Poetry Flashcards
Name a quote linked to the theme of despair in Exposure.
‘For love of God seems dying’
Name a quote linked to war in Exposure.
‘We only know war lasts’
Name a quote linked to the weather and happier times in Exposure.
‘On us the doors are closed’
What does it mean when the poet says ‘on us the doors are closed’ in Exposure?
The soldiers are thinking about happier times- being at home door closing out the weather.
They are thinking about what lies ahead for them and they are quite likely to die in battle.
What does the poet mean when he says ‘our brains ache’ in Exposure?
Physical pain like headaches from the noise.
The soldiers are developing psychological problems.
How is Exposure structured?
Series of eight stanzas of five lines with the last one much shorter, emphasising the important message. Most are rhetorical questions or repetition of ‘but nothing happens’- pointless.
What is the rhyming pattern in Exposure?
First four lines follow the pattern of Abba, showing unchanging nature of life in the trenches. He then uses half rhyme on the last line ‘war/wire’ which unsettled the reader and defy the expected outcome echoing the experience of war.
Why did Owen write Exposure?
To inform people of the horrors of war even though it contradicted the press.
What language does Owen use in Exposure?
Emotive to draw the reader in and make them part of the experience.
What are the three themes for Remains?
Guilt, Life and death and Conflict.
What is a quote that supports the theme of guilt in Remains?
‘Possibly armed, probably not’
How does the repetition of ‘possibly armed, probably not’ emphasise?
The speakers sense of discomfort that he may have taken an innocent mans life.
What is a quote linked to conflict in Remains?
‘Dug in behind enemy lines’
What quote links to how the soldiers have bonded in remains?
‘One of my mates goes by and tosses his guts back into his body’
What is the structure of Remains?
Formed of eight stanzas, no rhyming, final stanza is two lines (disintegration of speakers mind?)
Written as a monologue, enjambent like he is reminiscing.
What language does the writer use in Remains?
Anecdotal.
What is similar about Remains and Exposure?
Soldiers in maritime, 1st person narrative.
What are the differences between Exposure and Remains?
Exposure has a more regular structure. Remains disintegrates.
Exposure is written in present tense, unfolding experience.
Remains is a past experience showing the lasting trauma of war.
What is the context of Remains?
‘Desert sand’- Gulf War.
What can you conclude from Remains?
War is pointless, and pervasive.
What are the three themes in Exposure?
War, Despair and Weather.
What is the structure of Ozymandias?
A sonnet, 14 lines, octave and sestet. Written in iambic pentameter and employs a more eccentric scheme of rhyming highlighting the poems irony.
What are the themes of ozymandias?
Transitory nature of life,
Pretensions of fame and fortune.
What is a quote that links to the pretensions of fame and fortune in Ozymandias?
‘Round the decay’
What can you infer from ‘stamped on these lifeless things’ in Ozymandias?
Mutability of human existence, the fall of the mighty into obscurity. By juxtaposing the sneer of cold command with these lifeless things reminds his readers that all power is transitory linking to the overall theme of the text.
What can you infer from ‘lone and level sands stretch far away’?
The fact the statue is In pieces emphasises the hopelessness of striving for power and believing that human power is permanent.
What are the five things an examiner looks for?
Ideas, attitude and tone, structure and form, techniques used by the poets.
Who was Ted Hughes?
A 20th century English poet who was a mechanic for 2 years in the RAF before uni. Wrote bayonet charge and published 1957.
What does Bayonet Charge focus on?
A single soldiers experience of a charge towards enemy lines (thoughts and actions whilst trying to stay alive).
How do the feelings change in bayonet charge?
Patriotic ideals which change to overriding emotion and fear during violence. Shows transformation of a soldier from a living thinking person into a dangerous weapon of war.