Homing

• Who is the poet of 'Homing'?

  Liz Berry
• In which year was Liz Berry born?

  1980
• What themes does the poem 'Homing' explore?

  Relationships with cultural heritage and language shaping identity
• What does the speaker suggest about their accent in the first three lines?

  The accent has been hidden by hours of speech training
• How does Berry portray the process of learning to conform in the poem?

  As punitive and painful
• What does the imagery of “rusted shut” imply in the poem?

  It implies an extended period of repressed expression
• What does the speaker express nostalgia for in lines 6-10?

  The rich sound of the listener’s old accent
• What does the speaker wish to do with the listener's hidden accent in lines 11-13?

  They want to break open the box and let the lost words spill out
• What do the words “bibble, fittle, tay, wum” represent?

  They represent elements of the Black Country accent
• How does Berry use sensory imagery in the poem?

  To draw attention to the vibrancy of cultural heritage
• What does the metaphor of “swallow” signify in lines 17-20?

  It refers to the richness of the sounds of the native accent
• What does the speaker want to do with the listener's voice in lines 21-23?

  They want to forge the voice in their mouth
• What does the final image of “pigeons fluttering for home” symbolize?

  It symbolizes freedom and a return to cultural heritage
• What is the significance of the poem's form?

  • Suggests an intimate conversation
  • Directly addresses an absent listener
  • Conveys nostalgia and emotional reflection on identity
• How does the structure of the poem reflect the speaker's emotions?

  • Shifts rhythm to celebrate cultural identity
  • Uses enjambment to convey frustration
  • Reflects admiration through caesura
• What themes does Liz Berry explore in 'Homing'?

  • Belonging and heritage
  • Disconnected relationships
• How does Berry portray the Black Country in her poem?

  • Positively describes urban heritage
  • Uses sensory imagery to evoke emotions
  • Celebrates the accent and cultural identity
• What does Berry suggest about the pressure to conform regarding language?

  • It is challenging and restrictive
  • It leads to hiding one's identity
  • It mourns the loss of regional accents
• How does the poem 'Homing' connect to Liz Berry's background?

  • Berry was born in the Black Country
  • The poem reflects her connection to her home region
  • It addresses the ridicule faced by the accent
• What is the overall message of 'Homing' regarding cultural identity?

  • Embrace and celebrate cultural heritage
  • Recognize the beauty in regional accents
  • Acknowledge the pain of repressed identity
• How does the poem conclude regarding the listener's identity?

  • It liberates the listener from repressed identity
  • It connects freedom with returning to heritage
  • It emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance