Painful realities

Poetry creates awareness of painful realities. This can be appreciated in particular to war poetry where generally it is the aim of the poet to educate people on the horrific events that take place during the bleak years on the battlefields. The painful realities are expressed through metaphors, similes, specific tone of language and mood. Furthermore, poets use tempo, reflections and questions in their writing in order to express their feelings and what war is essentially about. In order to study at how poetry creates awareness, four poems will be considered. These are War, Chick Martin Dulce et Decorum Est, Wilfred Owen Grenade, Francis Scarfe Bombardment, D H Lawrence In the first poem, it is evident that painful realities are created through the author's use of descriptive language and his ability to describe the scenes on the battle fields and the impacts later. There is no regular structure to the poem although there is a reoccurring line at the conclusion of each stanza; War is war, nothing more. This is the basis to the poem, explaining to readers that war is as it appears. It is as the gruesome scenes of violence, death and pain. There are ????? The erratic shorter versus increase the intensity Dulce et Decorum Est creates the realities through careful structure. After describing how the soldiers, trudged through the mud, "blood shod and drunk with

  • Word count: 443
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Did Poems, Paintings, songs, stories, and Films about the western Front give a more accurate picture of soldiers’ experiences than official accounts?

Did Poems, Paintings, songs, stories, and Films about the western Front give a more accurate picture of soldiers' experiences than official accounts? st May 1915: William Milton, foreman of Lyons Hall farm, dose not approve of all the recruiting posters on tree trunks and walls. "If the government want more men let them take idlers not workmen. Unless the war is over before August there will not be enough men for the harvest". The men say 'we will go when we like, or when we are ordered.' Conscription being just, would be welcome. 9th May 1915: The annoyance of the farm-labourers with the recruitment campaign is show by the fact that every recruitment poster has been torn down. This is an unofficial document and is a personal account of what farmers in Essex felt about the pressure put on men to join the armed forces. It was written in the diary of an Essex Clergyman, the reverend Andrew Clark. It tells us that the farmers were none to happy about the government taking all the workmen and believed that the country would soon be in ruin if the war didn't end by August. This source gives us a rare insight of what people working in agriculture at the time thought would happen if most of the working men went off to fight in the war. This source is very reliable because it was written in a dairy, which was not begin written for the public and so is censored by the

  • Word count: 2058
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Comparing Lord Tennyson and Wilfred Owen

Comparing Lord Tennyson and Wilfred Owen Propaganda in war time was a very powerful way to change someone's view on war, or to sugar-coat the truth of what is happening at war. (However when what is said is a complete lie this sparks a thought in the mind of a certain person from then on the "People's voice" is heard). The two poems written are both based on war. The poems are also both literature based, and were written to show moral outrage. The two poems which are to be analysed are "Dulce et Decorum est", written by Wilfred Owen. The other poem is "Charge of the Light Brigade" written by Alfred Tennyson. These two poems describe war, and scenes from war, with varying levels of intensity and also from different viewpoints. Wilfred Owen was a soldier in World War One and he writes from first hand experience. Alfred Tennyson's poem was written in the Crimean War. Lord Tennyson was the port Laureate at this time of war and he witnessed no fighting. Tennyson's poem was written about a military blunder and how 600+ men were sent right into the camp of the opposing force and shot down like fish in a barrel. Owen's poem was written to show the disgraceful conditions on the trench and to show how many people die in this "Game". Imagery is used a lot in both poems. This makes the poem more real in the minds of the reader. Owen also makes it realistic by telling the reader

  • Word count: 764
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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The Cockroach - Kevin Halligan

Through the allegory in "The Cockroach" Kevin Halligan reflects upon the value of life and the many challenges we face. Structure, tone and language techniques draw attention to the amount of detail and lessons that can be observed through an usually overlooked insect. The hyperbole of "a giant cockroach" conveys the closeness with which the persona is observing it, showing the reader the irony in his fascination and interest with this seemingly insignificant pest. The repetition of the insect here and in the title reinforces its importance, suggesting that this is also a device allowing one to reflect upon life. The unusual image of a lone cockroach that the persona empathises with highlights his feeling of loneliness; that they are considered an annoyance draws parallels with his despondency and identity crisis. The cockroach is separated and alone just as he feels from humanity; the real irony is the similarities that are apparent both to the persona and us. Furthermore, the personal pronoun "he" reinforces the connection felt by the persona; his personification of the cockroach allows a clear description while reinforcing this. The sibilance of "seemed quite satisfied" slows the attention upon this moment; the persona recognises a universal issue where humans are quite complacent with simply moving about, their destination unknown. The "path between..the door"

  • Word count: 618
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Consider the Development of the Sonnet from the 14th Century to the Modern Day

Consider the Development of the Sonnet from the 14th Century to the Modern Day. The word sonnet is the English translation of the Italian word sonetto, a 'little sound' or 'song'. A sonnet is a poem consisting of fourteen lines, ten syllables in English and Italian and generally twelve in French. There are three basic sonnet forms, the Petrarchan, which is an eight lined and a six lined (octave and sestet) sonnet with no rhyming couplet; the Spenserian, consisting of three quatrains and a couplet; finally the Shakespearian, consisting of three quatrains (four lines) and a couplet. There are different styles of sonnets all over the world. For example, France has its own unique structure that their sonneteers write in and the same with other countries. With all these different countries having different styles of writing that also means there are also different rhyming schemes. Reading sonnets is a great way of learning about different cultural aspects of life; for example during the seventeenth century the central theme of most sonnets was religion. During this time it gave people a great opportunity to learn about many different religions. The use of enjambment occurs in many sonnets. Enjambment is the running on of the thought from one line, couplet, or stanza to the next without a syntactical break The first sonneteer was Italian, his name was Francesco Petrarch. He was

  • Word count: 1326
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Compare the two poets Ted Hughes and Simon Armitage.

Compare the two poets Ted Hughes and Simon Armitage In the untitled poem by Simon Armitage, the poem describes to us a short story that happened many years ago. The story is of a 13-year-old boy during puberty, and not knowing how to deal with his feelings for a girl in his class. The boy heated up scissors in a flame in a chemistry lab and then handed them to the girl marking rings around her fingers. We presume that the boy in the story is the poet, Simon Armitage as the poem is written in 1st person. The poet now feels a little sorry for what he did but tries to excuse it using the sentence, '...that was just my butterfingered way, at 13 of asking you to marry me.' In this quote he tries to use his age as an excuse as he was only young. The poet telling the story does not actually say that he is sorry but we get that impression from the quote, 'Don't believe me, please, if I say...' when the poet was 13 though we get a different opinion of what he was feeling, we get the impression that he felt amused, proud and triumphant of what he had done, but know looking back does not feel the same as he did. I believe that the overall message of the poem is to ask the girl that he burnt at 13 to marry him; he tries to excuse what he did and then goes on to say; 'Don't believe me please, if I say, that was just my butterfingered way, at 13 of asking you to marry me.' I believe

  • Word count: 1817
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Examine three poems by Auden and Yeats and compare how they present the struggle of man.

Examine three poems by Auden and Yeats and compare how they present the struggle of man. Two poets who are influenced by different individuals yet both come together to produce poems which expose the same image, the struggle of man, are William Butler Yeats and Wystan Hugh Auden. W.B.Yeats, born in Dublin and the son of an Irish painter, hastily revealed, after returning from his childhood life in County Sligo, that he preferred poetry, hence resulting in the rejection of his studies on painting. Yeats became involved in a protest, which was against the cultural power of English rule on Ireland. Apart from Irish mythology and folklore, Maud Gonne was a big influence on Yeats' poetry. Gonne was just as famous as Yeats, but for her beauty and her passion for politics. It is evident that Gonne influences Yeats, as Ireland was "no country for old men", which suggests that Ireland is not a place for old people not fit to fight, which then implicitly depicts the political torment that Ireland was experiencing. On the other hand, W.H.Auden born in York and educated at Christ's Church, Oxford. Thomas Hardy, William Blake, Emily Dickinson and Gerard Manley Hopkins influenced Auden. He had remarkable intelligence in which he would employ the writing styles of other poets such as Emily Dickinson. Yeats' work can be compared with the work of Auden as both often metaphorically represented

  • Word count: 2110
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Larkin’s poetry often deals with the dissatisfaction of modern living and the reality of life today. With reference to at least two poems show how true this is.

Larkin's poetry often deals with the dissatisfaction of modern living and the reality of life today. With reference to at least two poems show how true this is. To answer this I will be looking at poems taken from Philip Larkin's collection 'The Whitsun Weddings.' The two poems I have chosen to focus on in more depth are 'MCMXIV' and 'A Study of Reading Habits' 'MCMXIV' has often been read as a nostalgic poem as it reflects the speakers desire to return to some earlier time in their life, but is also a poem tinged with sadness as it deals with the period before and immediately after World War One. It reflects the vanishing way of traditional English life and how the speaker is saddened by the changing world. As the title 'MCMXIV' suggests it is a poem, which looks at the past and in contrast to the reality of the world today. The detailed descriptions seem to suggest the speaker is looking at old photographs. Stanza one for example may show that the speaker is looking at on old photograph that shows, 'Long uneven lines standing as patiently as if they were stretched outside the oval...' These long lines maybe the queues of conscripts waiting to sign up to join the army. This shows how in the past people were very willing and eager to fight and even risk their own lives, and also how close the community was in 1914. The spirit at this time is described as, 'A August

  • Word count: 1509
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Theme of Isolation in the Ancyent Marinere

Tutor Marked Assignment Q Alone, alone, all all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea And Christ would take no pity on My soul in Agony Comment on the theme of isolation in "The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere" as a whole. To what extent do you think it is a Christian poem? Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is the story of the Romantic archetype, the Wanderer, the man with the mark of Cain (who killed his brother), doomed to be a restless wanderer on the earth and was once alienated from God's presence "so lonely 'twas that God himself scarce seemed there to be". Isolation is a state of separation, solitude or loneliness and has been explored in varying degrees throughout this poem; from geographical, social, to spiritual. Why has Coleridge gone to great lengths to perpetuate this theme throughout the "rime", what is the significance of Isolation in conveying his message? In Chapter I, the ship is driven by storms to the South Pole where there were "ne shapes of men ne beasts we ken" and "the ice was all between". The ship and its crew were geographically isolated from the rest of the living world due to the unbeatable force of nature; they saw no living creatures, but were surrounded by Ice; the extreme opposite of warmth, like blue sea, blue skies, green islands, and the colourful sea creatures; which was probably the scene when they were on the equator. Just like

  • Word count: 1898
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Compare the poems "Hard Frost" and "winter the Huntsman". Decide which poem paints the best picture.

Compare the poems "Hard Frost" and "winter the Huntsman". Decide which poem paints the best picture "Winter the Huntsman" and Hard Frost" are both poems which have the same settings, both are in the season of winter, Hard Frost (HF) was set at the end of winter and Winter the Huntsman (WTH) was set at the beginning of winter. "WTH" is set in a forest being captured by winter and "HF" is set in a rural, and near habitation. Also the image in hard frost is completely different to image portrayed in W.T.H. The image from H.F is that there is human habitation this is proven by this quote 'at every footstep a tiny brittle pane is broken'. With the idea of humans being able to live along side with frost gives me the effect a Christmas card feel to the poem. In W.T.H the image created by the poem is completely different. The image is a cruel and harsh. The theme is a huntsman hunting down all colour and life from summer. Differences in the poem are continued with the use of personification. In "HF" frost is depicted as a soldier of the army of winter, evidence of this is numerous. One particular piece from the poem describes it best, "Frost called to water "Halt!", this personifies frost as someone who would command like a sergeant in the army. More aspects of frost being humanlike is in the following quote 'interns poor fish'. This means that he has the power to lock away fish

  • Word count: 1115
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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