Poetry WJEC Eduqas context

Question 1

The Manhunt

Answer 1

• No particular time
• Addresses common isues about the effects of war on soldiers
• Originally read by Laura, wife of soldier Eddie Bedoes, who was injured. He suffered from PTSD and depression as a result of his experiences
• part of Simon Armitage’ The Not Dead collection focusing on ex-soldiers and war’s effect on them

Question 2

Sonnet 43

Answer 2

• Elizabeth Barret Browning was bron in County Durham
• Wrote a series of sonnets published in 1850 for her future husband, Robert Browning
• Sonnets from the Portuguese

Question 3

London

Answer 3

• Blake wrote and illustrated two volumes of poetry that explored. the state of the human soul
  1. Songs of Innocense are positive
  2. Songs of Experience are negative
• Blake questioned Church teachings and believed in social and racial equallity

Question 4

The Soldier

Answer 4

• Captures the idealism of the men who enlisted at the beginning of the Fire World War
• Brooke died of illness in 1915 while serving in the Royal Navy, and was buried on Skyros

Question 5

She Walks in Beauty

Answer 5

• Many poets use nature to describe beauty, however Bryon uses night instead of day to convey the woman’s beauty
• Byron had a lavish lifestule and scandalous affairs. His poems, however, are more restrained
• Originally intended to be set to music

Question 6

Living Space

Answer 6

• Comes from 1997 collection Postcards from god, and is about housing in Mumbai, a city in India

Question 7

As Imperceptibly as Grief

Answer 7

• Emily Dickinson spent most of her adult years in isolation, but wrote many letters and poems, which often discuss death and nature.

Question 8

Cozy Apologia

Answer 8

• September 1999, the east coast of the US was hit by Hurricane Floyd. heavy rainfall caused extreme flooding and devastation
• Part of Rita Dove’s American Smooth

Question 9

Valentine

Answer 9

• Published in 1993 as part of Duffy’s collection Mean Time

Question 10

A Wife in London

Answer 10

• During the Boer War news of British soldier’s deaths were sent by telegram, which was faster than normal post. Letters from the soldiers took longer to reach their families
• Hardy was against war, his poems often show it as pointless and destructive

Question 11

Death of a Naturalist

Answer 11

• Seamus Heaney often wrote about themes such as childhood, nature, and politics.
• Published in 1966

Question 12

Hawk Roosting

Answer 12

• Caused controversy when published
• Some thought it was an allegory of human nature
• Thought the Hawk was a murderous tyrant who rules using violence and fear
• Hughes denied this, explaining he intended the voice to be from nature, expressing herself
• Published in 1960

Question 13

To Autumn

Answer 13

• Near the end of his life, Keates wrote six odes, one of which was To Autumn

Question 14

Afternoons

Answer 14

• 1960s gender roles were more definded –women were expected to raise the children and look after the home, while men had a job and provided for the family
• The government was taking steps to get rid of old, run-down houses and replace them with new estates with plenty of green spaces
• Much of Larkin’s poetry generally explores ordinary events that occur in people’s lives

Question 15

Dulce et Decorum Est

Answer 15

• Much of Owen’s poetry reveals his anger at the war’s horrific conditions
• Chlorine gas was a weapon used during WWI
• It was a distinctive shade of green and when inhaled caused breathing difficulties and eventually death

Question 16

Ozymandias

Answer 16

• Written after Shelley heard about an Italian explorere who had retrieved the statue from the desert
• Shelley disliked monarchies, absolute power, and the oppression of ordinary people
• He was a Romantic poet, part of a movement that had a big influence in the late 1700s and early 1800s. They tried to capture emotions in their works and focused the power of nature

Question 17

Mametz Wood

Answer 17

• Published in the collection Skirrid Hill
• Battle of the Somme. As part of the battle, some Welsh soldiers were commanded to walk towards the Germans with the aim of capturing Mametz Wood. They came under fire and many were killed.
• The soldiers were successful; however, some criticised them for not being determined enough. Others said they were badly treated, badly trained, and their sacrifice was not appreciated.

Question 18

Excerpt from ‘The Prelude’

Answer 18

• Excerpt form the first of fourteen books that make up Wordsworth’ poem The Prelude The book is titled Introduction – Childhood and School-Time
• Romantic poet, and explores relation ship between humans and nature
• The Prelude is an autobiographical poem, it explores key moments and experiences in Wordsworth’s life. Published after his death in 1850.