Reading the IB’s key concepts, I found that two of them were significantly related to my analysis of Brand New Ancients – identity and culture. In the poem, Tempest offers up varied presentations of struggles with identity in domestic and social spheres. This includes Tommy’s struggle with finding his passion, and Clive and Spider’s social rejection.
The poem also includes detailed references to small-town, working class UK culture – vernacular, demeanor as well as some sociocultural elements of the poem – innate sexism, alcoholism, domestic violence and abuse. The poem also highlights pub culture, generational gaps and the inbred misogyny in the male-dominated commercial business space.