1. Which city deserves the title of ‘The Most Romantic City in the World’ in your opinion? Give reasons for your answer.
2. Do you think that children generally know the story of how their parents met? Does this story belong to them as well as to their parents, or not?
COMPREHENDING AND RESPONDING
1. gave her’?
2. The setting of the poem is established in stanza one. Give your personal response to this setting.
3. What impression do you form of this couple having read stanza two? Support your answer with reference to the poem.
4. How do you think the young woman might be feeling in stanza three? Explain your answer with reference to this stanza.
5. can OR draw a sketch of it.
6. Explain what you think Boland means by the line ‘The past is an empty café terrace.’
7. The last stanza is quite different to the rest of the poem. Can you think of any reasons why Boland has included it here? Give reasons for your answer.
8. Having read the poem, do you think this is the perfect title for it, or would you pick another? Explain your answer.
9. ‘“The Black Lace Fan My Mother Gave Me” is a very visual poem. When we read it, we can picture the scene and the events taking place vividly.’ Discuss this statement with reference to the poem.
10. your answer.
CREATING
1. You want people to become more aware of where the food they eat, the clothes they wear and the energy they use comes from. Write the text of a radio talk in which you attempt to persuade listeners to make socially responsible choices when they are purchasing goods or services.
2. Write a short story that concludes with the main character receiving a very special gift.
3. Write two diary entries, one from the perspective of the woman in the poem and one from the perspective of the man, both written on the evening the events of the poem occurred.