ELIZABETH COLLEGE pupils were given a masterclass in the English language yesterday by Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.
The acclaimed poet, critic, biographer and lecturer treated 20 Year 12 English literature A-level students to an informal workshop.
It was the second time Mr Motion, who began his agreed 10-year tenure in 1999, had visited Guernsey and he said he was always keen to get into schools to teach pupils about the art of the written word.
‘What I can do is persuade them that poetry isn’t something only dead people do – that you can have an almost ordinary life but with poems in it, or even at the centre of it,’ he said.
Mr Motion said poetry was present in all aspects of life – and accessible to teenagers on a daily basis, particularly through music.
‘Someone going home and learning all the lyrics to an Arctic Monkeys track is not that different – they are not totally isolated from each other,’ he said.
Mr Motion shared how he first started writing poetry and students had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss points such as personal influences.
Lower-sixth student Will Thompson, 17, was at the workshop.
‘He was quite inspirational – very eloquent and interesting to listen to,’ he said.
Mr Motion read one of his poems, written about Harry Patch, one of the last survivors of the First World War trenches.
‘It was really relevant to us because we are studying Wilfred Owen at the moment,’ said Mr Thompson.
The English poet and soldier wrote about the horrors of trench warfare and was killed in action a week before the war ended.
‘He said people often inadvertently write poetry to express their emotions and that is why it is fundamental to us,’ said Mr Thompson.
An example of that was when people leave messages of condolence at a murder scene.
Mr Motion has written eight poems in his time as Poet Laureate and recently admitted they were the most difficult of his life, something he shared with the students.
He receives £5,000 a year, rather than the customary barrel of wine.
In May, he will become the first poet laureate in 400 years to retire voluntarily from the post. All his predecessors all died in office bar one – the 17th-century dramatist John Dryden, who was sacked.
Article posted on 27th March, 2009 - 2.29pm
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