Texts Flashcards
What is the idea of the poem “Musée des Beaux Arts” by W.H. Auden?
Suffering is everywhere, part of life, and most of the time people don’t even notice.
What kind of poem is “Icarus to Eve” by Ramon Guthrie?
The poem is a contemporary reimagining of the Icarus myth and hunts at a conversation between Icarus to Eve. It explores the aftermath rather than the actual fall.
How does Guthrie transform Icarus’s death into a positive thing in his poem “Icarus to Eve”? And what does true poem/myth warn us about?
That it is a good thing that daredevils exist (referring to Icarus not listening to his father). The myth seems to warn us about being too proud, about not respecting your limit.
What is the idea of “Daedalus” by Alastair Reid? What is the structure and tone? And what may the birds represent?
The father (speaker) supports his son to fly high.
Birds = freedom
What is the idea of Anne Sexton’s poem “To a friend…” And what kind of feeling does it capture? Style?
The poem focuses on the moment when Icarus, in his first flight, soars high above the ocean before falling.
The poem captures a sense of achievement and glory.
Style: confessional, emotional, personal.
What does Anne Sexton portray in her poem?
She portrays the excitement to fly away from the earth and into the sky.
What is the idea of Carol Ann Duffy’s “Mrs Icarus”?
From the mother’s point of view, and she mocks Icarus/father as a Grade A pillock, showing her frustrations.
How is Edmund Spender’s poem “Sonnet” different to Ovid?
Daphne prays to her father to help her, so the poet made this part up.
