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Komninos by the Kupful

This material was written by Amelia Lawson, Hunter's Hill High School

(These materials have been adapted to the 2009-2012 Prescription list)

Australian Voices Prescribed Text: Komninos, Komninos by the Kupful
Key Techniques Used in Komninos’ Poetry

Australian Voices Prescribed Text: Komninos, Komninos by the Kupful

"In their responding and composing students explore the ways in which language is used to represent voices in texts. They consider the different types of voices evident in texts and how the creation of a distinctly Australian voice, or voices, affects interpretation and shapes meaning." (English Stage 6 Prescriptions)

Introduction

Read through all of the Komninos' poems and make notes on the following:

What are Komninos' poems about? Can you see any ideas repeating themselves?
Comment on the style of Komninos' poetry. Are there particular techniques you notice him using?
Think of words to describe the voice that Kominos uses in his poetry.
Imagine that you have no knowledge of Australia. List what you learn about Australia (society, attitudes, and beliefs) based on Komninos' poems.
What do you learn about Komninos from the poems? Do you think the persona in the poem and Komninos are one and the same?

Comprehension Questions

The following questions are designed to give you greater insight into the poetry of Komninos.

back to melbourne

What are the landmarks that he passes on his way to Melbourne, and which cities and towns do they represent? Why does Komninos refer to these landmarks rather than their place names?
What other features of his journey are mentioned? Have you also experienced these on a road trip?
Melbourne is considered by many Australians to be the more reserved and well-mannered city. What line refers to this? What sound technique is used to reinforce the idea that Melbournians are overly polite?
Which line describes Komninos' journey into the past? What aspects seem to have remained the same? In your response, quote the line that emphasises this 'sameness' and explain the techniques used to reinforce the poet's assertion?
Based on Komninos' descriptions in the poem, what do you imagine Melbournians do most of the time?
What are the four questions each family member asks him? What do these expected questions and responses tell us about Komninos' family and Komninos himself? What is the effect of using this dialogue in the poem?
What does Komninos learn as a result of his journey?
In performance poetry, the use of sound devices is very important. Find examples of the following and explain their effect:
- Rhyme,
- assonance,
- alliteration,
- internal rhyme,
- onomatopoeia,
- repetition,
- line length
(this effects the way the poem is performed - where emphasis falls)
Describe the use of punctuation in this poem. Are Komninos' other poems the same? Why do you think Komninos breaks the rules of punctuation and what is the effect of this on his poetry?
How is the poem structured (consider what happens in each stanza and why)?
This poem is autobiographical. What does it tell us about the poet's way of living? Consider knowledge, attitudes and beliefs.

kuranda, 1992

Describe in your own words what the poem is about (three sentences).
From whose point of view is the poem told? How do you know this? What is the effect of the repetition of the word 'I'?
What is the context of the poem (think of the personal, social, cultural and historical influences)
The poem reads like a stream of consciousness, where the flow of the poem feels like the natural flow of Komninos' thoughts. Can you find an example of this? Why do you think the poet utilises this technique? Is it effective? Why or why not?
What is the subject's attitude to the place he is staying in and the people around him? How does his attitude change during the poem and how is this change communicated? Why do you think his attitude changes?
What do you learn about the subject's body image and what comment does the poem make about the subject's attitude?
The poem is set in a 'rainforest resort' but the tourists seem to be removed from nature. How is this shown?
How does the inaction of the beginning of the poem contrast with the subject's memories of his swim earlier that day?
Komninos covers many different ideas in this poem. What are some of these ideas? Is any one idea central to the poem

hillston welcome

In what way is the title ironic?
This is a poem about stereotypes and prejudging people. Why does the person in the poem think that Komninos is a bikie, and then a truckie?
What type of person do you think is addressing the poet? Why do you think this? What sort of a town do you think Hillston is, and why do you think this?
Have you ever been guilty of making judgements based on very little evidence?
How does the use of slang add to impact of the poem?
How do you think this 'welcome' would have made the poet feel?
What do you learn about the way of living the poet has chosen for himself?

eat

The first three stanzas each start with the imperative to 'eat'. How is this effective in emphasising the main idea of the poem and adding to the poem's sense of drama?
How are humour and exaggeration used in the fourth stanza to explain his predicament?
What does Komninos say about his teenage years?
With maturity, how does the poet come to terms with his shape?
Is the final comment anything more than a humorous way to conclude the poem?
The poem is about body image and acceptance. It is also making comment on the difficulties of growing up with two cultures. How does the poem illustrate this conflict?
What is the rhyme scheme used here? How might the rhyme scheme be effective when performing the poem?
The sound devices used include lists, repetition and alliteration. Find an example of each of these and write a few lines for each device explaining where it is used and why it is effective.

at christmas

Explain the strange introduction to the poem. Why do you believe it was included?
This is not a religious poem. Why is this explained at the beginning of the poem?
The poem is about the importance of Christmas as a time of family, togetherness, forgiveness and celebration of life. How do we know this?
Describe the structure of this poem. Why is it set out this way and is this effective?
What is the effect of the repetition of the line, "at Christmas" and why do you think the line is 'stuck on' at the end of each stanza?
The poem has a simple, but varying, rhyme scheme. How does it change and why?
Find examples of the Australian vernacular and explain them.
How does the poet communicate the idea that all Australians celebrate Christmas in ways that are the same, but different?
What Christmas stereotypes are described? How do they vary from your own experience of Christmas?
Why, according to the poet, is Christmas so important to the Australian way of living? Consider personal, social, historical and cultural contexts in your response.

consumer rap

In this poem the poet is offering advice. Who do you think is the intended audience for this poem?
Comment on the effectiveness of the title.
List the different pieces of advice that the poet gives.
What aspects of the advice deal with environmental issues?
What is the structure of this poem? Is it effective?
To what extent does the rhyming pattern of the poem contribute to its success? How does the rhyme scheme change in the last stanza and why?
List examples of colloquial language in the poem. How does this language help achieve the poem's purpose?
This poem has a serious purpose - is a performance poem an effective way of communicating advice/warnings about the trappings of our consumer society?
To what extent has Komninos communicated to us his knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about living in this society?

the girls

In your own words, describe what the poem is about.
What is the context of the poem?
What does the use of the plural noun 'the girls' suggest about the subject of the poem?
How does the poet emphasise the importance the girls place on the choice of dress?
How does Komninos play on our expectations in this poem? What techniques does he utilise to achieve this?
Why do you think the poem is so short? Given that Komninos is a performance poet, when do you think he would perform this poem (consider both the type of event he might perform at and the point in the 'running order' that he might perform this piece)

Key Techniques Used in Komninos' Poetry

"They will examine the features of texts that show the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs relating to ways of living." (English Stage 6 Prescriptions)

Poem	Structure	Techniques	Example/ Quote	Effect
back to melbourne	free verse	enjambment alliteration assonance allusion	"and me/ a has been Melbournian/ coming home again" "polite polis apologises" "battalions of italian stallions" "...past/ the big ram/ the dog on the tucker box"	continuing flow on effect short, sharp sounds reflect poets attitude swaggering rhythm reflects characterisation alludes to Aust. knowledge of icons that define country towns
kuranda	free verse	first person narrative stream of consciousness metaphor slang/ vernacular	"I sit talking to myself "I'm a cynick, sin ik, sinik, synic, synik" "..today,/ the great white whale" "bozo" "macleans mouth"	gives personal insight emphasises how 'open' thoughts are forms mental image for reader/ listener humour typical 'Australianism' - penchant for finding alternative labels for people and things
hillston welcome	two stanzas free verse	irony use of slang and colloquial language	'hillston welcome" "bikie" "truckie" "When you first com in 'ere"	reality opposite of title. Used to draw attention to this and creates humour creates visual image of characters reflects 'typical' Aussie, requires 'inside' knowledge to relate
eat	12 stanzas rhythm pattern	rhyme rhythm repetition exaggeration lists	stanza 1 "...grow/...grow" "eat", "diet" "I ate for all the refugees..." "the egg diet, the rice diet	creates mood, strong auditory effect creates movement and flow reinforces idea creates humour humour, audience can relate to 'common experience'
at christmas	3 sections: single stanza with rhyming couplets 7 four line rhyming stanzas single stanza with rhyming couplets	rhyming couplets stereotypes vernacular repetition	"...god/...bod" rhythm in stanzas 2-8 "grandma puts on her hat" "if stubbies and thongs are what you like" "at Christmas"	creates movement sing song effect creates sense of familiarity Australian audiences can relate brings us back to the central idea, and reinforces the fact that family and tradition comes before religion
consumer rap	9 stanzas: The first and last stanza are long. The central stanzas (2-8) have 4 lines each stanza.	mimics rap poem/ song rhyme pattern - rhyming couplets colloquial language/ slang terms internal rhyme	"when you spend your bucks" "the world's getting totalled,/ the worlds gettin' wasted" "don't chase the bargain, before you check the jargon"	humour in a big older Greek Australian 'undertaking' a rap and creates a 'fun' beat helps young people to relate to contemporary issues helps rhythmic flow, emphasises the idea