Context

Question 1

Before You Were Mine

Answer 1

mother died after poem was written. Raised in 50s by roman catholic parents - describes religious references, explores strong expectations of mother and children in 50s, staying at home, not working, raise children

Question 2

Climbing My Grandfather

Answer 2

Struggled with mental illness, suicide at 42, focused heavily on environment - natural imagery - modern poem

Question 3

Eden Rock

Answer 3

Father died when he was young, same with mother, work inspired by Cornwall. Never married - close connection he feels with parents - only really strong love he felt

Question 4

Follower

Answer 4

Born in rigid farming community - lots of physical labour - eldest of 9 - pressure to conform to expectations of environment

Question 5

Letters From Yorkshire

Answer 5

Born in Cornwall, lived in urban places. Theme of communication, potentially missed living a rural life

Question 6

Loves Philosophy

Answer 6

Key romantic poet, reason for youthful passion being associated with Romantics. Died young with Byron

Question 7

Mother Any Distance

Answer 7

Brought up in rural Yorkshire - farming community - focuses on relatable topics

Question 8

Neutral Tones

Answer 8

Depressed as he was unlucky in his relationships - 2 failed marriages - reason for general depressing tone and negative philosophy of love “love deceives”

Question 9

Porphyria’s Lover

Answer 9

Victorian era when women’s sexual desires was a taboo topic. Wanted to be transgressive as there were many public scandals being published, he wanted to stand out

Question 10

Singh Song

Answer 10

Punjabi Sikh Indian parents, moved to Britain in 1950s, key ideas of “Britishness” central to his work

Question 11

Sonnet 29

Answer 11

Written for husband before marriage, didn’t show him until years after - women weren’t expected to experience strong feelings of love. Petrarchan Sonnet - unconventional - going against norms, describes deeper rebellious form of love. Unconventional Sonnet form, early volta - non confirmative and non traditional attitude

Question 12

The Farmers Bride

Answer 12

Upper middle class family - raised issues at the time how men possessed women, expressing view that women’s identity shouldn’t be tied to men

Question 13

Walking Away

Answer 13

Speaker brought up by his father - emphasis on father - son relationship

Question 14

When We Two Parted

Answer 14

Notorious romantic poet - public scandals - controversial love life - written about one of his public affairs

Question 15

Winter Swans

Answer 15

Explores identity and relationships and how people live together in society - combines these 3 ideas