Poetry Analysis Flashcards
Manhunt quote analysis
Body broken down into separate objects suggests war dehumanises people
“frozen river” - On physical level, adjective “frozen” emphasises permanent physical scarring on man’s face; reflects brutality of war and permanent impact.
The metaphor of a ‘frozen river’ could signify psychological trauma as scar goes ‘through his face’; Eddie has traumatic memories that haunt him.
Images of delicate materials “porcelain” and “silk” suggest beauty and vulnerability. “porcelain” - Fragile and delicate - need to be handled with care
“foetus” - emphasises experiences apart of him, being injured is as life-changing as becoming parent
Pain still growing mentally and physically
Juxtaposition: foetus connotes new life, birth and happiness - in reality growing in him is pain and trauma. Ironic as foetus is start of life and affects parent’s life positively. However, bullet can kill, spell end of life.
“unexploded mine” suggests potential to still explode or permanent damage
“only then did i come close” suggests it is journey through pain and healing and their reconciliation as a couple. Search not successful as only comes close as realisation husbands problems lie as much in memories than physical scars
The Soldier quote analysis
“If I should die” suggests an acceptance of death and modal verb “should” indicates a willingness to die for his country.
“richer dust” suggests remains of his body are superior to ground he lies in because he is English not foreign.
“A pulse in the eternal mind” suggests his presence in soil of foreign land will always live on making him immortal.
“under an English heaven” shows his pride in England as he is suggesting England is almost like paradise and to die in England’s name would bring him “peace”
She Walks in Beauty quote analysis
“like the night” breaks ordinary conventions of romantic poetry by emphasising how attractive her darkness is
contrast “dark and bright” throughout poem suggests both ‘dark’ and bright’ come together to create perfection and balance
“love” only mentioned in last line, suggest physical attraction or by writing poem in order to show process of falling in ‘love’ with someone and realises at end he does
Living Space quote analysis
“nails clutch” could be a metaphor for how the people in slums ‘clutch’ for opportunities to raise their social status
“eggs”could convey vulnerability and fragility of their living area but also suggest new life and optimism
“wire basket” could imply metaphorical prison people in
adjective “bright” suggest hope and happiness people create in slums despite circumstances
adjective “thin” represent fragility and vulnerability of their society
metaphor of “walls” imply their optimism protects them from harsh reality of their lives
ends poem positively with hope, implying does not matter if rich or poor as nobody can take away your beliefs
As imperceptibly as Grief quote analysis
image “twilight” suggest speaker trapped between dark/depressed and light/happiness
‘long ago’ shows melancholic tone of darkness taking over happiness
“dusk” suggests speaker feels darkness drawing closer and light (happiness) growing shorter each day
‘dusk’ coming earlier each day suggesting light leaving her life
“light” suggest speaker has finally accepted time passes and they have to face death
poem ends positively with word “beautiful” could imply she is now ready to move on to heaven
Cozy Apologia quote analysis
“i could..” first person, suggests is autobiographical, “anything” suggests everything in her life has memories of being with her husband
“dappled mare”… stereotypical images of chivalry used in quick succession - dreamy tone but humorous , cliched image of knight in shinning armour
“thin as…” light-hearted extended metaphor shows relationships with these “worthless boys” lacked substances
“i fill..” suggests their relationship is happy and appreciated and tone is reflective and thoughtful - being content is better than great romance
Valentine quote analysis
moon is traditional symbol of love and fertility, brown paper emphasises onion is plain, unsentimental gift - extended metaphor used to represent love, speaker sees onion as honest symbol - symbolises joy and intimacy of love but also pain
“blind with tears”: “it” unclear whether onion or love itself, onion symbolises way love can cause pain “blind” is strongly negative, unlike traditional valentines day messages
“fierce kiss” love described in physical terms. Also suggestion that it can be dangerous an possessive
“cling to” repetition on two separate lines emphasises the inescapability of its “scent”, shows love can be possessive and suffocating - love has power to wound
A Wife in London quote analysis
“tawny vapour” wife presented as alone, against the backdrop of a bleak city - fog yellow and thick, eerie scene and sense of foreboding, ominous language - highlights tragedy about to happen - whole world covered in gloom
“street lamp” no comfort or warmth in street light - adds to anticipation of bad news
“fallen” dashes mimic style of telegram and create pauses, as if the news doesn’t sink in, euphemism “fallen” rather than died-maybe trying to divert horror
“hand” morbid play on words, husband’s handwriting and his hand, vivid image highlights death and physical decay
Death of a Naturalist quote anlayis
“bubble” oxymoron shows childish enjoyment of something disgusting, adverb ‘delicately’ strange to use to describe this disgusting scene. Shows speaker appreciation for the flax-dam
“slobber” childlike language show narrator slipping into their childhood self
“mud grenades” simile suggests the frogs are about to explode - shows how terrifying the speaker found them also suggests war between speaker in the poem
“spawn” verb “clutch” suggests he is now afraid and scared of frogs. Believes he will not be able to escape from the knowledge of how he views the ‘angry’ frogs’ - metaphor for loss of innocence
Hawk Roosting quote analysis
“sleep” Violence emphasised as thinks of killing even when asleep
“top” physically up high - symbolises powerful position over the rest of nature
“I kill” shows arrogance - believes he can do whatever he wants, without boundaries due to power - presents to reader that power can corrupt a person - arrogance of power
“my manners” Oxymoron juxtaposes politeness with extreme violence to shock reader.
“I am” sense of certainty - hawk believed can keep whole world as it is. Ironic as reader knows it can’t control everything
Prelude quote anlaysis
“rapture” noun suggests a joyous ecstasy and time of celebration
“summons” narrator rebels by not going home - shows youthful, enthusiasm, excitement”
“hiss’d” and “flew” verbs show movement and sounds of boys, emphasising their skilful speed and sense of freedom
“melancholy” idea introduces us to sense of sadness and insight into Wadsworth nostalgia at happier days of innocence which are now long passed
“orang sky” - final image reminds us day is ending and so is year, and so did childhood as he became adult. Intensity of orange sky and sparkling stars reflect energy and vibrancy of youth, something that declines with ageing
