Comparative questions

Question 1

3. Compare and contrast the way in which desire and romantic love are represented by the poets in ‘I Think of Thee’ and ‘Love’s Philosophy’.

Answer 1

 In both poems, the poets use natural imagery to convey their desire and romantic longing.
 Whereas the speaker in ‘I Think of Thee’ commands her lover to be physically present rather than exist in her thoughts, in ‘Love’s Philosophy’ the speaker attempts to persuade the subject that their relationship should become physical.
 Whereas the mood of ‘I Think of Thee’ is one of excitement, in contrast, the mood in ‘Love’s Philosophy’ is one of frustration.
 Whereas ‘I Think of Thee’ is written in the form of a Petrarchan sonnet, often used for love poetry, ‘Love’s Philosophy’ is written in two stanzas, each ending with a rhetorical question.

Question 2

4. Compare and contrast the way in which strong family bonds are represented by the poets in ‘Follower’ and ‘Climbing My Grandfather’.

Answer 2

 Both poems present a child’s perspective of an adult relative.
 Both speakers show their admiration for close family members.
 In both poems, the subjects are shown to be supportive of the speakers.
 Whereas ‘Climbing My Grandfather’ is written in the present tense and focuses on getting to know the grandfather better, ‘Follower’ is mostly written in the past tense until the last two lines of the poem, exploring the contrast between the past and present relationship.
 Whereas ‘Follower’ is written in regular quatrains and mainly iambic pentameter, ‘Climbing My Grandfather’ has no stanza breaks and uses enjambment and caesura to reflect the speaker’s journey.