The ‘whys’ of the Eduqas Poetry Anthology Flashcards
1
Q
The Manhunt
A
- Armitage highlights society’s neglect of mental health by focusing on the psychological trauma of soldiers, emphasizing the urgent need for improved mental health support for veterans with PTSD, who face significant challenges in reintegrating into civilian life.
- Through Eddie Beddoes’s struggles, Armitage critiques traditional masculinity and emphasizes the importance of allowing men to express their emotions rather than suppressing them.
- Armitage challenges idealized views of love by portraying a relationship that emphasizes endurance, resilience, and commitment during difficult times as the true essence of love.
- Through the use of a female speaker, Armitage reveals how widespread the effects of war can
be, leaving indelible scars on relationships and families.
2
Q
Sonnet 43
A
- Through her re-negotiation of the Petrarchan sonnet form, Barret Browning challenges the
denigration of the female voice in the nineteenth century, confidently asserting her right to
declare her love through poetry as a female writer. - Barret Browning elevates love to a transcendental level, implying that the love God has for
humanity is mirrored in the love she feels for her husband. - Barrett Browning celebrates love as a transformative force which enables her to overcome
past traumas and afflictions.
3
Q
The Soldier
A
- romanticises the prospect of dying for one’s country, implying this act of martyrdom
and self-sacrifice is a true honour and will be considered the ultimate act of heroism. - By personifying England as a female figure, Brooke appeals to societal expectations of
masculinity, promoting the view that men are responsible for protecting and defending
women. - Brooke promotes patriotism, implying that all men are indebted to their country and should
sacrifice themselves to preserve it.
4
Q
She Walks in Beauty
A
- Byron uses the poem as a vehicle to pay homage to the aesthetic beauty of a female subject,
as well as her moral and virtuous character
5
Q
Cozy Apologia
A
- Dove emphasises how the excitement and pace of infatuation pales in comparison to the
contentment brought about by a committed relationship. - The poem contains autobiographical elements, and Dove uses it to celebrate her
relationship with her husband Fred, in all its mundane, day-to-day glory. - Having been forced to stay at home because of Hurricane Floyd, Dove advocates slowing
down and appreciating the minutia of life and the preciousness of relationships we might be
inclined to take for granted when caught up in the business of normal life.
6
Q
Valentine
A
- Through the unconventional gift of an onion, Duffy rejects the consumerism, materialism and
performative gestures increasingly associated with Valentine’s day. - Duffy questions the viability of life-long commitment and fidelity, and instead alludes to the
evanescent, temporary nature of love. - Duffy is critical of romanticised, idealistic portrayals of love and relationships and instead
presents love as a possessive and dangerous force, which often leads to insecurity and
obsession
7
Q
A Wife in London
A
- Hardy uses the poem to highlight the wide-reaching effects of war, particularly on
overlooked groups, like the wives made widows by war, for whom nothing can be said or done
to ameliorate their grief. - To condemn the futile squandering of young lives in war and lament their lost futures.
8
Q
Dulce et Decorum est
A
- Owen uses the poem to condemn the futile squandering of young lives as a result of conflict.
- Owen refutes the glorification of war by propaganda poets such as Jessie Pope by depicting
the harsh reality of war. - The poem exposes the life-long traumatic physical and psychological impact war has on
soldiers.
9
Q
Mametz Wood
A
- Sheers depicts the true horrors of warfare and condemns the futile squandering of young
lives as a result of conflict. - The poem is elegiac in nature, serving to pay homage to the immense courage and sacrifice of
the 38th Welsh Division of the British army.
