Poetry - not in depth Flashcards
Give a summary of London
What are the themes of London?
Give some brief context to London
Highlights the struggles of the working class during the industrial revolution
Power of humans, poverty, individual experiences
Part of the Romantic Movement, inspired by the French Revolution, Blake disliked the monarchy
What is your language quote for London?
What is your structure quote for London?
“mind-forged manacles” - poverty is a prison intentionally constructed by upper class, isn’t natural
“chartered street … chartered Thames” - repetition = every aspect of life was planned - no room for individuality (Romantic Movement)
Give a summary of The Prelude
What are the themes of The Prelude?
Give some brief context to The Prelude
Speaker was having a relaxing experience before having a sudden realisation of his insignificance
power of nature, fear, individual experiences, identity
Part of Romantic Movement, semiautobiographical about his spiritual growth
What is your language quote for The Prelude?
What is your structure quote for The Prelude?
“through the water like a swan” - he’s aligned with nature (Romanticism), was destined to have the epiphany (swan in water)
cyclical structure (start + ends at “willow tree”) = sense of completion, personal growth is finished
Give a summary of the Charge of the Light Brigade
What are the themes of Charge of the Light Brigade?
Give some brief context to the Charge of the Light Brigade
Honours the soldiers lost in a mistake against Russia in the Crimean War
power of humans, effect + reality of conflict, memory, loss + absence
Crimean War was between Russia + Britain/France, miscommunication caused a suicidal charge where most died
What is your language quote for Charge of the Light Brigade?
What is your structure quote for Charge of the Light Brigade?
“into the jaws of Death” - metaphor - rode willingly into certain death, Russians were monstrous, gains public sympathy
Irregular rhyme scheme - symbolises army’s disorganisation, deaths were rhythmic + never ending
Give a summary of Bayonet Charge
What are the themes of Bayonet Charge?
Give some brief context to Bayonet Charge
Story of a man in WWI who runs away from the enemy
Power of humans + nature, effect + reality of conflict, fear, individual experiences
Father fought in WW1, had a rural upbringing (so poetry about nature), overriding patriotism with fear
What is your language quote for Bayonet Charge?
What is your structure quote for Bayonet Charge?
“threw up a yellow hare” - yellow = cowardice, hares = herbivores + prey so defenceless, natural imagery contrasts violence, imaginary = hallucinations?
much enjambment towards end - fast-paced like battle, ambiguous ending shows uncertainty of soldiers’ futures
Give a summary of Poppies
What are the themes of Poppies?
Give some brief context to Poppies
A mother reflecting on her son who died in WWI
memory, loss and absence, effect + reality of conflict, power of humans
Written during Afghan war to understand the suffering from an outside perspective, interested in other art forms
What is your language quote for Poppies?
What is your structure quote for Poppies?
“dove pulled freely against the sky” - metaphor - freedom of death, ‘against’ = not ready, sky = heaven, dove = son’s spirit accepting death
line lengths begin orderly then turn uneven - she holds herself together before he leaves, loses control of emotions + her son
Give a summary of War Photographer
What are the themes of War Photographer?
Give some brief context to War Photographer
Speaks of the challenges faced by a War Photographer and the public’s desensitisation
power of humans, effect + reality of conflict, loss and absence, memory , individual experiences
Inspired by her war photographer friend, photography conveys truth, provokes us to consider our responses
What is your language quote for War Photographer?
What is your structure quote for War Photographer?
“nightmare heat”- hyperbole - British people complain about weather but should be grateful, terror, children living in Hell
strict rhyming scheme - order of England contrasts chaotic war zone, photographer is uncomfortable + out of place
Give a summary of Tissue
What are the themes of Tissue?
Give some brief context to Tissue
Discusses the fragility of life and society and our dependence on paper
power of humans, power of nature, pride, identity
Paper is an extended metaphor for human skin - explores fragility of existence, illustrates power of paper to construct our lives
What is your language quote for Tissue?
What is your structure quote for Tissue?
“might fly our lives like paper kites” - life is a fragile plaything, paper is in complete control, without it we’d be lost
whole poem has stanzas of 4 lines (uniformity of society), last stanza is 1 line - abrupt end to life could happen + leave things unfinished
Give a summary of The Emigree
What are the themes of The Emigree?
Give some brief context to The Emigree
Speaker discusses her memories of her home country that she fled from
loss and absence, memory, pride, identity, individual experiences
Rumens has a ‘fascination with elsewhere’, clear in the poem (speaker is permanently away from the place discussed)
What is your language quote for The Emigree?
What is your structure quote for The Emigree?
“time rolls its tanks” - plosives (harsh + horrific = war), shows war is ongoing OR as time goes on she confronts her old idyllic views
Every stanza ends in “sunlight” - repetition, she will always love her country - doesn’t want to forget, trying to convince herself
Give a summary of Checking Out Me History
What are the themes of Checking Out Me History?
Give some brief context to Checking Out Me History
Discusses the whitewashing of history in school curriculums
power of humans, identity, memory, individual experiences, anger
Born in Guyana + moved to UK, was taught only British history, lists famous historical figures who should be discussed
What is your language quote for Checking Out Me History?
What is your structure quote for Checking Out Me History?
“bandage up me eye” - forced ignorance, bandaging takes time = precision, implies people’s knowledge had to be ‘fixed’
irregular rhyme scheme - it is good to stray from the norm + question what we are taught, represents flaws in education system
Give a summary of Kamikaze
What are the themes of Kamikaze?
Give some brief context to Kamikaze
A Japanese kamikaze pilot returns home and deals with the dishonour
effect + reality of conflict, power of humans + nature, memory, guilt, fear
Kamikaze pilots flew on suicide missions in WW2 - an honour, pilot saw nature’s beauty and returned - was shunned when he got home
What is your language quote for Kamikaze?
What is your structure quote for Kamikaze?
“strung out like bunting” - would have been celebrated if he died, positive connotations = at peace with death, changing his mind was spontaneous
written in blank verse - he was rebellious, contrasts with uniformity of stanzas = he was different to other soldiers + physical and mental conflict
