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KID: FULL Grade 9 ANALYSIS by Simon Armitage

Mr Salles Teaches English

4,373 views 10 years ago

Warm-up Questions

From the title, what do you think a “Grade 9 analysis” video will do?
What do you already know about the poem “Kid” by Simon Armitage?
Why might a poem about Batman and Robin be useful for literary analysis?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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KID: FULL Grade 9 ANALYSIS by Simon Armitage

Why the poem is called “Kid” + relationship metaphor (00:00 – 01:54)

Transcript will load here…

1. What is one reason the poem might be called “Kid”?

Because Batman is a child in the poem
Because the protagonist is young and may still be immature
Because it is written for children only
Because it is about a school kid’s homework

2. The speaker suggests the Batman–Robin relationship can be read as a metaphor for what kind of situation?

Two equal friends competing in sports
A teacher helping a student revise for exams
A villain controlling a city through fear
A young person looking up to an older person, possibly feeling exploited

3. What question does the speaker raise about Batman’s role in the relationship?

Is Batman secretly Robin’s biological father?
Is Batman richer than the real Batman?
Is Batman developing Robin, or keeping him permanently as a sidekick?
Is Robin actually the hero of Gotham City?

KID: FULL Grade 9 ANALYSIS by Simon Armitage

Tabloid headlines, innuendo, and multiple interpretations (01:54 – 10:39)

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1. What two types of language does the speaker say Armitage mixes together?

Text-message slang and medieval English
Scientific language and legal language
Language from the TV series and tabloid newspaper language
Romantic poetry and religious prayers

2. According to the speaker, the phrase “roll me over in the Clover” is described as what?

A literal instruction for a dance move
A euphemism for sex
A reference to solving crime
A clue that Robin is a farmer

3. Why does the speaker say readers should be cautious about insisting on a sexual interpretation?

Because the poem gives no definite clues, and the lines can be read as scandal/gossip instead
Because Armitage clearly denies it in an interview
Because Robin and Batman are not mentioned in the poem
Because the poem is only about fashion and costumes

KID: FULL Grade 9 ANALYSIS by Simon Armitage

Batman’s decline, Robin’s monologue, and the poem’s ending effects (10:39 – 15:05)

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1. What structural detail does the speaker highlight as surprising?

The poem has no verbs at all
The poem is written in questions only
The poem has only one line
The poem is only four sentences long

2. What sound effect does the speaker say helps convey anger in “Batman big shot”?

Silent letters
Long vowel sounds
Whispered consonants
Plosive “b” sounds

3. How does the speaker describe Batman’s progression by the end of the poem?

From villain to hero to king
From sidekick to leader to superhero
From poor to millionaire to celebrity
From superhero to father to younger brother to baby, and then to nothing

KID: FULL Grade 9 ANALYSIS by Simon Armitage

Transcript will load here…

1. What is the speaker’s overall view on interpretation in this poem?

The best answers ignore language features and focus only on the plot
Interpretation is impossible because the poem is too short
Strong analysis can hold more than one interpretation and evaluate which is most convincing
There is only one correct meaning and it must be sexual

2. Why does the speaker think tabloid-style headlines matter in the poem?

They are included only to teach spelling
They help build a sensational, gossipy tone that suggests scandal/innuendo
They prove Batman is innocent
They show the poem is a newspaper article

3. What ending effect does the speaker emphasize with the missing final “Batman” (theme-tune echo)?

It makes the poem sound happier and more romantic
It suggests Batman is about to return
It creates a feeling of absence: “there is no more Batman”
It shows the speaker forgot the word

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

KID: FULL Grade 9 ANALYSIS by Simon Armitage

Do you agree that the Batman–Robin relationship in the poem can represent a real-life power imbalance? Why or why not?
When a text is ambiguous, how should an examiner/student show “evaluation” in an essay?
Which interpretation do you find more convincing: (1) sexual exploitation, (2) general exploitation/abandonment, or (3) something else? Use at least two details from the video.
Is Robin presented as “better” than Batman by the end, or just “victorious”? What’s the difference?