labyrinth - Scarlet Theatre

Section 6 - A labyrinthine journey
Suggested subject area: English EN3
This section explores the idea that a labyrinth is
similar to a journey through life. It includes two
extracts from poems to explore, and guidelines
for writing an original poem.
Activity One:
1. Read the two poems on worksheet 11. With
your teacher, discuss what you think they might
be about.
2. Discuss the following questions:
• Why does Lorca say that life is like a labyrinth?
• Why does he think life is not made up of
straight roads?
• Do you agree with him?
• Why does Thompson describe his mind as
having ‘labyrinthine waves’ (labyrinthine means
like a labyrinth)?
• Does your mind ever feel like this?
• Who do you think the ‘Him’ that Thompson
talks about could be?
• Why do you think he describes laughter as
‘running’?
• Does your laughter ‘run’ or does it bubble,
spurt or clank?
• What other verbs could you use to describe
your laughter?
• How do you think Thompson and Lorca feel?
Activity Two:
1. Listen to your teacher read the poems again.
Draw a picture showing your thoughts about
Lorca’s view of life and Thompson’s view of his
own mind.
2. Thompson thinks his mind is like a labyrinth.
Lorca thinks life is like a labyrinth.
What do you think your life and your mind are
like? Use the following examples to get you
thinking.
Life is like... a labyrinth
an avocado
a pen
a sea
...................
...................
My mind is like... a labyrinth
a cloud
a bowl of pasta
a window
.......................
.......................
Activity Three:
1. Once you have decided what you think your
mind or your life are like, write a short poem
describing it in more detail.
If you like, you can use this frame:
My mind is like ......................................
It feels ......................................................
To other people it seems ..................
But to me it is ........................................
2. Look at worksheet 12.
Why do you think Thompson’s poem has been
shown in the shape of a spiral?
Can you create a final version of your poem in a
shape that matches its subject?
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