Poems To Compare

Question 1

Poems to compare with Nettles.

Answer 1

• The Manhunt - both explore war/martial imagery in the context of a close relationship.
• Praise Song For My Mother - Grace Nichols also presents the actions of a caring, protective parent.

Question 2

Poems to compare with Sister Maude.

Answer 2

• Brothers - both about a relationship between siblings and the delicate balance between friendship and rivalry.
• Praise Song for My Mother - a close family relationship, although a positive ones, supportive one, unlike the negative, jealous relationship presented in Sister Maude.

Question 3

Poems to compare with the Farmer’s Bride.

Answer 3

• To His Coy Mistress - female perspective - considered less important or unfathomable in both poems. The desires of men are given voice at the expense of the woman’s point of view.
• Time, specifically the passage of time, key theme in both poems. Male narrators - aware of time passing while their desires are unfilled. To them, time passing is a type of loss. They both want to change their relationship for the better, in their opinion, by cementing them through sexual union.

Question 4

Poems to compare with To His Coy Mistress.

Answer 4

• Hour - Both about preciousness of time to the lovers + present ideas about time being a force against lovers.
• Sonnet 43 - Contrasts - this is a poem about urgency/power of desire, rather than the purity of love in Sonnet 43.

Question 5

Poems to compare with Harmonium.

Answer 5

• Nettles - both relationship between father/son, but from perspective of father not son like harmonium.
• Praise Song for My Mother - about a parent from a child’s perspective, but is more direct than Harmonium.

Question 6

Poems to compare with Sonnet 43.

Answer 6

• Hour - both present love as a positive and powerful force.
• Sonnet 116 - Both are part of a larger sonnet sequence, insists on the endurance of love.

Question 7

Poems to compare with Sonnet 116.

Answer 7

• To His Coy Mistress - idea of time + it’s effect on love, although, it suggests that death will bring an end, unlike Sonnet 116, as this suggests that love is greater than death.
• Sonnet 43 - defining love, but unlike Sonnet 116, - seeks to define personal lover, rather than love in general.

Question 8

Poems to compare with Praise Song for My Mother.

Answer 8

• Sonnet 43 - similar listing/cataloging of another person’s qualities. In this case, it is a parent, however, rather than a loved one, for Sonnet 43. Both show that emotional nourishment provided by the person being described.
• Nettles - relationship between parent and a child, but from perspective of parent. About specific event but Praise Song for My Mother - concerned with overall impression created. In both it is clear that the parent is providing security to their children/offspring. Both end - unclear future - Nettles - negative - whereas Praise Song for My Mother hints at a more successful future.

Question 9

Poems to compare with Brothers.

Answer 9

• Sister Maude - relationship between siblings - time inevitably and regrettably separates them. Affection between brothers - particularly adoration of younger brother. In Sister Maude - more destructive relationship presented between siblings, like Brothers - move towards adulthood brings distance between siblings.
• Harmonium - nostalgic tone - moment from past - closely explore family relationship (son’s feelings for his father). Brothers - more regretful in tone. Both poems - apparently insignificant events to illuminate a relationship.

Question 10

Poems to compare with QuickDraw.

Answer 10

• Nettles - imagery from a different context to bring significance to seemingly everyday circumstances.
• Sister Maude - conflict/violence in a relationship but between sisters rather than lovers.

Question 11

Poems to compare with The Manhunt.

Answer 11

• In Paris with You - speaker - unwilling to discuss his experience of the past - keep on focussing on the present. Husband (in the Manhunt) is similarly closed on the subject of the past.
• The Farmer’s Bride/To His Coy Mistress - the Manhunt is written from the perspective of a woman exploring her feelings for her relationship. Other poems from male view, such as The Farmer’s Bride and To His Coy Mistress.

Question 12

Poems to compare with In Paris with You.

Answer 12

• Born Yesterday - both reject traditional ideas about love.
• Hour - a relationship blossoming in ordinary settings, focussing on the preciousness of the present time instead of past/future.

Question 13

Poems to compare with Hour.

Answer 13

• Sonnet 116/ToHis Coy Mistress - reference to the idea of the battle between love and time.
• To His Coy Mistress - value of being in the present and enjoying the moment, rather than thinking ahead - same key theme as Hour.

Question 14

Poems to compare with Ghazal.

Answer 14

• In Paris with You - feelings of longing for someone present in both. Ghazal is less clear in outcome. In Paris with You - suggests relationship is a reality.
• The Farmer’s Bride - similar sense of longing - negative, dwelling on way which farmer wishes to subdue/control his wife, rather than being prepared to change like the speaker in Ghazal.