What's In It For Me?

What’s in it for me (WIIFM)? happens to be a question that drives almost every decision we make as young people in our lives from the moment we wake up to our bedtime. It guides our every action today. Besides, all the competing priorities of modern life, we often ask ourselves when someone talks about change or giving back to the community, "What's In It For You?"  This has always been the question I come across when people see the work I do in my community. Then you happen to ask yourself the same question and wish you had not asked it from you because you'll end up with the most beautiful reasons once can ever think of. 

Since, humans are not as generous as the God or the Earth, I'd like to use them for an example to illustrate the meaning of the question. So, let's try to change our roles , where the environment we live in, the planet Earth we are a part of asks the question themselves, when we approach them for rain after three months of heat on our bodies, and the answer we get is a 'No", will you and I be able to survive for too long? The reason why we still continue to receive the amazing blessings on earth is because God is good and the environment freely gives them to us, not asking itself if he has enough for him/her. That's why we need to not take things we are blessed with as we like it, for granted, because we might turn over a blind eye to the things happening around us. 

I personally believe that we should love people unconditionally , reach out unconditionally, help the Earth to keep it's balance that's the true joy in one's life. Sadly, people today expect to do something nice in return for what nice thing the other person did for them. That's why we need to look at community work as a form of expressing your love for change instead of asking yourself, what's in it for me? this will ultimately help you achieve your bigger visions in life and scale up your work, even without you knowing.

SECTION A 

Unseen Poetry 

Re-read The Tyger. Compare how the writers present power in The Tyger and one other poem from the anthology. You should make reference to language, form and structure. Support your answer with examples from the poems. 

Examiners should be alert to a variety of responses and should reward points that are clearly based on comparison of the two poems. Indicative content is offered for The Tyger but because candidates are asked to choose any other appropriate poem from the selection, it is not always possible to indicate content for the second except in generic ways. The Tyger (AO2) Responses may include: • the power of the tiger is presented throughout the poem. Blake questions the creation of the powerful creature and structures ideas in a series of questions to the tiger itself • questions about the nature of good and evil express the wonder of God’s power, ‘What the hand dare seize the fire?’, and how he created both goodness and innocence: ‘Did he who made the Lamb make thee?’ • the poem begins and ends with the same verse, except that the word ‘Could’ is replaced with ‘Dare’; the structure perhaps suggests a change in attitude, which the poem has explored and brought about • there are several significant words and phrases in the poem that seem ambiguous or offer scope for interpretation of power, such as: ‘fearful symmetry’, ‘threw down their spears’, ‘water’d heaven with their tears’, ‘forests of the night’ and ‘On what wings dare he aspire?’ 

• the power of the tiger is conveyed through the use of contrasting colour imagery: ‘burning bright’, ‘ forests of the night’. The contrast of light and dark makes the tiger’s appearance even more powerful • repetition is important in the poem in both structure and language choice for dramatic emphasis

• language choice follows a pattern with references to sources of power: ‘sinews’, ‘heart’ and the ‘anvil’ and ‘furnace’ with which they were framed; powerful images are demonstrated through the references to the blacksmith’s tools or those of the Industrial Revolution when Great Britain was most powerful; the strong rhythm and beat reflect the noise and vibration of manufacturing and provide powerful aural images • alliteration within the poem emphasises the sheer power of the tiger through the use of powerful images and plosives: ‘burning bright’, ‘began to beat’ • the six quatrains each have two pairs of rhyming couplets; this structure, together with the regularity of the questions, patterns of language and repeated alliteration, provide a powerful image of the tiger 

• the whole poem recognises the power of a being that can create both the awe-inspiring, ‘fearful’ tiger and the innocent lamb.

The Tyger and one other poem Both poems have particular merits and features and therefore there are a number of points of comparison which students will make. Examiners might consider the following areas of comparison where applicable: treatment of subject matter and theme, tone, voice, attitude, character, diction, imagery including figurative language, poetic form/structure including rhythm, line length, enjambement. All points of comparison should be developed and supported by close reference and evaluation of specific examples.

(AO3) Responses may include: • the poem chosen must be one in which power is a significant theme, such as: If-, Prayer Before Birth, Blessing, Search for My Tongue, My Last Duchess, Half-caste, or any other appropriate poem from the collection • power will be central to the comparison, such as how powerful images are created by the use of colour in both Blessing and The Tyger or, for example, how the power of good and evil is presented in The Tyger and Prayer Before Birth • comparisons of the similarities and differences are supported with relevant examples to demonstrate how power is presented in each poem • the theme of power is conveyed through the comparison of language, form and structure of each poem • comparisons, in relation to the ways modern-day readers will react to the power presented in the poems, may be included. These examples are suggestions only. Accept any valid responses.

 

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Compare how the writers present power in The Tyger by William Blake and Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Both William Blake in The Tyger and Percy Bysshe Shelley in Ozymandias explore the theme of power through vivid imagery and reflections on nature, creation, and human ambition. In both poems, the nature of power—its awe-inspiring force, its potential for destruction, and its ultimate impermanence—is examined. However, while Blake’s poem focuses on the divine and mysterious power behind the tiger’s creation, Shelley’s poem presents the decay and fragility of human power as symbolized by the ruined statue of the once-mighty king, Ozymandias. Both poems, though very different in subject and tone, convey the idea that power—whether divine or human—is not absolute and can be subject to forces beyond control.

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1. Power and Creation: Divine and Human Power

In The Tyger (William Blake):

Blake’s poem explores the theme of power through the creation of the tiger, a mysterious, terrifying force of nature. The power of the tiger is not merely physical, but also spiritual, evoking awe and fear. The speaker wonders who could have created such a powerful and dangerous creature, suggesting a divine or cosmic force behind it. The repeated questions in the poem emphasize the mystery and awe surrounding the tiger's creator. Blake is reflecting on the nature of divine power, which encompasses both creation and destruction.

• The tiger as a symbol of divine power: The tiger represents a force that is beyond human understanding. The speaker asks if the same creator could have made both the tiger and the innocent lamb, highlighting the duality of creation—both gentle and violent forces are part of the same cosmic power.

  • “What immortal hand or eye, / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
  • “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?”

These lines question the origin of power and the moral responsibility of the creator. The tiger’s power is terrifying, but the speaker wonders if the creator is also responsible for both good and evil. This suggests that power is a mysterious force that may be beyond human comprehension or moral judgment.

In Ozymandias (Percy Bysshe Shelley):

In contrast, Ozymandias presents a human figure, a king, whose power was once supreme but has since decayed and crumbled. The poem describes the ruined statue of Ozymandias, the king who once commanded awe and fear. The image of the broken statue in the desert is a powerful symbol of the transience of human power. Shelley reflects on how human ambition and pride, no matter how vast, are ultimately subject to the ravages of time and nature.

• Human power is temporary and fragile: The ruin of the statue symbolizes the decay of the king's power. The poem’s imagery contrasts the once-great king's ambition with the loneliness and emptiness left in the wake of his reign.

  • “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
  • “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, / The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

These lines show the irony of Ozymandias’ boast, as the power he once wielded has been reduced to nothing but ruins. Shelley uses this to argue that human power is fleeting and ultimately inconsequential in the grand scope of time and nature.

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2. The Power of Nature: The Natural World vs. Human Constructs

In The Tyger (William Blake):

Blake’s poem emphasizes the raw power of nature, embodied in the tiger. The tiger is a force of nature, and its power is presented as awe-inspiring, terrifying, and mysterious. The speaker reflects on the power of the creator, but also on the power inherent in the creature itself. The tiger represents wild, untamed power, which is neither good nor evil but simply exists.

• Nature’s power: Blake presents the tiger as a force of nature that cannot be easily understood or controlled. The tiger’s fearful symmetry and its strength symbolize nature’s ultimate power—its ability to create and destroy without moral intent or human intervention.

  • “In what distant deeps or skies. / Burnt the fire of thine eyes?”

The tiger’s power is so immense that it transcends human understanding, and the speaker is left in awe of both the creature and its creator. The question is not about the moral nature of this power, but about the mystery of how such a creature could come into being. In this way, nature’s power is presented as mysterious and indifferent to human notions of good and evil.

In Ozymandias (Percy Bysshe Shelley):

In Ozymandias, the power of nature is presented as the ultimate force that brings down human power. The ruined statue, which was once a symbol of the king's grand ambition, is now overrun by the desert. The destruction of the statue shows how nature—in the form of wind, time, and erosion—has undone human achievements.

• Nature’s supremacy: The desert sands that stretch around the statue symbolize the inevitable dominance of nature over human constructs. Despite Ozymandias’ claims of supreme power, nature has gradually reclaimed the land, leaving only ruins behind.

  • “The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Nature, in the form of time and the elements, exerts ultimate power, reducing human works to nothing. The poem contrasts the transitory nature of human power with the eternal forces of nature that eventually obliterate all human achievements, no matter how mighty.

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3. The Irony of Power

In The Tyger (William Blake):

Blake’s poem contains an element of irony in its exploration of power. The speaker’s questions imply a moral inquiry into the nature of the creator’s power—how can something as powerful and terrifying as the tiger coexist with the innocence of the lamb? The poem’s ironic tone suggests that power, whether divine or natural, is not easily categorized as purely good or evil.

• Moral ambiguity: The speaker is not condemning the creator but is instead in awe of the dual nature of creation. The tiger represents a form of power that is both beautiful and fearsome, and the speaker is caught between admiration and fear of this untamed power.

  • “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?”

This line reflects an ironic questioning of the creator's ability to make both good and evil. The power of creation, embodied in the tiger, raises difficult questions about the nature of divine power and whether it can be reconciled with the violence it creates.

In Ozymandias (Percy Bysshe Shelley):

The poem is rich with irony, particularly in the inscription on the statue, where Ozymandias proclaims, “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!” The irony lies in the fact that, while Ozymandias boasts of his unrivaled power, all that remains of his kingdom is a ruined statue in the desert. The grandiosity of Ozymandias’ message is undermined by the reality of his forgotten empire.

• Irony of human pride: Ozymandias’ words, meant to inspire fear and awe, are instead a testament to the futility of human ambition. The power he once had is now nothing but a warning to those who seek to dominate the world. The irony lies in the contrast between the king’s boastful inscription and the reality of his ruined power.

  • “Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
  • “Nothing beside remains.”

The poem suggests that human pride and ambition are ultimately meaningless in the face of the unrelenting forces of time and nature, underlining the ephemeral nature of human power.

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Conclusion:

Both Blake’s The Tyger and Shelley’s Ozymandias explore the theme of power, but in different contexts and with different focuses. Blake contemplates the mystery and awe of divine power as seen in the creation of the tiger, which is simultaneously beautiful and terrifying. His poem suggests that power, in its raw and untamed form, exists beyond human understanding or control.

In contrast, Shelley’s Ozymandias presents the decay and impermanence of human power. The once-great king’s boastful inscription is rendered ironic as nature erodes his empire, showing that human power, no matter how great, is ultimately fleeting

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Themes of Society in Prayer Before Birth and Half-Caste

Both Louis MacNeice's Prayer Before Birth and John Agard's Half-Caste explore profound concerns about society, specifically about the role of the individual in the larger social context and the inequalities embedded within society. While Prayer Before Birth presents a plea against the cruelty and corruption of the world, focusing on the speaker's fear of being born into a hostile, unjust world, Half-Caste critiques racial prejudice and societal divisions based on race and identity. Both poems challenge societal norms and force the reader to reflect on the social structures that shape the experiences of individuals.

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1. Critique of Society’s Injustices

In Prayer Before Birth (Louis MacNeice):

MacNeice’s poem reflects a profound critique of society’s ills. The speaker’s prayer for protection against the evils and corruption of the world suggests an awareness of the harshness and moral decay within society. The speaker is asking not only for personal safety but also for protection against the negative influences of a world that is broken and full of injustice. There is an overwhelming sense of fear and vulnerability.

• Reflection of societal injustice: The speaker’s wish to avoid being born into a world of hatred, greed, and violence emphasizes the cruelty that society perpetuates. The poem conveys the inevitability of suffering in the human experience and exposes the dehumanizing elements of a corrupted society.

  • “I fear that the human race / Will be too much for me”
  • “Let not the voice of the human race be heard.”

These lines suggest that society’s negative influence is so pervasive that it can even distort one’s sense of self and humanity. The poem reveals a fear of being contaminated or corrupted by the evils of the world, which are symbolic of societal injustices.

In Half-Caste (John Agard):

Half-Caste is a direct critique of racial prejudice and discrimination in society. The term "half-caste" itself is a derogatory term used to describe people of mixed racial heritage, and Agard’s poem challenges the use of this label. The speaker defends his identity and heritage, rejecting the society that tries to categorize him and others based on racial divisions.

• Challenging racial prejudice: Agard uses the term "half-caste" as a metaphor for racial inequality and prejudice. Through the speaker’s ironic tone, the poem attacks the idea of racial purity and exposes how society often imposes limiting labels on individuals based on their race.

  • “Examine myself. / I see the part of me in the world”
  • “When I sleep / I sleep in the dark”

These lines suggest that the speaker, who has been labeled “half-caste,” feels alienated by society’s definitions and stereotypes. Instead of accepting the narrow view society has imposed, Agard uses humor and irony to reject the societal limitations placed on his identity.

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2. Identity and Belonging

In Prayer Before Birth (Louis MacNeice):

MacNeice’s speaker expresses a desire for identity formation that is free from the corrupting forces of society. The speaker seems to be worried that, once born, they will be shaped by a society that will force them into roles that might involve immorality or suffering. This prayer reflects a fear of being disempowered by societal pressures that stifle individuality.

• Fear of societal roles: The speaker’s anxiety about being born into a world filled with conflict and dispossession reflects concerns about how society can strip away individual freedom and identity. The speaker desires a life free from the constraints of a world that forces people to conform.

  • “Let me not be a tool of the state”

This plea suggests a desire to avoid being shaped into a mindless cog in the machinery of societal systems that undermine personal agency. The speaker longs for freedom from the pressures and expectations of society that would impose on their identity.

In Half-Caste (John Agard):

In Agard’s poem, the speaker’s identity is a source of pride, despite being labeled as “half-caste” by society. The speaker rejects the label and instead embraces a complex, multifaceted identity that resists being defined by a single societal category. Agard uses humor and rebellion to assert that identity cannot be reduced to a binary or a set of simple labels.

• Defending identity: The poem challenges the societal tendency to pigeonhole people into categories based on race, emphasizing that an individual’s identity cannot be confined by labels. Agard rejects the limiting concept of "half-caste" and instead celebrates the richness and complexity of mixed identity.

  • “I am not half-caste”
  • “I am whole in myself.”

These lines suggest that the speaker’s identity cannot be simplified or reduced, reflecting a rejection of society’s narrow definitions. The speaker’s defiance represents a challenge to societal norms that try to divide people into rigid categories based on race or heritage.

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3. Resistance and Rebellion Against Society

In Prayer Before Birth (Louis MacNeice):

MacNeice’s speaker, while fearing the world’s corruption, also seems to be subtly resisting the societal forces that shape human lives. The speaker’s plea for protection and freedom from societal influence is a form of resistance against the unjust systems that exist in the world. The poem shows the speaker’s struggle for autonomy in a world filled with inequality and oppression.

• Resistance to societal expectations: The poem’s speaker rejects the idea of blind conformity to societal norms and expectations. They desire freedom from the suffering and injustice that society might impose upon them, making the prayer a form of rebellion against societal oppression.

  • “Let not the blood-stained hand / ... make my hand strong”

This plea emphasizes the speaker’s refusal to be shaped by the violent and corrupting forces of society, instead seeking a more peaceful and just world in which they can forge their own path.

In Half-Caste (John Agard):

Agard’s speaker actively resists the societal label of "half-caste," challenging the prejudices of a society that seeks to divide people along racial lines. By using sarcasm and irony, Agard shows how the speaker’s resistance to this label is a form of rebellion against the societal forces that seek to dehumanize him. The poem is a celebration of resistance, as the speaker asserts their right to a self-defined identity.

• Defiance against racial prejudice: The speaker refuses to accept society’s racial labels, instead making a bold statement about the individual’s right to define themselves. Agard’s use of humor and clever language shows the power of rebellion against the labels imposed by society.

  • “Excuse me / Standing on one leg / I am half-caste”

Through these lines, Agard conveys a sense of mockery of the societal labels used to oppress people, positioning his speaker as a defiant figure who rejects the narrow confines of racial categorization.

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Conclusion:

In both Prayer Before Birth and Half-Caste, the poets present concerns about society through the lens of individual identity and the forces that shape it. MacNeice reflects on the moral degradation of the world and its impact on personal identity, while Agard resists racial labels and advocates for the celebration of complex identities in a society that often seeks to simplify them. Both poems explore the tension between societal pressures and the individual’s desire for autonomy, but they do so through different lenses—MacNeice through fear and protection, Agard through defiance and humor. Ultimately, both poems express the poets' desire to challenge societal norms and assert the value of individual identity in a world that often seeks to undermine it.

Get smarter responses, upl

Re-read Prayer Before Birth and Half-caste. Compare the ways the writers present concerns about society in Prayer Before Birth and Half-caste. You should make reference to language, form and structure. Support your answer with examples from the poems.

Examiners should be alert to a variety of responses and should reward points that are clearly based on comparison of the two poems. Evidence of a degree of personal response must be given. It is not sufficient to summarise or paraphrase, nor is it sufficient simply to list literary devices. Prayer Before Birth (AO2) Responses may include: • the monologue conveys the unborn child’s concern about society; the unborn child begs God for protection in life throughout the prayer. The unborn child fears everyday life experiences, ranging from childish nightmares in stanza one, through physical ill-treatment in stanza two to the emotional, mental and moral corruption of the child • the unborn child is concerned about the negative effects of society and fears being exposed to evil, preferring to be surrounded by nature and craving nature’s company in life: ‘grass to grow for me, trees to talk / to me, sky to sing to me’. Stanza three highlights the unborn child’s wishes and looks to the restorative powers of nature and the ‘white light’ for guidance • the unborn child begs God for ‘strength against those’ who could corrupt life. The unborn child would prefer to die rather than be born and exposed to the dangers of everyday life • repetition is used to emphasise the unborn child’s concerns about society and to heighten wishes for the future: ‘I am not yet born’ • alliteration and assonance provide internal rhyme and emphasise the horrific nightmares and menacing threats the child will face in life: ‘bloodsucking bat or the rat’, ‘tall walls wall me’, ‘with wise lies lure me’ • the metaphorical ‘cog in a machine’ and the simile ‘like water held in the / hands would spill me’ suggest a fear of the lack of identity. The child desires the ‘strength’ to be independent in life • the negative tone provides a depressing view of everyday life and concerns about society; the unborn child wishes for a good life • the poem is often viewed as depicting the dehumanising effects of war. The horrors of war are juxtaposed with the innocent unborn child. The unborn child is powerless and cannot escape the evils of society, but begs for forgiveness: ‘sins that in me the world shall commit’ • rhyme is internal, and linked to repetition: ‘hither and / thither or hither and thither’ • the stanza shapes are distinctive with an opening plea followed by a detailed list, which builds in pace as the lines shorten. The two short stanzas perhaps sum up the concerns about society, while the final short line (‘Otherwise kill me’) shows the strength of the desperate desire to have control of destiny. Half-caste (AO2) Responses may include: • the writer speaks about his frustration with the foolishness of society and makes fun of the outdated, prejudiced and insulting phrase ‘Half-caste’

• the writer challenges society’s absurd and prejudiced views. Concern about society is shown as the writer feels that this language is used to control and suppress some members of society • the use of non-standard, colloquial English and the use of modified Afro-Caribbean patois convey the writer’s thoughts and feelings about society: ‘half of mih eye’. He questions others’ views, suggesting they need to open their minds to what the phrase ‘Half-caste’ connotes • there is no formal rhyme scheme but the writer repeats some phrases, such as the imperative ‘explain yuself’ and the question ‘wha yu mean’ which help to bind the poem together. The repetition of commands, questions and answers suggest that society cannot give reasons for holding prejudiced views • the lack of punctuation apart from dashes and obliques, together with phonetic spelling, creates a sense of the spoken voice and the tone of frustration aimed at society • the use of the expletive ‘ah rass’ emphasises the writer’s tone of anger and frustration with a prejudiced society • comparison is used (analogy) with three examples of other mixtures of things that could be considered as ‘half-caste’: ‘canvas’, ‘weather’ and ‘symphony’. The writer mocks the meaning of the phrase and shows how mixing things together is creative and natural • the writer addresses the reader directly: ‘Explain yuself’, ‘I will tell yu’ • the structure of the poem is in sections: the first half deals with the writer questioning the implications for other things that are mixed if the phrase is taken to its logical conclusion; the second with him questioning the implications for himself. Both poems Both poems have particular merits and features and therefore there are a number of points of comparison which students will make. Examiners might consider the following areas of comparison where applicable: treatment of subject matter and theme, tone, voice, attitude, character, diction, imagery including figurative language, poetic form/structure including rhythm, line length, enjambement. All points of comparison should be developed and supported by close reference and evaluation of specific examples. (AO3) Responses may include: • both writers voice their concerns about society: one considers how innocents can be corrupted in an evil society and the other how people are controlled and suppressed by racist attitudes and how illogical that is • both poems are written in first-person narrative, making them both forceful and emotional • both poems use an unusual structure and both are in free verse. Prayer Before Birth is structured like a prayer and uses repetition to begin each stanza. Half-caste also uses frequent repetition • both writers express anger, frustration and helplessness but try to challenge society’s treatment of them or the situations they are in • MacNeice employs a wide range of punctuation, but Agard does not use formal punctuation throughout his poem in order to reinforce his non-conventional views. Both poets use varied line lengths and layouts. These examples are suggestions only. Accept any valid responses.