'Dorham
Jail' by Tommy Armstrong. Taken from Song Book Containing 25 Popular
Songs of the late Thomas Armstrong, compiled by W.H.Armstrong,
(DUL ref Pam L 828.4).
If
you haven't already done so, read the source very carefully before answering
the following questions. A transcript
is available and there is a worksheet
for you to use to record your thoughts.
1. Why
did Tommy Armstrong write this poem?
2. What
does the poem tell us about life in Durham Jail? Think about food,
work, clothing and living conditions.
3. Does
Tommy Armstrong think that prison is an effective way of punishing criminals?
What do you think?
4. Is the
poem reliable as a source of evidence in describing conditions in Durham
Prison?
5. Is this
poem useful as source of evidence in describing conditions in Durham
Prison?
This source
could also be used as the basis for a literacy exercise, which can be
found here.
