Paper 2 - Poetry (the big 5)

Question 1

Exposure - 4 key quotes

Answer 1

1, “merciless iced-east winds that knive us”

2. “but nothing happens”
3. “less deadly than the air that shudders black with snow”
4. “on us the doors are closed”

Question 2

“merciless iced-east winds that knife us” analysis (Exp.)

Answer 2

“merciless” - personification : never ending, can never defend yourself (unlike you can from bullets)
“iced-east winds” - sibilance : imitating knives, threatening death, almost taunting
“knife us” - personification : like a serial killer, never resting, permanent pain

Question 3

“but nothing happens” analysis (Exp.)

Answer 3

anticipation, war is thought of as intense and active but is actually dull and hopeless

Question 4

“less deadly than the air that shudders black with snow” analysis (Exp.)

Answer 4

“less deadly” - questioning that being shot would be a better way to die
“shudders” - personification : nature is tauntingly imitating soldiers
“black with snow” - symbolism : black associated with evil, nature is the real enemy

Question 5

“on us the doors are closed” analysis (Exp.)

Answer 5

1st - could symbolise home : they want ‘heroes’ not sufferers
2nd - could symbolise heaven : once they die, they can’t get in

Question 6

Remains - 5 key quotes

Answer 6

1. “tosses his guts back into his body”
2. “end of story, except not really.”
3. “but I blink //and he bursts again through the doors of the bank”
4. “dug in behind enemy lines”
5. “his bloody life in my bloody hands

Question 7

“tosses his guts back into his body” analysis (Rem.)

Answer 7

“tosses” - colloquial language : desensitized, the norm

Question 8

“end of story, except not really” analysis (Rem.)

Answer 8

caesura : emphasises pause, thinks the pain is over
“story” - metaphor : hoping it wasn’t real
volta - turning point in poem

Question 9

“but I blink // and he bursts again through the doors of the bank” analysis (Rem.)

Answer 9

enjambment - unstoppable, constantly going around in his brain
“bursts” - fast pace memories, can’t keep track
“bank” - usually secure place, even safest places his ptsd can get to him

Question 10

“dug in behind enemy lines” analysis (Rem.)

Answer 10

“dug” - forceful verb : permanently there, really impacting him
“enemy lines” - fighting against him

Question 11

Checking Out Me History - 3 key quotes

Answer 11

1. “dem tell me”
2. “bandage up me eye with me own identity”
3. “I carving out me identity”

Question 12

“dem tell me” analysis (COMH)

Answer 12

phonetic spelling : writes how he speaks, defines him, he is proud of his identity
repetition/ refrain : drilled into him, he had no choice whether he wanted to learn these topics or not

Question 13

“bandage up me eye with me own identity” analysis (COMH)

Answer 13

“bandage up me eye” - metaphor : been prevented from seeing his own culture/ past properly, Europeans think they’re doing good - they may be doing harm instead

Question 14

“I carving out me identity” analysis (COMH)

Answer 14

“i” - personal pronoun : shift in pronouns from “dem”, takes back control
“carving” - violent verb : suggests destruction, on other hand could be a work of art

Question 15

Kamikaze - 3 key quotes

Answer 15

1. “her father embarked at sunrise”
2. “a one-way journey into history”
3. “which had been the better way to die”

Question 16

“her father embarked at sunrise” analysis (Kam.)

Answer 16

Japan known as ‘land of the rising sun’ : links character to culture and patriotic duty, also a symbol of hope
“embarked” - heroic verb : patriotism and bravery

Question 17

“a one-way journey into history” analysis (Kam.)

Answer 17

metaphor - no intention of going back

volta of the poem

Question 18

“which had been the better way to die” analysis (Kam.)

Answer 18

has suffered a metaphorical death
rhetorical question, both are horrible
adjective “better” - uncomfortable

Question 19

London - 4 key quotes

Answer 19

1. “I wander through each chartered street // near where the chartered thames does flow”
2. “mind-forged manacles”
3. “runs in blood down palace walls”
4. “youthful harlot’s curse”

Question 20

“I wander through each chartered street // near where the chartered Thames does flow” analysis (Lnd.)

Answer 20

“I” - personal pronoun : his personal thoughts and feelings
“chartered” - repetition : government owns everyone, making sure they know that
“Thames” - river is a symbol of freedom : even freedom in nature is taken away by Government

Question 21

“mind-forged manacles” analysis (Lnd.)

Answer 21

metaphor : people are trapped in their own minds, even their thoughts aren’t allowed to be their own - crime?

Question 22

“runs in blood down palace walls” analysis (Lnd.)

Answer 22

metaphorical language : palace is pretty imagery, blood making it ugly - public supposedly making Government ‘look bad’

Question 23

“youthful harlots curse” analysis

Answer 23

“youthful” - symbol of hope : youth has been cut short, all hope is taken away
“curse” - follows someone forever, can’t be shaken off. Government is like a curse on public.