Hardy Heany Poem Comparison

Question 1

What will you mention in Contextual Background on Hardy?

Answer 1

Hardy was an architect therefore worked with men like the man in the poem. Father and Grandfather all stonemason also, meaning he grew up with this kind of man also, perhaps observing them work

Question 2

What are you going to mention on Heaney in Contextual Background?

Answer 2

Lived in a thatched cottage and grew up in rural area. This means he was able to observe the thatcher probably more than once

Question 3

What 4 points will you make in Presentation of subject? Remember to PEE in this section

Answer 3

• Both titles very straightforward and direct, simple focus
• Both dramatised encounters: Hardy=Meeting street, dialogue
  Heaney=Child’s memory 3rd person
• Tone of admiration and respect in each case
• Both workers anonymous, allows them to become representatives

Question 4

What will you mention in Development of Ideas?

Answer 4

• Hardy allows workman to express pride in his creation and how it’ll last
• Heaney focuses more on process of Thatching, from beginning to completion

Question 5

What 4 points will you mention in Form and Structure? Remember to PEE in this section

Answer 5

• Both poems use Quatrain Structure, Iambic Pentameter, end - rhyming couplets; give steady rhythm; reflect steady methodical process of work
• Although Heaney uses half-rhyme which gives rougher, relaxed, colloquial feel to description of task
• Hardy uses more regular meter with short concluding line on each stanza for emphasis
• Heaney uses more enjambment to create a sense of progression through a process

Question 6

LANGUAGE AND IMAGERY - PEE!!

What 5 points will you cover in this section?

Answer 6

• Use of technical/specialised language; highlights specialised nature of skills
• Both use language reflecting rural idiom and plainness of speech. Hardy does this to give authentic feel to the account. Heaney does use some more sophisticated language eg. Couchant
• Heaney uses more metaphors; Hardy’s poem simpler account of mans words
• Heaney makes strong use of verbs to relate to focus of process within poem;Hardy’s verbs less obvious gives plainer account of mans words
• Both poems make use of sound effects

Question 7

LANGUAGE AND IMAGERY - PEE!!

Give 5 ways in which the poets have created sound effects?

Answer 7

• Assonance
• Sibilance
• Onomatopoeia
• Alliteration
• Internal Rhyme

Question 8

How will you conclude?

Answer 8

Sum up response to question; draw attention to similarities and differences. Give personal preference of the poems, what are their most notable qualities and attributes?

Question 9

What will you mention in intro? ( Expand on these points )

Answer 9

Two poems reflecting traditional skills of working men. Poets are in each case familiar with what they are writing and conveying admiration