Poetry Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the introduction for Sonnet 18?
Sonnet 18 one of Shakespeare’s most famous poems, written in the 1590’s in praise of an anonymous person. It explores the limitations of traditional romantic cliches, in turn offering a more memorable promise of poetic immortality. By celebrating the beloved’s eternal summer, shakespeare elevates the power of art to capture and preserve beauty, making the poem a profound meditation on loves resilience against time and decay.
What is the introduction for A Married State?
A Married State critiques the idea of marriage, particularly for women. Philips presents marriage as restrictive, arguing that unmarried women enjoy more freedom than married women, who are often weighed down by the demands of husbands and children. The poem explores themes such as female autonomy and the burden of marriage. It reflects early feminist ideas, highlighting how society’s expectations can limit women’s independence.
What is the introduction for Love, Armed?
“Love Armed,” which appears in the first scene of Behn’s 1676 play Abdelazer, or the Moor’s Revenge, tells a tale of love’s terrible power. Love, the pining speaker laments, has destroyed them, but he’s let the hard-hearted beloved off unharmed. The poem explores themes of tyrannical power and the pain of unrequited love.
What is the introduction for An Essay On Man?
In this extract from Pope’s ‘Essay on Man,’ the poet explores the complex and contradictory nature of humanity. Pope suggests that humans occupy a ‘middle state,’ torn between reason and emotion, caught in a constant struggle to understand our place in the world, unsure whether to view ourselves as divine beings or mere animals. Pope reflects on the limitations of human knowledge and the inevitability of error, portraying mankind as both powerful and vulnerable.
What is the introduction for The Chimney Sweeper?
Blake’s ‘The Chimney sweeper’ from his Songs of Experience contrasts starkly with its counterpart in Songs of innocence, and is a scathing critique of societal and institutional exploitation, focusing on the plight of child labourers in 18th-century england. Through the voice of a weeping chimney-sweep, Blake exposes the hypocrisy of a society that condones such suffering while seeking spiritual absolution in church.
What is the introduction for Hunting Snake?
Wright’s poem ‘Hunting Snake’ captures a brief yet powerful encounter between humans and nature. Wright’s evocative language creates a vivid sense of the snake’s silent authority, as it commands attention without causing harm. The poem contrasts the snake’s natural beauty and primal instinct with the human reaction of both fear and fascination. In this fleeting moment, Wright explores themes of the sublime, human vulnerability and the delicate balance between life and death.
What is the introduction for Follower?
‘Follower’ by Seamus Heaney is a nostalgic reflection on the poet’s relationship with his father, who was a skilled farmer. As a child, Heaney admired his father’s expertise and strength, longing to follow in his footsteps. He describes the physical labour of farming and his father’s effortless mastery, contrasting it with his own clumsy attempts to emulate him. The poem highlights themes of admiration, the passage of time, and changing roles. In the end, the roles reverse as Heaney’s aging father now follows him, symbolizing the inevitable shift in dependence and the enduring bond between father and son.
What is the introduction for Where I Come From?
Elizabeth Brewster’s poem explores the deep connection between individuals and their places of origin, reflecting how landscapes, environments and memories shape identity. Through contrasting urban and rural imagery, Brewser examines how these surroundings influence people’s behaviour, thoughts and emotions. The poem suggests that where we come from is more than a geographic location, it profoundly affects who we are and how we interact with the world.
What is the introduction for Storyteller?
In Liz Lochhead’s poem ‘Storyteller’, the speaker reflects on the vital role of storytelling in rural life. Set in a modest kitchen, the poem centres on a woman whose task is to entertain others with tales while they perform physical work, such as grating corn and patching clothes. The poem underscores the significance of oral tradition, portraying storytelling as a valuable, meaningful act that transcends the physical labour of the day.
What is the introduction for Carpet Weavers, Morroco?
Carol Rumens’ poem Carpet-weavers, Morocco explores themes of labour, tradition, and childhood, capturing the lives of young carpet-weavers in Morocco. The poem vividly describes the intricate process of weaving, portraying the children’s dedication and skill as they create vibrant, complex designs. Through sensory imagery and metaphors, Rumens contrasts the beauty of the carpets with the harsh reality of child labour, subtly questioning the cost of such artistry, highlighting the children’s lost innocence as they contribute to a demanding craft, transforming threads into tapestries that symbolise cultural heritage and sacrifice.
What is the introduction for A Different History?
Sujata Bhatt’s poem ‘A Different History’ reflects on the complexities of cultural identity, colonisation, and language. Bhatt contrasts the reverence for books and knowledge in Indian tradition with the painful legacy of British colonialism, particularly the imposition of the English language. Through vivid imagery and reflective tone, Bhatt questions the impact of cultural assimilation and the survival of native traditions. The poem ultimately expresses a deep ambivalence towards the past, while grappling with the tensions of cultural displacement.
What is the introduction for Before The Sun?
Charles Mungoshi’s ‘Before the Sun’ is a poem that captures a quiet, deeply personal moment of a teenage boy preparing his breakfast alone in the early hours of the morning in rural Zimbabwe. Mungoshi styles the poem similarly to a Japanese Haiku in its simplicity and precision - the poem reflects Mungoshi’s own upbringing in nature. It evokes themes of childhood independence, growth and a profound connection to the natural world.
What is the introduction for Lament?
Gillian Clarke’s poem ‘Lament’ is a powerful reflection on the environmental devastation caused by the Gulf War in 1991. Written in response to the human and ecological destruction, the poem captures the sorrow and mourning for lost life, both human and animal, as well as the poisoning of natural habitats. Through snapshots of environmental ruin, Lament highlights the profound consequences of human conflict on the natural world, prompting readers to reflect on the fragile balance between humanity and nature.
What is the introduction for Report To Wordsworth?
Boey Kim Cheng’s poem reflects a deep sense of environmental loss and degradation, echoing the concerns of romantic poet William Wordsworth. Adressed to Wordsworth as a plea, the poem laments humanity’s destruction of nature, portaying the earth as suffering and near death. The poem warns of the consequences of neglecting nature, urging a return to the reverence for the natural world that Wordsworth once celebrated.
What is the introduction for The Cockroach?
This allegorical poem describes a cockroach moving around a room- at first with purpose, then with increasingly erratic and confused behaviour. As the insect stumbles and hesitates, the speaker begins to reflect on its actions, ultimately realising a connection: the cockroach’s aimlesness mirrors the speaker’s own feelings of uncertainty in life.
