Anthology Poems Flashcards
(18 cards)
What poems are in group 1? What is the key poem/
Key poem : winter swans
Other poems : singh song, sonnet 29, letters from yorkshire
Winter swans - Owen sheer
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : about a couple who’s facing challenges and struggling at the start due to emotional distance but by the end their problem is resolved, they start to reunite
Context : comes from a collection called ‘skirred hill’ which ‘skirrid’ means divorce in welsh
Language : pathetic fallacy – title/ “two days of rain” ‘rain’ can note sadness and misery implying the relationship is not bringing a couple joy anymore. ‘Winter’ has connotations of coldness and emptiness and could demonstrate the lack of warmth and love in the relationship, it could also symbolise that the love between the couple is dying. However, winter is also followed by spring so it could reflect the idea of hope for the couple and they have a chance to restart.
Simile – “like a pair of wings set in after flight” this illustrates that their relationship is changing for the better and ‘settling’ connotes that it is calming down and at peace, no more arguments.
Simile- “light boats righting in rough weather” portrays that the couples relationship has been challenging and rocky with the reference to ‘rough weather’ however the simile also implies that the couple are trying to stop their relationship from completely fall apart, they are putting in effort to keep it going.
Structure : tercets - ends with couplet the use of test could symbolise the distance between the couple, the third line could be symbolic of the issues and challenges the couple is facing. However, the shift to a couple at the end of the poem could reflect that the couple have been able to move past their difficulties and differences. They have been able to overcome the distance and regain their close bond.
Letters from yorkshire - Maura Dooley
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : relationship is challenged by physical distance, it’s overcome by sending letters, relationship provides hope and joy
Context : poet loved Yorkshire but worked in London – distant from where she felt most comfortable, comes from a collection called ‘sound barrier’
Language : metaphor - “our souls tap out messages across the icy miles” highlights deep, emotional connection shared by the speaker and the man reinforcing the idea of hope and development. ‘Icy miles’ is seasonal imagery of winter which is cold and dead portraying the relationship to be cold and dead as well. However, spring is after winter which could convey ideas of more joyful times to come for the relationship.
Metaphor - “pouring air and light into an envelope” illustrates that the envelope she receives brings her feelings of joy. ‘Air and light’ refer that they are important to her, could also imply she has an office job so she doesn’t experience ‘air and light’ daily.
Seasonal imagery - “February” connote winter which could refer to the idea of the relationship feeling flat and lifeless due to the distance, reflecting the speakers lack of joy and fulfilment of their own life. However, February is on the cost of spring implying there is hope for the relationship to change, develop and progress.
Structure : tercets - reflect the idea that there’s something consistently in the way of their relationship, which is keeping them distant from one another physically. It conveys a lack of progress, development and change in the relationship.
Caesura “me, his” implies there’s a barrier between the speaker and the man, highlight and physical distance between them.
To enjambament implies they have overcome the distance and have found a way to connect despite their physical distance and they’ve overcome their barrier.
What poems are in group 2? What is the key poem?
Key poem : follower
Other poems : walking away, mother any distance, before you were mine, Eden rock, climbing my grandfather
Follower - Seamus Heaney
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : son admired his father, distance grows and son becomes independent, father is still caring for the son
Context : farming in the 1950s was labour-intensive and incredibly tough, heaney left home and Ireland for work.
Language : “I wanted to grow up and plough” shows admiration from the son to the father
ending - “but today it is my father he keeps stumbling behind me” implies the father has grown old and now is not as good as he use to be, reflecting the idea of the father is more reliant on his son and the son is not the leader and not the follower. This could refer to a change in power as the father is the weak one and not the son and the son isn’t going back for his father. The father behind the son could highlight the father is just admiring his son from behind and not trying to catch up and hold him back.
action - “sometimes he rode me on his back” the son felt as if he was in control but in reality the father was as the fathers pronouns were first
Rule of three “I was a nuisance, tripping, falling, yapping always”
Structure: caesura - “an expert.” exaggerates the father’s skill as the caesura implies there is no discussion of the father’s skill, it is a fact.
Walking away - C day Lewis
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : admiration from parent to child, distant grows of the father and son, father still cares for the son
Context : poet was raised by his father after the loss of his mother, strong relationship with his own father shown with poet and son, autobiographical poem about Sean starting boarding school
Language : action of son - “that hesitant figure, eddying away”
metaphor / autumnal and natural imagery - “leaves just turning” connotes their relationship is dying and falling apart, could metaphorically reflect death of the old parent-child relationship but there is need for change and development as the child ages. However, leaves regrow implying their relationship will have a fresh start and regrow again.
Structure : enjambment - could reflect independence and freedom is needed by the child as he ages, but gives ideas of unconditional love suggesting no matter how distant they are but their connection and love will never be interrupted.
Consistent structure - could reflect the poets desire to maintain control over his son in order to protect and keep him safe highlighted love and care felt by the poet. However, this could cause strain intention as children need independence eventually.
Controlled stand the length - could reflect that their love for each other will always stay the same
What poems are in group 3? What is the key poem?
Key poem : neutral tones
Other poems : farmers bride, loves philosophy, when we two parted, porphyrias lover
Neutral tones - Thomas Hardy
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : memory of relationship ending, speaker seems to be the one hurting, man presents himself as a victim
Context : autobiography, links to hardys distant relationship with his first wife Emma
Language : colour imagery - “white” “gray” demonstrates the life, energy joy has been sucked out of the relationship and it has become dull, lifeless and empty making the speaker miserable.
Pathetic fallacy - “winter day” implies that the bond between the speaker and their partner has gone cold, lost its warmth and love which could be symbolic of the relationship death and perhaps to be grieving for the relationship.
Depressing semantic field “fallen…ominous…love deceives” reflected of the speakers own emotions and feelings as a relationship has come to an end implying the misery, sadness, and depression. This present is the speaker as a victim and he wants to be pitied.
Structure : cyclical structure “pond” “pond” the speaker cannot get over or move past the ending of the relationship, implies how the memory repeats over and over in his head revealing how the speaker continues to feel the misery and sadness that he felt when it ended.
Juaxtaposition “alive…die” portrays the relationship was doomed to fail as the couple were never well matched. It could also reflect the distance between the couple, their emotions, ideas and attitudes.
Singh song - daljit nagra
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : words for his dad, distracted by his new wife, speaker shifts between wife / work / family
Context : poet grew up knowing two cultures
Language : “tartan sari” description of wife’s clothing reflects clash of cultures which could reflect the tension between the parent and child versus romantic relationship further implying the difficulties the speaker faced in balance in the two relationship relationships.
“Beaches…brightey moon” description of Britain creates a beautiful, peaceful and romantic relationship reflecting how the relationship the speaker has with his wife is one filled with happiness, joy and love. There is now no conflict between them as his chosen prioritise her.
Structure : shifts in focus between work and wife implies the speaker is unsure what to prioritise and he doesn’t know how to achieve a good balance and need for the shop or his wife are getting his full attention, both the speakers relationship with his wife and his parents would be strained because of this.
Repetition “my bride” repetition create a consistent focus on the wife reflecting how the speaker has chosen to prioritise and give all his attention to his wife portraying the relationship between speaker and wife is stronger, closer and more fulfilled. However, speakers choice could impact his relationship with his parents negatively.
Use of couplets - revealing how the couple is strong and there’s nothing getting in the way of them anymore.
Sonnet 29 - Elizabeth browning
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : speakers unhappy with relationship due to physical distance, is hopeful and promising, brings Elizabeth excitement and security
Context : elizabeth’s father didn’t want any of his daughters to marry, Elizabeth and Robert ended up marrying each other, Victorian patriarchal society
Language : “I think of thee!”
Natural imagery “bud” “strong “tree”
Simile “as wild vines, about a tree” implies that Robert supports her as trees are normally found together showing they’re a good pair. The metaphor of tree could suggest she uses rubber to someone who offers her security and constancy.
Structure : Petrarchan sonnet - generally about intense feelings of love that cannot be realised in reality, Elizabeth had intense feelings for Robert but couldn’t act on them initially as her father didn’t want her to marry.
Repeated use of ! - Patrice had to be very passionate about her love for Robert highlighting her excitement about being together.
Enjambment - reveals that have feelings for him will never end and their feelings have a constant flow with no emotional boundaries.
Before you were mine - carol duffy
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : speaker admires mother, love and care from Mum to child, feels like they were burden on their mother
Context : Marilyn monroe was the 1950s ideal women, Roman Catholicism upbringing, 1950s expectations of women becoming a mother (little choice)
Language : metaphor “Marilyn” indicates the child idolises their mum and thinks their mum had an exciting life, speaker thinks their mum‘s life was cut short when they were born.
Possessive pronoun “Mine” implies that they had a very controlled relationship suggesting when the child was born the Mum lost her freedom and only had time for the child
“You’d teach me the steps on the way home from mass”
“The decade ahead of my load, possessive yell was the best one eh?”
Structure : all stanzas are same length mean their controlled links to how women’s lives in the 1950s were expected to be controlled not fun and free. This could also implies that the mother lost her freedom as she had become responsible after having a child.
Cyclical structure “pavement” “wrong pavement” refers how they have stayed in the same place which links to how women’s lives in the 1950s were repetitive, they didn’t get many opportunities the second “ pavement’ was the wrong one suggesting the speaker thinks the Mum took the wrong pavement having a child
Mother any distance - Simon armitage
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : speaker admires mother, distance grows between mother and child, mother cares for the child
Context : poem meant to be read in the time taken for a candle to burn out which mirrors ending of old Mum and child’s relationship, collection of sonnets so love expected as theme
Language : metaphor “anchor” portrays that the mother always keeps him stable but could also imply that she is weighing him down so he can’t be free.
“Metaphor “fingertips still pinch” mother is trying to keep her son and trying to hold onto the little she has left of him as she is not ready so she’s still gripping on.
“Hatch” could link to a check hatching which represents new life for the son and he is coming out of his shell.
Structure : rhyme disappears
Climbing my grandfather - Andrew Waterhouse
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : speaker my grandfather, speaker becomes closer with grandfather, speaker loves his grandfather
Context : about poets own grandfather
Language : extended metaphor comparing grandfather to mountain could reflect the speakers admiration towards the grandfather and how important the grandfather is to the speaker. It could also imply the speaker feels overwhelmed by the process of getting to know the grandfather the grandson could be presented as the climber which could reflect the grandson‘s determination to build this relationship and get to know his grandfather and the grandson is willing to put in the effort.
Shift in verbs “trying” “knowing” could reveal a sense of achievement for the speaker, his efforts have paid off. It could also reflect how the relationship has become stronger, closer and more secure.
Shift in nouns “brogues” “skin” “heart” the towards the start of the poem or focus on clothing which shifts to the outside of the grandfather’s body and ends with the heart, the order of the nouns could reflect how the emotional connection between the speaker and his grandfather was lacking but has grown and developed as the speaker has put an effort to the relationship.
Structure : one long stanza could show that the process of building a close relationship requires sustained, consistent effort. Could also reflect how for the speaker building this relationship could have felt overwhelming, possible linked to Waterhouse who was very private.
Eden rock - charles causley
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : speaker admire parents, belongs to be with parents but can’t, relationship is full of love and care
Context : both parents of poet passed away, poet, nursed mother when she was very ill
Language : heavenly imagery “her hair the colour of wheat takes on the light”
Action “ they back on me from the other bank”
“Eden rock” suggest that his family has gone up to a place for virtuous and good people (Eden) and ‘rock’ suggest that the family were stable and solid.
Structure : use of quatrain for all of poem except last line controlled structure from standard one to four implies stability in the family but destructed in the last stanza. The four lines illustrates when he was with his family, but the last stands with one line shows he snapped back to reality and his back by himself.
When we two parted - lord byron
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : relationship has ended, speaker is heartbroken, male thinks he’s the victim
Context : Byron had a broken marriage, he wrote the poem when in a jealous state
Language : “half brocken-hearted” could illustrate Byron is brokenhearted but also angry and bitter after the relationship, ‘half’ implies only one of them feels the heartbreak which is Byron.
Metaphor “knell” demonstrates the relationship is dead, Nell is a funeral be implying that he is grieving the end of the relationship. He is also constantly reminded about the relationship between them.
“Thy vows are all brocken” reflects the idea of their promises they made to each other all broken, all the blame is put onto the woman ‘thy’ which would ruin her reputation as his criticising her suggestion she is dishonest. However, ‘thy’ is old-fashioned suggesting his clinging onto the past and can’t let go.
Structure : cyclical structure “silence and tears” implies that the speaker can’t get over her, he still believes that he’s the victim and is in denial thinking no one would cheat on him. It also suggest the ending of the relationship is playing over and over in the speakers mind this could be an ironic link to context as Byron had a pattern of being unfaithful and he never broke out of this cycle.
Farmers bride - Charlotte mew
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : speaker seems to be the one wanting in the relationship, man thinks his opinion is correct, no progress made
Context : Charlotte made a pact with her sister that they would never marry
Language : simile “more light a frightened fay” implies that the bride is scared of him
Colour imagery “black” “grey” dog colours reveal the lifelessness in the relationship
Title suggests that the farmer owns the bride reflecting the idea that the marriage is already unhealthy and the ‘bride’ is forced into the marriage.
Structure : cyclical structure “maid”
porphyrias lover - robert browning
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : male speaker feels as if he owns her, whether unnatural images reflect the relationship and proper herself, speak believes the murder of his beloved is justified
Context : Victorian poet, poetry often focused on morbid and twisted psychological states
Language : repetition of “mine”
shift in pronouns “her” it” in place she just becomes an object to him.
“And yet god has not said a word!” Exclamation reflects the idea that he is triumphant and it is as if he has one.
Structure : shift in tone when she comes in, she shuts out the storm, storm symbolises his bad mental health and when she enters, he becomes calmer. However, the setting be during a storm can turbulent relationship
Loves philosophy - Percy Shelley
Ideas, context, evidence
Ideas : speaker is trying to convince a woman to be with him romantically, speaker uses natural imagery to to persuade her, speaker uses an arrogant confident tone
Context : Shelley went to Oxford University, he ran away with his first wife when she was only 16 then left her
Language : religious imagery “heaven” Shelley wasn’t atheist so this could be interpreted as in sincere, speaker could be manipulating the unknown woman into being intimate and implying it won’t be simple, given in 1800s a woman who engaged intimately with a man outside of marriage would be seen as shameful. However, if it is a random speaker, it could imply that they think it is right in Gods eyes
Natural imager “river” “ocean” to celestial imagery “earth” shift from natural imagery to celestial imagery could imply the speak has become increasingly desperate, feels the need to make Grindr statements to convince the woman which reinforces persistent and relentless nature of the speaker, reflecting the unwillingness to take into account the woman’s wants.
Structure : repetitive structure could convey the relentless nature of the speaker, persist until he gets what he wants, mirrors the selfish mindset and thinks he deserves what he wants linking to Shelley‘s privilege life
