Context Flashcards
1
Q
Simon Armitage and The Manhunt
A
- Born in Huddersfield 1963 in Yorkshire
- Contemporary Poet
- Highly skilled poet working as the professor of poetry at Oxford University from 2015 - 2019
- Many of his poems often reflect internal monologues and are based on experiences of life
- He wrote many poems aiming to voice the trauma of soldiers
- Often uses colloquialism and modern vocabulary to try and make his poem relatable to his young audience
- Wrote the poem as part of ‘The Not Dead’ —> a Collection of war poems about veterans which was screened on remembrance Sunday on Channel 4. —> serves as a reminder of the horrors of war and bravery of the servicemen.
- For the manhunt and other poems —> he interviewed and listened to the accounts of veterans and their families so he could use them as poetic personas to convey his poetic message.
Manhunt: - poetic persona is Laura Beddoes, the wife of Eddie Beddoes, a discharged veteran who had been shot 3 times and injured very badly while on a peace-keeping mission in Bosnia.
- Laura Beddoes attempts to re-connect with her husband and understand his physical and mental issues better (her husband suffers from PTSD)
2
Q
Elizabeth Barret Browning
A
- Born on March 6th, near Durham in Durham county and died on the 29th June 1861 in Florence, Italy.
- She falls under the category of being a Victorian poet
- wrote many love poems which created her reputation as a well-known poet
- Sonnet 43 is part of her collection of poems titled ‘Sonnets from the Portuguese’ —> consisted of 44 poems
- they were written in the 19th century but published by her in 1850
- Despite their name which implies that they are translations from Portuguese they are all originally written by Browning.
- In this sonnet, Browning expresses her deep and profound love for her husband —> Robert Browning
- Poem serves the purpose of allowing her to express the profound and deep love for her husband Robert Browning
- She attempts to draw attention to how she believes love is a transformative and transcendental force as she suffered from a chronic disease (hypokalemic periodic paralysis)
- As a result, she was often bound to her house and wished to continue her love for her husband even after death
- She held unorthodox religious views (‘love I seemed to lose with my lost saints’) despite being from an Anglican Christian family.
- Many of her poems like this one are autobiographical.
3
Q
William Blake
A
- Born on the 28th November 1757 and died on the 12th August 1827
- An iconic romantic poet having been a prominent and early member part of the first generation along with Wordsworth, Coleridge and Samuel Taylor.
- considered as a prophetic visionary who often used idiosyncratic imageries
- As a romantic, he often challenged established laws and order within society placing a strong focus on individualism.
- Wrote many poets and made many paintings which aimed to highlight the beauty of the natural world and his elevated view of it compared to man-made constructions and civilisations.
- Romantic movement came as a challenge towards Industrial Revolutions
- He believed in worshipping nature to reach God and this made him a strong pantheist
- He wanted to ‘nurture one’s own aesthetic experience of the pastoral world’.
- Was categorised as having a rebellious and lively spirit —> often criticised institutions such as he does in London ‘palace walls’ and he challenged the social conventions of marriage in the 1700’s.
- Believed that marriage similar to the church had made these institutional and he prioritised individualism over institutions.
- held strong iconoclastic views on the Church of England
- in ‘blood runs down palace walls’ —> makes a strong social commentary —> reflects his influence by the French Revolution (1789 - 1799)
4
Q
Rupert Brooke
A
- born on August 3, 1887, in Rugby, Warwickshire, England. He came from a relatively affluent background, and his early education took place at Rugby School.
- attended King’s College, Cambridge, where he studied both classics and history.
- Brooke had a romantic and idealistic view of war, which was evident in some of his early poems. He embraced the idea of war as a noble and transformative experience.
- In the poem, the soldier he aims to glorify and romanticise the idea of war helping it serve as propoganda to get young men to enlist.
- He did this despite never having gone to war in his life so his ideas are mainly imagined and are not autobiographical.
- While Brooke’s poetry was initially celebrated for its patriotic and idealistic themes, it later faced criticism for its perceived lack of depth and engagement with the harsh realities of war.
5
Q
Imtiaz Dharker
A
- Born in 1954 in Lahore, Pakistan making her a Contemporary Poet in her political commentaries and ideas.
- Bought up in Glasgow before marrying an Indian man and learning to live in India. This marriage serves as some of the basis of her poem set in Dharavi which is from her experience of living in India.
- Second marriage was to a Scottish literary event director called Simon Powell.
- Conveys ideas from Eastern cultures such as the culture of Mumbai within India, however, she does it with a western style of writing
- Her works appear in both WJEC EDUQAS and AQA making her a very renowned and respected poet.
- Aims to explore many themes in her poems such as social divide, poverty, struggles and urban violence.
- Lives between India, Wales and London
- Writes often including her cross-cultural identity and experiences throughout her life.
- Highly acclaimed having won the Queen’s medal for poetry in 2014
- She is a ‘Scottish Muslim Calvinist’ —> having drawn a strong tension on secular and religious cultures in her works and introducing ideas of emergent fundamentalism and fear.
- She is a Calvinist due to its similar messages and teachings as Islam which are similarly deterministic (belief that everything is pre-determined by god)
6
Q
Percy Bysshe Shelley
A
- Born on the 4th August in Horsham, Sussex within England and died on the 8th July 1822 near Tuscany.
- He was a later romantic poet making her a part of the second generation.
- In the poem, Ozymandias is the Greek name for King Ramasses II who was a pharaoh in the dynasty of Egypt.
- Ramasses was very successful being known as ‘User-maat-re’, Ramasses the great or the quintessence of power, fame and greatness.
- Many Egyptians later knew him as the great ancestor.
- Shelley wrote the poem in friendly competition against another poet, Horace Smith and they wrote their respective poets based on discoveries in Egypt of his remnants.
- This would have interested his romantic audience due to their deep interest in historical artefacts and the past.
- Shelley aims to communicate the ephemeral sovereignty of the Egyptian tyrant and this aligns to his beliefs as a romantic poet that the natural world is superior to institutions and sovereigns such as himself
- In the poem, he aims to ridicule Ramasses illusion of transcendental power by indicating how the strength of the natural world is all-encompassing and surpasses his control and authority in the longevity.
- Writes in a polyphonic style especially in this poem using three speakers
- 1st narrator: meets a traveller from an ‘antique land’
- 2nd narrator: who uses reported speech to describe being at the site of Ozymandias
- 3rd narrator: Ozymandias —> the tyrannical sovereign.
7
Q
William Wordsworth
A
- Born in 1770 in an area called Cockermouth on the Lake District. This gave him a very pastoral childhood in a rural area helping him to develop his strong love of the natural world.
- Had a saddening childhood having lost his mother at the age of 8 and not feeling accepted by his grandparents. This gave him a troubled relationship with most of his family resulting in him finding comfort in the natural world.
- His poem focuses on the shift from urbanism to rural life due to his inspirational from his childhood in the Lake District
- The poem is an extract from his 14 books which he started writing in 1928 until his death in 1850. They make up a collection called ‘the prelude’.
- It is autobiographical as he reminisces over his childhood memories growing up in the Lake District.
- Published 3 months after his death.
- He wrote in the the Romantic Period, however, it is important to understand the previous literacy era —> the Age of Enlightenment.
- The Enlightenment Era was a period where poetry was more defined and structured. Poets were instructed to write within the linguistic and cultural norms. It was a period of scientific developments and rationalism and even the French Revolution was influenced by the Enlightenment period.
- However, with the rise of the Romantics, there was a shift from poetry criticising society by using formal grammatical structures to a flow of one’s powerful imagination. Romanticism, therefore, opposes the beliefs of the Enlightenment; highlighting a resentment for urban life and embracing the forces of the natural organic world.
8
Q
Wilfred Owen
A
- Wilfred Owen was born on the 18th March 1893 in Shropshire England and was killed on the 4th November 1918 not long before the First world War ended.
- He fought in the First World War under Britain and recounts his trauma and suffering.
- Owen was a British poet and soldier who became one of the leading voices of the First World War poetry. He experienced the harsh realities of trench warfare, which deeply influenced his poetry.
Military Service: Owen enlisted in the British Army in 1915 and served as an officer on the Western Front. He was exposed to the horrors of warfare, including gas attacks, and suffered from shell shock. - Anti-War Sentiments: Owen’s war experiences led him to develop strong anti-war sentiments. He felt compelled to expose the harsh realities of combat, challenging the glorified and patriotic portrayal of war prevalent at the time.
- Dulce et Decorum Est was written in 1917 and is one of Owen’s most famous works. The title is taken from a Latin phrase by the Roman poet Horace, which translates to “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.” Owen uses this phrase ironically to criticize the romanticized view of war.
9
Q
Seamus Heaney
A
- Born on the 13th April 1939 in Castleldawson in Northern Island.
- He is a renowned contemporary poet who is one of Ireland’s greatest contemporary poets
- He won the Nobel prize for literature in 1995 for his ‘works of lyrical beauty and ethical depth which exalt everyday miracles and the living past’.
- His poem is from his ‘death of a naturalist’ collection inspired by his childhood in the rural areas of Ireland.
- was the eldest member of a family and his dad owned and worked on a smal farm in County Derry in Northern ireland.
- Seamus Heaney’s poetry is often down-to-earth and is reflective of a traditional rural economy. He often paints a grey picture of the damp landscas of the British Isles where earth has a special place in his poetry.
- Ireland was ruled by England at the time and there was a division of Catholicism and Protestantism… wanted english gone —> catholic
- Seamus Heaney’s popularty mainly derives from his subject matter - modern Norther is Seamus tarns and clies troubled with civil strife. As a traditionalist, he was moved by as lass who created poetry out of their local and native backgrounds. In this way, the post he written several poems using his own poetic vernacular, rich with the tones and smell of earth and it is as if a ‘few crumbs of dirt’ clings to his poetic lines.
10
Q
Ted Hughes
A
- Born on the 17th August 1930 in Yorkshire and he died on the 28th October 1998 in London.
- was an English poet who studied anthropology and animals at university and uses them in many of his poems such as Hawk roosting
- The poem is one of Hughes’ well-known works, exploring the perspective of a hawk.
- It was published in his second poetry collection, “Lupercal.”
- Explores the mindset of a hawk and offers a unique perspective on power and dominance.
- Hughes is known for his vivid and intense poetic style. His early works, influenced by the Romantic and modernist traditions, evolved into a unique voice characterized by a deep connection to nature, folklore, and myth.
11
Q
Carol Ann Duffy
A
- Carol Ann Duffy was born on the 23rd December 1955 in Glasgow
- “Valentine” is a poem written by Carol Ann Duffy. Published in 1993 in her collection “Mean Time,” the poem explores complex themes related to love, relationships, and the nature of gifts.
- The poem is written from the perspective of the narrator, addressing a lover or partner. The first-person narrative style adds a personal and intimate touch to the exploration of love.
- Instead of traditional symbols of love like roses or hearts, Duffy uses the metaphor of an onion as a symbol of love. This unconventional choice challenges stereotypical notions of romance.
- based on the abusive romantic relationship that she was in at a young age since she was 16 and in a relationship with 39 year old Adrian Henri
- Her views may have stemmed from her vulnerability in her young relationship causing a power imbalance.
12
Q
Rita Dove
A
- born on August 28, 1952, in Akron, Ohio. She grew up in a close-knit African American community and began writing poetry at an early age.
- attended Miami University in Ohio, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree.
- continued her studies at the University of Iowa, receiving her MFA in Creative Writing.
- In 1993, Rita Dove made history by becoming the first African American woman to be appointed as the Poet Laureate of the United States. She held this position for two terms, serving until 1995.
- Shows that she was a critically acclaimed poet with a very successful career and politically relevant insights at the time of her writings
- Dove’s poetry often explores themes of identity, race, history, and love. She is known for her nuanced and insightful examinations of personal and cultural experiences.
- received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
13
Q
Thomas Hardy
A
- born on June 2, 1840, in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset, England.
- He was a Victorian poet
- He grew up in a rural setting, and the landscapes of Dorset would later feature prominently in his writings.
- Wrote during war times to capture the impacts of war on those who had family members taken away to go and fight abroad
- Hardy initially trained as an architect and worked in this profession for several years. However, his passion for literature and writing led him to pursue a career as a novelist and poet.
- Hardy is associated with literary realism, portraying the struggles of ordinary people in rural settings. He explores this prominently in a wife in London
- His works often exhibit a pessimistic view of life, exploring themes of fate, the cruelty of circumstance, and the impact of social expectations.
- Hardy faced criticism during his lifetime for the bleakness of his novels, however, he is now widely regarded as one of the great English novelists and poets.
14
Q
Philip Larkin
A
- Contemporary Poet
- written in 1959 but published in 1964
- born on August 9, 1922, in Coventry, England. He grew up in Coventry, was homeschooled until 8 years old and later attended St John’s College, Oxford, where he studied English.
- Larkin worked as a librarian throughout much of his life. He served as the librarian at the University of Hull from 1955 until his death in 1985. His professional life greatly influenced his poetry and outlook on the world.
- Larkin’s poetry is often characterized by its simplicity, clarity, and a focus on everyday life. This is reflected heavily in ‘Afternoons’ when he explores the struggles of mundane life for a working class family.
- mysogynistic views
- never lived on a council estate yet comment so n it in ‘afternoons’
- never married or had children so comments on it negatively
- explores passage of time and family dynamics
- Larkin was known for his private and somewhat reclusive personality. Despite his public position as a librarian, he was known to be reserved and critical of the societal changes occurring around him.
- died on December 2, 1985, at the age of 63.
15
Q
Owen Sheers
A
- Owen Sheers was born on September 20, 1974. He grew up in Abergavenny, Wales. The dual influence of his Fijian and Welsh heritage is reflected in some of his works.
- Wales often serves as a setting and inspiration in Sheers’s work. His writings reflect a deep connection to the Welsh landscape, history, and cultural identity.
- Sheers’s works often engage with contemporary themes, exploring issues such as identity, conflict, and the intersection of personal and political narratives.
- Mametz wood is written as part of Sheers’ collection ‘Skirrid Hill’ published in 2005.
- It is named after a site where a battle took place during ww1 in France.
- In mametz wood, he differs from most of his poetic writings exploring the impacts of war on the landscape of wales and the trauma of it through the remnants of soldiers from the past.
- Sheers has received numerous awards for his contributions to literature and the arts. His works have been recognized for their innovation and impact on contemporary British literature.
