Context Flashcards
(12 cards)
A Wife In London
During Boer Wars (1899-1902) in South Africa where 22000 British soldiers died. News of death is sent by a telegram which is faster than normal post that took time to reach families. Written in 1899 by Thomas Hardy who was a keen novelist
Hawk Roosting
Written in 1960 by Ted Hughes. He was the Poet Laureate in 1984-1998. This poem was controversial as hawk presents a fascist leader ruling by violence as well as Birds of prey connecting to Nazi symbol
As Imperceptible As Grief
Written by Emily Dickinson in 1865 who was a recluse and isolated herself. She was strongly influenced by the Romantics. Grief was also common to her as she lost her father and lost friends due to having an illness when she was younger
Living Space
Written by Imtiaz Dharker in 1997 who was born in Pakistan. She writes about multicultural experience and Living Space is about Mumbai, India. This is one of the top 10 most populated cities with 87 million people living below poverty line.
London
Written by William Blake in 1794 who lived in London. Poem links to industrial revolution. Church was meant to be responsible for all orphans but isn’t links to Blake losing faith in religion
The Soldier
Written by Rupert Brooke in 1914 at the start of WW1. Brooke joined armed forces yet died on the way to war in 1915 from sepsis. Sonnet was later used as propaganda and published in the Times
She Walks In Beauty
Written by Lord Byron in 1813 who breaks conventions and writes with links to parties/drinking. He is known for lavish lifestyle and scandalous affairs - ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’
Mametz Wood
Written by Owen Sheers in 2005 who was inspired by a visit to the WW1 battlefield. It is based on a place in France during Battle of Somme, 4000 casualties, Welsh division were never acknowledged for their bravery.
Sonnet 43
Written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning in1846 who was a romantic poet. She wrote a collection of poems (44) for her husband Robert. Her father forbade her from marriage so she ran away to elope Robert. She was intensely religious as a child and suffers from lifelong illness - chronic pain
Death Of A Naturalist
Written by Seamus Heaney in 1966 who was a Northen Irish poet who won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995. Poem is based on his childhood in growing up in the countryside. He also lost his brother in a a car crash when he was younger which affected him greatly
The Manhunt
Written by Simon Armitage in 2008 for a Channel 4 documentary. Written from the wife’s perspective (Laura) of Eddie Beddeos who fought in the Bosnian Peace-keeping Mission (1990s). He is a highly celebrated contemporary poet and is the current Poet Laureate.
Afternoons
Written by Philip Larkin in 1959 who was declined Poet Laureate in 1984. He has a observational poetry style and never married or left England. In the time it was written gender roles were very defined, the government got rid if old housing to replace with modern estates with green spaces and white good were beginning to be commercially sold.
