Ted Hughes poetry Flashcards
(16 cards)
1
Q
Structure of ‘Wind’
A
- Quatrains of free verse and enjambment emphasise the continuous attack and power of the storm and mark passage of time
- Reference to horizons at end of poem, suggests storm is far reaching and expansive
- Iambic rhythm in certain lines portrays the storm’s power and potential unpredictability
2
Q
Structure of ‘Relic’
A
- 3 stanzas
- Trochaic and iambic rhythm create a harsh tone and emphasise the sea as a destructive entity
- Rhyming couplets enforce the merciless nature of the sea and portray the jawbone as a monument to the death it has caused
3
Q
Structure of ‘The Thought Fox’
A
- Stanzas of free verse and enjambment reflect the meandering and gradual nature of the creative process
- The final stanzas increase in pace and have a triumphant tone as the fox reveals itself more prominently and the persona’s ideas are fully formed
4
Q
Structure of ‘The Jaguar’
A
- Quatrains of free verse suggest the restriction and hindering of freedom in the zoo
- Combination of full and half rhyme presents the conflict between the jaguar’s unrestrainable mindset and the confinement of the zoo
5
Q
Structure of ‘The Horses’
A
- 16 couplets and 2 3-line stanzas, which give the poem a sense of sparsity and emptiness reflecting the quiet serenity of nature (juxtaposed with the constant noise of the city)
- Many lines are end-stopped which adds to this
- Past tense suggests a recollection, one that the speaker evidently cherishes
6
Q
Structure of ‘Hawk Roosting’
A
- Dramatic monologue provides insight into the hawk’s consciousness, allows reader to view the hawk’s perspective
- Free verse and enjambment show the hawk is moving at its own pace and takes pleasure in its power
- End stop lines in the last stanza, short declarative presented as unchanging ideals and facts, confident and arrogant tone
- Each stanza reflects the hawk’s perception of its existence
7
Q
Different types of alliteration and their effects
A
Plosive - repetition of ‘b’ or ‘p’ sound. This evokes a dramatic effect or burst and pop i writing
Guttural - repetition of ‘g’ or ‘k’. This adds roughness and intensity to the language and implies discontent or suffering
Sibilance - repetition of ‘s’ sound. Creates a hushed tone in a passage, to suggest quiet and serenity, or create an ominous and foreboding tone
Fricative - repetition of ‘f’. Brings texture to words and adds roughness in places
Dental alliteration - repetition of ‘d’ or ‘t’ sound. Could suggest harshness or discomfort
8
Q
Structure of ‘Cat and Mouse’
A
- 3 stanzas with 3 lines in each stanza. Free verse builds tension throughout the poem. Lack of rhythm mirrors mouse’s conflicting desires to break free or to stay put and avoid risk
- Enjambment and internal rhythm conveys powerlessness of the mouse, reflects humanity’s own fear of a higher power
9
Q
Structure of ‘Snowdrop’
A
- Enjambment reflects the relentlessness and continuing march of the cruel winter. Snowdrop adopts the brutality of its surroundings to survive
- Emphatic positioning of ‘metal’ last word, emphasises the flower’s strength and resilience
- The single stanza of the poem depicts the singular struggle for survival that all animals possess in the cruel winter months
10
Q
Structure of ‘Harvest Moon’
A
- Strong iambic rhythm creates a fast and vivacious pace as the moon is symbolic for change, and the arrival of Judgement Day is linked with the harvesting of crops (similarly souls would be reaped on this day)
- The rhyme between certain couplets links the different similes which describe the varying qualities of the moon, suggesting its majesty and grace but also omnipotence
11
Q
Structure of ‘Football at Slack’
A
- Free verse reflects the pace and energy of the men and the ball during their game. The active verbs further convey how dynamic and vivacious this activity is (there are lots of them)
- Enjambment emphasises the continuity of the game and the passage of time and shift into bad weather, but despite this the men continue their game with maintained energy
12
Q
Structure of ‘Roe Deer’
A
- Structured in couplets of free verse which causes the reader to continually stop and hesitate, as the deer do. The single line ‘The deer had come for me’ is impactful and draws attention to the persona’s connection with these mystical creatures
- The wonder of the moment is depicted which further emphasises this connection
13
Q
Structure of ‘A Memory’
A
- Enjambment and lack of full stops emphasises the continuity of the work and also how the profession has been carried out through time (temporal references to primitive humanity further reflect this)
- Hughes’ appreciation of manual labour is conveyed such as via use of plosive alliteration ‘bony white back’ which draws attention to the shearer’s strength
14
Q
Structure of ‘Telegraph Wires’
A
- Written in couplets with an AABB rhyming scheme which creates a clear and fluent sense of communication similar to the communication enabled by the telegraph wires themselves
- The rhyme of ‘tones’ and ‘bones’ is particularly impactful, linking the wires to death and how they could potentially be bringing devastating news. It also suggests the fragility of life
15
Q
Structure of ‘Anniversary’
A
- The poem is written in free verse depicting the persona, Hughes’, stream of consciousness
- The enjambment emphasises his wondering thought process and creates a vision or dream-like quality to the poem. The use of direct speech brings the anecdotal information to life as well as the character of Edith Hughes
16
Q
Structure of ‘The Other’
A
- The use of free verse and enjambment are suggestive of direct address and make the poem seem more personal and intimate, as Hughes is addressing potentially either his second wife Assia Weevil or himself in his referral to ‘you’
