Context Flashcards
Dulce
Wilfred Owen fought and died in the First World War and much of his poetry is about the horrors of that conflict. He uses personal experience to vividly depict the realities of war. Wilfred Owen is one of the most famous war poets. He was born in
1893 and died in 1918, just one week from the end of World War One. His poetry is characterised by powerful descriptions of the conditions faced by soldiers in the trenches.
Ozymandias
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the English Romantic poets.
Shelley was thought to be a ‘radical’ (different and untraditional in his thinking) for his time. ‘Ozymandias’ is about the remains of a statue of the Egyptian Pharaoh Rameses II who built extravagant temples to himself. Shelley’s criticism of people who act as if they are invincible is evident in this poem
Living Space
She has written five collections of poetry and often deals with themes of identity, the role of women in contemporary society and the search for meaning. She draws on her multi-cultural experience in her work. She is also a film director and has scripted a number of documentaries in India, supporting work with women and children. Dharker’s intimate knowledge of Mumbai is evident in this poem. She works to raise awareness of issues in other countries.
Sonnet 43
Elizabeth Barret Browning was a prominent Victorian poet. She suffered from lifelong illness, despite which she married the poet and playwright Robert Browning, who was a major influence on her work, and to whom Sonnet 43 is addressed.
London
Blake was disillusioned with authority and industrialisation, as ordinary people were controlled by landlords and institutions. In the
poem ‘London’, he is perhaps suggesting that such poor living conditions could inspire a revolution and change on the streets of his
own capital city. Although a religious man, Blake was critical of the Church of England because he felt that the established Church
was not doing enough to help the children of London, who were forced to work in dangerous and terrible conditions.
As Imperceptibly as Grief
Dickinson was an American poet, born in Massachusetts in 1830. She barely left her house for 30 years, rarely had visitors and became an observer of the world. Much of her poetry is about how emotions are attached to or projected onto environment. Her poetry did not become famous until after her death and was heavily influenced by the metaphysical poets of the 18th
Valentine
Her poetry has been the subject of controversy. She follows in the poetic tradition of, for example, Robert Browning, in writing monologues from the point of view of disturbed characters. Duffy often tackles difficult subjects, encouraging the reader to explore alternative points of view. Duffy’s poetry is often feminist in its themes and approach. Her collection The World’s Wife took characters from history, literature and mythology and gave them a female point of view, as a sister, a wife or a feminised version of a character.
Death of a Naturalist
Young brother Christopher died, shows how nature can be unforgiving. Seamus Heaney (1939-2013) was an Irish poet who wrote poems about Ireland, rural life and nature. He won the nobel prize for literature in 1995. Shows how nature can be threatening
Hawk Roosting
Grew up in he countryside. After serving in the RAF for two years, he won a scholarship to Cambridge University where he studied Archaeology and Anthropology. The themes of the countryside, human history and mythology therefore already deeply influenced his imagination by the time he started writing poetry as a student.
To Autumn
Romantic poet. He wrote the poem inspired by a walk he had taken through the countryside; it is, therefore, a highly personal response.
Keats initially trained as a surgeon but gave it up to write poetry. Six months after completing To Autumn, he experienced the first signs of the tuberculosis that would end his life. In the poem it is almost as though the medically-trained poet has understood that his life will soon end and he is preparing himself for death. Keats died in 1821 aged just 25. Despite his short life, Keats has had a major impact on poetry and is regarded as one of the most important poets in literary history.
