gambling cases which will also lead to an increase of mental health problems in the society. In addition, if more people are to be addicted to gambling and cannot restrain themselves, they will also end up being bankrupt or losing their homes. To make matters worse, building casino may also cause a high rate of crime. Since more people are gambling, some of them might lose all of their savings and cause them to be bankrupt. Then, they might end up stealing and even going to jail. These are some of the negative effects of building a casino.

Some people might think that building a casino might attract more tourists to Singapore, but in my opinion, most of the tourists visit Singapore as they are attracted by its nature. But do you really think that the tourists who have never been to Singapore will be delighted to see a concrete city with casinos? Do you think that a casino really attracts tourists?
I am not too sure about it but I know having a casino will somehow increase the crime rate as more people will want to get money to gamble. Since the crime rate has increased, the tourists will be feeling that it is unsafe to visit Singapore, hence, it does not really helps a lot in attracting more tourists.

-My opinion
I really condemn the construction of the casino in Singapore as there are many negative impacts on the youth, society and tourism. Hence, I will not support to have a casino in Singapore due to long-term issues.

Lesson 6: Compulsory Blog Entry - Lottery, it is a form of leisure or addiction?

Quote from both of my parents:
"Buying lotteries is just like a form of leisure or enjoyment..... There is nothing wrong about buying lotteries. Just to not get too addicted to it, then it is ok....."

From the quote by my parents, it is obvious that adults nowadays are taking lotteries as a form of relaxation or leisure. Although I know that my parents are not very addicted to lottery, I think that this might only be an excuse for some adults. They might say that they just buy lotteries for leisure, but they might have not noticed that they had actually already addicted to it. However, a gambler will never admit that he/she is addicted to gambling as they were already so obsessed with it that they cannot even realise what they are doing. Playing with lotteries can also become a habit if the gamblers cannot control and restrain themselves.


Firstly, I will talk about the psychology of lottery gambling. Although many people will think that buying lottery is not really gambling, I think that the definitions of both terms are the same as both of them are making the gambler to "put their money in risk".


Why do I say so?

In my opinion, gambling or buying lotteries only makes the gambler to fish out their money and hope that "their money can get more money". Some gamblers are gambling despite losing many times due to greed. When the gamblers win any lottery, they will be ecstatic and will want more as they think that Lady Luck is with them now, hence, they feel that if they do not bet or gamble, it will be a waste of opportunity. In addition, some gamblers might bet or gamble because it is only pure leisure or interest to them at first but later as they bet more often, they will get addicted to it without realising it so easily just like being addicted to drugs. In my opinion, I feel that gambling or buying lotteries will not really bring much wealth to gamblers as what you have bet is not exactly what you will get in return.


This is my view on lottery and gambling: You may just want to bet for that one minute, but you may get bankrupt in a second.....


The psychology of lottery gambling

Lotteries have traditionally been regarded as "soft" forms of gambling which are assumed to have very few negative effects on the gamblers. However, that does not mean that lotteries cannot bring the same effect as gambling does. Lottery is actually a form of gambling and this type of gambling can be more dangerous than the common gambling when it is passed overuncritically without looking at consequences or effects from a psychological perspective. National Lottery is also introduced and this is also one example of lottery gambling to me. However, what seems to be so interesting is that in 1995, the Government of UK originally once argued that the National Lottery was not a realform of gambling because it was for good causes. But I still believe that any situation in which people intentionally risk and stake their money or savings on a future event in a risking attempt to gain more money is gambling. Therefore, buying tickets for a lottery is a form of gambling.


Over the years, there have been many claims that lotteries may be addictive. In my opinion, I absolutely feel that lotteries are addictive, hence, I condemn and discourage them in my point of view. Actually, there are quite many factors that led me to discourage lotteries.


One of the major concerns is that if a place has a significant increase in gambling opportunities, it will then be a potential rise in the number of problem gamblers - or gambling addicts. Addictions are always resulting from an interaction and interplay between many factors including the person’s biological and/or genetic predisposition, their psychological constitution, their social environment and the nature of the activity itself.
It has also been clearly shown from research evidence that any place where accessibility of gambling is increased, there will then be an increase not only in the number of regular gamblers but also a significant increase in the number of problem gamblers. This obviously means that not everyone is susceptible to developing gambling addictions but it does show that if there are more gambling opportunities, there will be more problems with the gamblers.


Problem gambling

Another factor that caused me to condemn lottery gambling is another big term, Problem gambling which is also known as ludomania. This is an urge to gamble despite knowing or experiencing some harmful negative consequences and effects. Problem gambling develops from social gambling and will worsen if probelm gambling persists. Problem gamblers will still gamble even though they have the the desire to stop. The term is preferred to compulsive gambling among many professionals as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word.


In addition, problem gambling is often defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler's behaviour. Severe problem gambling may be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling if the gambler meets certain criteria. Once the gambler has been diagnosed of clincal pathological gambling, it will be vey serious and difficult to cure. Although the term gambling addiction is common in the recovery movement, pathological gambling is considered to be an impulse control disorder, hence, I feel that gambling will lead to many negative consequences and effects such as problem gambling. As a result of problem gambling, gamblers might even affect your family members who are innocent and should not suffer the consequences for the gambler. Thus, I will encourage people to think twice and carefully before gambling and buying lotteries and the consequences may be dire and severe.


Problem gambling can cost you your savings, house and even your family. But the message from counsellors is, you can recover.

The following quote is from Charles Lee on addiction of gambling:
"Clients often feel that they are fine when they manage to quit for a few months. They lac the in-depth knowledge that addiction is a lifelong recovery process, and skills learning and relapse prevention training are vital for long-term success."

Problem gambling, gambling addiction or pathological gambling is a progressive condition similar to alcohol or drug addictions. Those with a gambling addiction have difficulties controlling their gambling habit, even when it has serious negative consequences for them and their families. Their gambling behaviour will increase over time, both in frequency and amount wagered.


-My opinions

Hence, I feel that lottery is actually a form of gambling and you will also get addicted to it. Its consequences may be as severe as problem gambling. It may cause the loss of savings and lead to many other consequences such as bad family relationships. Thus, I do not encourage and condemn lottery in Singapore as many youths are prone to these addictions of lotteries which may even cost their lifes.

Literature Online lesson 3 - Analysing Poem

The following poem is written by me on reminiscence of my primary school life:
My poem (Unforgettable memories):

Looking back on my primary school life,
There’s nothing but joy,
Six years on seventh heaven is what I call life,
Going through motions that are truly alive,

But the ride is not long-life,
Six years of primary school life,
Disappeared in a blink of an eye,
But things still continued and this is life.

School is like a daily routine for us,
Some will make a great fuss,
Some think that school is a torture chamber,
Some look forward to the holidays in December.

Life in Primary School is enjoyable,
It is never regrettable.
But some feel very bored,
And some feel that school is such a chore,

In my primary school,
I experienced many things, they are so cool!
I had seen people crying,
Seen people fighting.

I had seen friends playing,
Seen people laughing,
I had seen good friends helping,
And seen friendships been destroyed.

My primary school,
A home where I cherish moments.
Teachers are my parents,
Classmates are my siblings.

Now it's the end of my primary school life,
it's the beginning of independence.
I learned to cherish,
I learned to treasure.