, ENG1501 ASSIGNMENT 1 2026
DUE DATE: 13 APRIL 2026
This assignment comprises TWO sections. Both sections are COMPULSORY. Section A: Reflection:
Poetry (Unit 2) Read Unit 2 of TL501 carefully. Then choose a prescribed poem that is not
discussed in TL501 from the list in TL102 on the ENG1501 myModules site (the poems are
available as e-reserves on the Library website).
Write three short paragraphs in response to the prompts below. You must refer to the specific
poem, the lines you studied and TL501.
Section A: Reflection on Poetry – “Memory” by Christopher van Wyk
Paragraph 1:
The poem I have chosen is “Memory” by Christopher van Wyk. I decided to work with this poem
because it deals with childhood memories in a very real and honest way, which made it easier for
me to connect with compared to more abstract poems. From my first reading, I felt a mixture of
emotions. At first, it seemed like a simple recollection of the past, but the more I read it, the more
I realised that there was a deeper meaning behind those memories. There is a strong sense of
nostalgia in the poem, but it is not the kind that makes you feel happy and warm. Instead, it feels
heavy, almost uncomfortable, because the memories are linked to difficult living conditions and
struggles. What really surprised me was how the poet manages to take small, everyday details
and turn them into something powerful and emotional. I also found myself slightly confused in
the beginning because the voice in the poem seems to shift between a child’s experience and an
adult’s reflection. However, after reading it again, I understood that this is what makes the poem
effective — it shows how we can look back at our childhood and see things differently once we
are older. This made me realise that memory is not always straightforward; it can change over
time depending on how we understand our past.
DUE DATE: 13 APRIL 2026
This assignment comprises TWO sections. Both sections are COMPULSORY. Section A: Reflection:
Poetry (Unit 2) Read Unit 2 of TL501 carefully. Then choose a prescribed poem that is not
discussed in TL501 from the list in TL102 on the ENG1501 myModules site (the poems are
available as e-reserves on the Library website).
Write three short paragraphs in response to the prompts below. You must refer to the specific
poem, the lines you studied and TL501.
Section A: Reflection on Poetry – “Memory” by Christopher van Wyk
Paragraph 1:
The poem I have chosen is “Memory” by Christopher van Wyk. I decided to work with this poem
because it deals with childhood memories in a very real and honest way, which made it easier for
me to connect with compared to more abstract poems. From my first reading, I felt a mixture of
emotions. At first, it seemed like a simple recollection of the past, but the more I read it, the more
I realised that there was a deeper meaning behind those memories. There is a strong sense of
nostalgia in the poem, but it is not the kind that makes you feel happy and warm. Instead, it feels
heavy, almost uncomfortable, because the memories are linked to difficult living conditions and
struggles. What really surprised me was how the poet manages to take small, everyday details
and turn them into something powerful and emotional. I also found myself slightly confused in
the beginning because the voice in the poem seems to shift between a child’s experience and an
adult’s reflection. However, after reading it again, I understood that this is what makes the poem
effective — it shows how we can look back at our childhood and see things differently once we
are older. This made me realise that memory is not always straightforward; it can change over
time depending on how we understand our past.
