Phil Beadle's Masterclass - Limbo and Night of the Scorpion

I enjoyed this approach at teaching the poems. There are several poems to teach in this anthology and its refreshing to push the desks back and try something interactive and new. I definitely picked up some tips that I will be using. Obviously, this lesson does not encompass everything the student needs to know about responding to these poems but it should hopefully spark an interest to encourage curiosity and involvement.

you sceptics out thee seem to be missin a mainpoint, the pupils enjoed it and were all involved, thats got to be a good thing hasn't it.

I was disappointed by the very Eurocentric interpretation of the poem being thrust upon the students without giving them to opportunity to investigate the poem. This old school teaching approach which sees students as empty vessels in need of filling although animated lacks the foresight of facilitating for students the process of discovery. Students from diverse ethnic backgrounds can often illuminate the interpretations of material and through investigation and deliberation develop their ability to analyses poems and put forward the personal response required to do well on the language paper.

Maxmcc you're a bit harsh on Phil Beadle. A man of any origin can have feminist sympathies, thank God, and it's simply a different interpretation of the poem. Surely modern literary theory has at least brought out into the open the multiple meanings of texts. I hadn't thought of the feminist angle and although I'm a little sceptical of it, I'd use it to provoke discussion. Presentation was great.

I was appalled at the lack of knowledge of the historical context and the over-intellectualising of these 2 poems by the teacher. If the slaves had to pass in to the ship under the bar, it stands to reason that the sailors had to as well. Referring to the chorous as 'stupid' shows a disregard not only for black culture and the author, but also for the crimes committed by whites against blacks. A white man trying to use his version of a West Indian voice to a mainly black class is plainly going backwards. The Night of the Scorpion is clearly not a feminist poem as nothing in it suggests so and also the author happens to be a Jewish man of Indian origin. Apart from these small details, the presentation was good and use of props were good.

I've always been slightly sceptical about this teacher's ability. But, from this, it is evindent that his approaches are extremely interesting indeed. I'll be using these aproaches in the classroom.

an interactive and thought-provoking look at the two poems. this has made me think about other ways I can introduce the poems to make them memorable rather than bogging pupils down with line-by-line analysis! thank you Mr Beadle!

Is it possible to assist me by giving the format of quesionaire on my subject? It will be much appreciated if this request meets your kind consideration. Thank you so much.