1. What is the theme of this poem? How are we meant to feel about the character of Timothy Winters?
2. What kind of person do you think Timothy Winters is? Choose three adjectives from the list and support your answer with references to the text.
lucky happy
unfortunate loved
serious abused
neglected tidy
scruffy innocent
3. There are some strong images in this poem. Choose the one that you felt was most powerful and explain why.
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A poem is not just some text in a book to be read silently. Just like a song should be sung, a poem is intended to be read aloud.
Imagine that you are the poet of ‘Timothy Winters’. Read through the poem and make a list of the words that you think you would emphasise and where you would pause.
Now listen to the poet read his poem.
FIRST LISTENING
Underline any words that the poet emphasises and mark an X when he pauses. For example: Timothy Winters comes to school With eyes as wide as a football-pool, X Ears like bombs and teeth like splinters: A blitz of a boy is Timothy Winters. X
SECOND LISTENING 1. If the poet’s voice goes up at any point, draw an arrow pointing upward 2. If his voice drops, draw an arrow pointing downward
THIRD LISTENING
In this collection you will be doing several dramatic readings, which will help you to prepare for your Oral Communication task, so take a note of things you liked about the poet’s reading.
Now compare your answers as a class. Discuss how or if listening to a recitation of a poem changes your understanding of it.
