-Names-

• The poem "Names" by Jackie Kay depicts a conversation between the speaker and their friend Jim Kelly, where Jim uses hurtful language towards the speaker
• In stanza 1, the speaker expresses shock and disappointment at Jim's hurtful words, feeling betrayed by someone they trusted
• Stanza 2 portrays Jim's remorse and apology for his hurtful words, showing a moment of vulnerability and regret in their friendship
• Names by Jackie Kay

  
• Figurative language makes a writer's description more vivid and helps the reader picture what the writer is talking about more easily
• The types of figurative language we will be learning about are simile, metaphor, and personification, which help create imagery and relate unique feelings or personal experiences that cannot be easily described
• Similes and metaphors are used in literature to compare things, with similes using "like" or "as" to show similarities between two things
• In literature, similes and metaphors are used to create vivid imagery and help the reader understand and visualize the writer's descriptions more effectively
• Simile example: "My voice was hard as a steel frame" - this simile indicates that the persona hardened his heart towards Jim because he was deeply hurt by Jim's offensive words and wanted Jim to explain himself fully
• Metaphor example: "I felt the playground sink" - this metaphor suggests that the persona feels sad, hurt, and very angry or upset by Jim's words
• Figurative language, especially similes and metaphors, help to paint a picture in the reader's mind, making the writing more engaging and descriptive
• Stanza 1 annotations

  
• Stanza 2 annotations

  
• The speaker uses the word 'hard' twice to emphasise their feelings of anger and frustration at being insulted
• 'It' refers to what the other person said about the speaker
• "When you say it" - The use of 'you' instead of 'he/she' creates distance between the speaker and the person who has said something negative about him.
• "Saying my name like a curse" - This phrase shows that the other person has said something negative about the speaker, possibly calling their name out in anger or frustration.
• "When you say it" - The use of the word 'you' implies that there is another person involved in the conversation.
• In stanza three, the speaker describes how they feel about themselves when they are with Jim, using the phrase 'my face is red'. This could be interpreted as embarrassment or shame.
• The use of the phrase 'it was hard' is also significant as it could be interpreted as meaning that the speaker found it difficult to accept the insult because they were not used to being treated like that.
• In stanza two, the speaker is trying to convince themselves that they are not affected by the criticism but this is shown to be false as they continue to think about it throughout the poem.
• In stanza two, the speaker describes how they feel physically sick when someone says something bad about them
• The use of the word 'red' also creates a visual image in the reader's mind, helping them to understand the emotions of the speaker.