6. Dylan Thomas and R.S. Thomas

Question 1

R.S. Thomas’ language in his works:

Answer 1

Welsh & English
formal, haughty, melancholic, resentful

Question 2

When was R.S. Thomas nominated for something

Answer 2

1966 -Nobel Prize, lost to Szymborska ; )

Question 3

Themes in EARLY R.S. Thomas’ works:

Answer 3

The “peasant”
Iago Prytherch

Question 4

Themes in R.S. Thomas’ works (overall -5):

Answer 4

-man & machine
-religion, the Absolute
-science, nature (birds)
-paintings
-marriage

Question 5

R.S. Thomas’ poem in which he reflects his profession & not learning Welsh until adulthood

Answer 5

“Sorry”
(tongue and cheek)
—he struggled with faith, parents wanted him to be a priest

Question 6

Man VS Machine poem by R.S. Thomas:

Answer 6

“Cynddylan on a Tractor”
-new knight
-disturbed nature
-very old Welsh name > modern man

Question 7

describe “Welsh Landscape” by R.S. Thomas:

Answer 7

-harsh, melancholic
-“no present, no future, only past”
-Wales

Question 8

Poem in which R.S Thomas wrote abt the flooding of the Tryweryn Valley

Answer 8

“Reservoirs”
-colonialism/exploitation
-worry abt Welsh cult & lang

Question 9

What did birds represent in R.S Thomas’ works & name a poem

Answer 9

“A marriage”
birds = his dead wife
(bittersweet)

Question 10

R.S Thomas’ autobiography:

Answer 10

“Neb”
(in third person)
in Welsh

Question 11

Most famous Dylan Thomas’ poem:

Answer 11

“Do not go gentle into that good night”

Question 12

Dylan Thomas’ language in his works:

Answer 12

-rhythmic, complex aural patterning
-influence of cynghanned?
-only in English (tho he learned Welsh as 2L)

Question 13

themes in Dylan Thomas’ works:

Answer 13

-romanticism
-imagery
-playing with language

Question 14

Name 3 Dylan Thomas’ works:

Answer 14

1. “The force that through the green fuse drives the flower”
2. “After the funeral (in memory of ann Jones)”
3. “Fern Hill”
4. “Do not go gentle into that good night”

Question 15

Describe “After the funeral (in memory of Jann Jones” by Dylan Thomas:

Answer 15

-crammed language
-return to nature
-death, time, grief

Question 16

Describe “Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas:

Answer 16

-Adam & Eve?
-descriptive of nature, evocative
-time
-anthropomorphisation of nature (author reflected in it)

Question 17

Describe “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas:

Answer 17

-time
-written for his dying father
-light vs dark (life vs death)

Question 18

what is “Under Milk Wood”

Answer 18

-radio drama (“play for voices”)
-by Dylan Thomas

Question 19

Language in “Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas (4):

Answer 19

-evocative
-alliterations
-two narrators
-plastic medium

Question 20

Describe the meaning of dreams in “Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas:

Answer 20

dreams reveal the characters core memories, wants and fears

Question 21

Describe the conflict in “Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas

Answer 21

-industrialisation + less human connection
-gossip

Question 22

What does the title “Under Milk Wood” mean? (Dylan Thomas)

Answer 22

The title refers to the forest on the edge of the town, used for romantic meetings.

Question 23

Describe the story and time of “Under Milk Wood” by Dylan Thomas:

Answer 23

-routines (single day)
-collective story of the community (focuses on individuals and their routines)