Comic Poetry - Context

Question 1

when was The Flea written (Donne)

Answer 1

1590s

Question 2

what type of poet was Donne

Answer 2

metaphysical poet (using elaborate conceits or ideas to portray expression)

Question 3

what traditional values did Donne subert in The Flea

Answer 3

in 1500s, ‘courtly love’ still the common way to court or marry a woman
his poetry is very intimate (written initially for friends/acquaintances), opposing this idea that love and marriage should be conducted in the public sphere

Question 4

religion in The Flea

Answer 4

the flea functioning a receptacle for mingled bloods (‘three lives in one’) - possibly a parody of the holy spirit (God is simultaneously Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
possible view: narrator could be a Catholic man (believes that the blood of communion is literally the blood of Christ) and Protestant woman (does not believe that)

Question 5

Swift personal background

Answer 5

a Juvenalian (characerised by roman man 'Juvenile' - involves satire) satirist
Irish

Question 6

when was A Satirical Elegy written

Answer 6

1722

Question 7

who is the focus of A Satirical Elegy

Answer 7

John Churchill - Duke of Marlborough, and a supporter of England’s colonial rule in Ireland.

• Churchill had supported and fought in the war of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714).
• Swift considered him to be a war profiteer, accusing him of wasting public money.

Question 8

historical context of Swift’s writing

Answer 8

became well-known editor of the Tory paper, writing against war (and John Churchill), was a hero in Ireland

Question 9

when was Tam O’Shanter written

Answer 9

1790

Question 10

what is a hedonist

Answer 10

a person known for their pursuit of pleasure (as if it’s the most important aspect in life ) - Burns was a hedonist

Question 11

where was Burns born - religion

Answer 11

Scotland, brought up as Presbyterian (as most of Scotland was)
Presbyterian church disliked dancing. Burns was censured by the church (formally reprimanded) for his hedonistic behaviour.

Question 12

what type of poem is Tam O’Shanter

Answer 12

a mock-epic poem, Burns draws on the expectations of epic poems and parodies the defining elements (e.g. plot focuses on a hero, vast setting, involves superhuman acts of bravery and sometimes inclusion of supernatural forces)

Question 13

when was Sunny Prestatyn written

Answer 13

1962

Question 14

how did Larkin describe Sunny Prestatyn

Answer 14

both ‘funny’ and ‘horrific’ - used comic poetry to create humour with an underlying seriousness

Question 15

what happened two years previous to Sunny Prestatyn being written

Answer 15

the lifting of the ban for obscenity in work (influenced Larkin’s bawdy humour)

Question 16

how is The Movement seen in Larkin’s work

Answer 16

he uses accessible and taboo language whilst exploring profound ideas - principles of The Movement
The Movement rebelled against ideas of romanticism, common sense and clarity over obscurity and mystification

Question 17

when was Not My Best Side written

Answer 17

1978

Question 18

what is Not My Best Side based on

Answer 18

Uccello’s painting of ‘St George and the Dragon’(1470) - Fanthrope analyses gender views in the 70s compared with 15th century

Question 19

what was Uccello’s “obsession with triangles” a reference to

Answer 19

painters in 15th century painted using triangles as references for perspective, seen as The Holy Trinity (religious) and the ‘superior’ way of painting

Question 20

when was My Rival’s House written

Answer 20

1980s

Question 21

what relationship does My Rivals House look into

Answer 21

gender stereotypes between two women and their relationship (mother-in-law) - problematic as it portrays two women fighting over a man (emphasises negative female relationships)

Question 22

the mother-in-law jokes

Answer 22

a tradition in comedy since Roman times - usually delivered by mal voices (particularly male comedians on TV in 1970s)
centre around ideas that mother-in-laws are unpleasant and difficult to get on with (misogyny)

Question 23

when was Mrs Sisyphus written

Answer 23

1990s

Question 24

‘The Worlds Wife’ - Duffy

Answer 24

a collection of poems (published 1999) presents stories/myths etc from female perspective - highlighting women that have been ignored and silenced in a witty and satirical way

Question 25

gender in Mrs Sisyphus

Answer 25

Mrs Sisyphus’ dramatic monologue is key to her compelling voice as she describes the situation
Duffy questions late 20th century attitudes to gender roles, especially in marriage (traditional roles of husband and wife)