OIB with MrsC

Life Mask (homework for  1.  Read the collection of poems contained in the photocopy package called: Life Mask. 2. Identify 5 themes that are explored in the collection. 3. Choose your favourite poem. 4. Read 2 reviews of the poetry collection. For example, this review in the Independant newspaper or this blog entry by a private reviewer .  5. Complete the sentence/idea : In the "Life Mask" collection, I feel Jackie Kay is exploring....... because.....

  So You Think I’m a Mule  By Jackie Kay (1988)   ‘Where do you come from?’ ‘I’m from Glasgow.’ ‘Glasgow?’ ‘Uh huh, Glasgow.’ The white face hesitates the eyebrows raise the mouth opens then snaps shut incredulous.       Things Fall Apart By Jackie Kay (2005)   Listen to Jackie Kay reading her poem: https://poetryarchive.org/poem/things-fall-apart/   What is immediately interesting is that this poem convers both the idea of a personal and a universal journey.   The idea of a personal journey : having traveled from Scotland to Nigeria, an orphan meets her father, briefly and for the first time.   The idea of a universal experience : comparing oneself to a parent, and so identifying the differences but also the similarities.   This poem also explores a number of interesting themes.   Themes : post-colonial literature, masks, family, adoption, religion, identity and crossroads…   Masks: We have much to learn about Nigeria and masks,

First, let's consider " Things Fall Apart " by Jackie Kay,  Advice:  Have a look at this lovely video interview :  Jackie Kay - The National Poet for Scotland on her "poetry accident" (subtitles might help... and be patient as she reads Robert Burns' " Address to the Haggis "). And/ Or this Desert Island Discs interview.  From 24:22 until 26:01 she talks about meeting her father, which she also wrote about in her book Red Dust Road . 

 What is the OIB? The best way to answer this question is to go straight to the source of all OIB questions, the ASIBA websit e: https://www.asiba.fr/brevet-international/ The key part to remember from this page is: "The British version of the OIB represents a long-standing partnership between the French Ministry of Education and Cambridge International Education. Examinations in two subjects, English Language & Literature and History–Geography , are added to the full syllabus of the French Baccalaureate (the Baccalauréat Général). These extra subjects are examined in English at first-language level and certified by Cambridge as equivalent to A Level in standard. The bicultural nature of the OIB is illustrated by the fact that History–Geography is taught in both English and French. Students taking the British version of the OIB are taught in schools that run a dual, Franco-British curriculum. Through this dual programme, OIB students develop a capacity for hard work, and an i