First March - Ivor Gurney

Question 1

THEMES

Answer 1

glorifications and struggles of war; death; beauty in simplicity

Question 2

FORM

Answer 2

narrative poem; continuous with no stanzas

Question 3

FORM

volta - what is the shift in tone?

Answer 3

to a more hopeful one, ending the poem on a positive note

Question 4

FORM

volta - which line?

Answer 4

17

Question 5

line 17: Suddenly a road’s turn

Answer 5

brought the sweet unexpected

Balm.

Question 6

hypometric line

Answer 6

[the mind’s vain]

own circling greyness and stain.

Question 7

After three weeks of February frost few were in fettle,

Answer 7

Barely frostbite the most of us had escapen.

Question 8

ALLITERATION

Answer 8

fricative (F)

after three weeks of February frost…

Question 9

CONTEXT

Answer 9

Ivor Gurney enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment for WWII

Question 10

Flat country going leaves but small chance for

Answer 10

The mind to escape to any resort but its vain

Own circling greyness and stain.

Question 11

To move, then to go onward

Answer 11

at least to be moved.

Question 12

Snowdrops bloomed in a

Answer 12

ruined garden neglected

Question 13

And this west country thing so from chaos to emerge

Answer 13

One gracious touch the whole wilderness corrected.

Question 14

what is written on the slate stone at Westminster Abbey’s Poets Corner honoring Ivor Gurney (as one of 16 Great War Poets)?

Answer 14

‘My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity.’ (written by Wilfred Owen)