Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti.
Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti I believe this poem tells a story, a story about temptation and lust, about the desire to obtain something the narrator clearly is not meant to take or have. It has similarities to the Story in the bible about the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve have been told "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if you eat you will surely die." When I read the poem by Christina Rosetti it makes me think about that story because of the opening lines "I ate and ate my fill, Yet my mouth waters still;" The narrator, like Adam and Eve, felt discontented with what they were getting. They were always going to want more, never satisfied. There are subtle hints that the narrator should not be eating the fruit, but this makes the fruit taste better and more appealing. The words that have been used are double edged for example "Cherries worth getting" On it own this sounds innocent and appears to be about fruit! The double meaning here, I believe, suggests that something or someone is desired. Wanting to taste but not being quite sure; this also links with virginity, 'untouched' and this is where the lust comes in I think the words Christina Rosetti has chosen are extremely clever because you have to read the poem time and time again to get the true meaning; this keeps
Compare and contrast Tennyson's 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' with Owen's 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' in order to explore the poets' attitudes to war
Compare and contrast Tennyson's 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' with Owen's 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' in order to explore the poets' attitudes to war Alfred, Lord Tennyson's 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' is written in relation to the catastrophic 'Battle of Balaclava' in the 'Crimean War' in 1854. It focuses mainly on the charge the 600 hundred brave and outnumbered English Cavalry made on the Russians. While 'Dulce Et Decorum Est', a whole diverse poem written by Wilfred Owen is more of an emotional poem compared to 'The Charge of the Light Brigade'. It focuses mainly on one situation during 'World War 1', a group of men are suffocating from the poisonous chlorine gas and traumatized by the death of their fellow soldier. Although both poets are writing about war, the two are different in every aspect and of dissimilar intention to us. 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' tell us what happened when someone misread a command. Thus, the whole brigade fought in vain; however, they acknowledged this misinterpretation yet still pursued to demonstrate patriotism. So it is a pro war and consists of noble warriors supported by glamour whilst 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' is an anti-war that convey the realism of a war. It is presented very hideously. The title itself is a mere contrast to the content of the whole poem. The poems give an insight of the great terror of war, which people do
Nothings changed by Tatamkhulu Afrika and I am not that woman by Kishwar Naheed are both protest poems. Explain what the protests are and how each poet makes their argument. Discuss with reference to language, structu
Essay Question: 'Nothing's changed' by Tatamkhulu Afrika and 'I am not that woman' by Kishwar Naheed are both protest poems. Explain what the protests are and how each poet makes their argument. Discuss with reference to language, structure and poetic devices. 'Nothing's changed,' is a poem written by Tatumkhulu Afrika around 1990. The poem was written after 1994; this occurred when Apartheid was abolished. 'Apartheid' emphasises separation between the whites and the masses (blacks.)The system in South Africa was to give prestigious jobs, land, homes and all the prosperous wealth to the white minority. The poem is based on when Afrika revisits District 6, a residential area of Cape Town. This was an extensive mixed raced community including Muslims, Jewish, white, Arab, masses (blacks) etc. Throughout the 1960's and 1970's the government declared the residential area of Cape Town as a 'whites only' area and non white residents were evicted from the area. Approximately 600,000 residents were forced to move out and the area was bulldozed, most of it remained as a wasteland. Afrika refused to accept the white card and instead he wanted to be classified as 'coloured.' In the poem Afrika speaks against the injustice of the government system in South Africa. He depicts a society where the rich and poor are divided. His arguments are about his concerns of the indictment of racism,
Comparing Poems, The Soldier & Dulce et Decorum est.
Comparing Poems, The Soldier & Dulce et Decorum est. I will be comparing two poems in this essay, The Soldier, (1915) By Rupert Brooke, and Dulce et Decorum est (1917) By Wilfred Owen. I will be comparing the views of both writers and also the techniques/language they use to convey that view, both writers have distinct views on war. The poems are similar in the simple fact they are about war itself, but the views and messages within the poems are at complete opposite ends of the spectrum. Both writers portray their views in different ways, for example, Rupert Brooke has chosen to describe his dead body as a symbol for England. "If I should die, think only this of me" the poem then goes on to describe England in a very patriotic way, "In hearts at peace, under an English heaven." The words "peace" and "heaven" create a peaceful and heavenly feel within the poem, they are calming, soothing words, and they give the poem that edge or serenity. Then, on the other hand Wilfred Owen has chosen too depict a gruesome war story that he himself had witnessed. He use's words such as "Blood-shod" and phrases like "Obscene as cancer" to emphasize the horror's of war, also taking the reader to a level of understanding with the brutality in war, brutality that isn't usually flaunted. The language used in both poems is vastly different from each other, even though both poems were about war.
Comparision of "The Manhunt" and "Quickdraw".
‘The Manhunt’ is a first person, unconvinced account of a partner’s attempt to calm, return and draw ‘close’ to her partner, whose experiences have damaged him, not only physically but emotionally. The poem uses the third person to refer to the partner, suggesting a distance between them. This is contrasted with the use of rhyming couplets, indicative of togetherness. The contrast between these two techniques creates a tension between distance and closeness throughout the poem. As the woman attempts to ‘find’ her partner, Armitage uses metaphors to describe the injuries, both physical and mental, suggesting that the bombs and warplanes are an important part of who this man has become. Her own ‘mission’ is described in literal terms – she is on a ‘manhunt’, a ‘search’ of her own, just like her husband was in the war. ‘The Manhunt’ can also be seen as someone trying to gain the trust to their partner who has been through any traumatic, painful emotional experience. In this case, the battle being shown through imagery of war becomes a representation of ‘emotional fighting between her and her father. Whereas quickdraw is used in a more modern society as she refers to the use of a mobile phone but in the same relevance as manhunt. Quickdraw is a violent, potentially lethal meet between two rivals. In the opening stanza of the poem the speaker
Comparing Nettles and Praise song for my mother
Nettles v Praise Song For My Mother Both ‘Nettles’ and ‘Praise song for my mother’ explore the theme of parent child relationships and the feeling of love and protectiveness that occur. Whilst Grace Nichols’ poem looks at the relationship between mother and daughter, Vernon Scannell's poem looks at the relationship between father and son. Scannell’s son falls into a ‘bed of nettles’ and is hurt physicality hurt by the stings which cause blisters ‘on his tender skin’. The poet however, is affected mentally as he realizes that he is unable to save his son from the dangers that the world represents. In ‘praise song for my mother’ however, we learn that the mother has managed to be protective; ‘mantling’ and proving warmth towards her daughter. Enjambment is also used to create a sense of the continuos care and protection her mother has provided for her, but can be also interpreted as the ongoing praise for her mother and showing that the memory of her is an ongoing thing. ‘Nettles’ is structured in one single stanza of 16 lines which is reminiscent of a sonnet, often a love poem but, in the form of the Iambic pentameter ; which gives it an ordered regimental feel , complying to the war motif. Every other line rhymes in this poem, which has the effect of making the poem seem more intense as the rhyme is not very obvious. In ‘praise dong
Loss is a key, reoccurring theme in my two poems of choice; Brendon Gallacher and Medusa.
‘Compare the way loss is presented in Brendon Gallacher and a poem of your choice.’ Loss is a key, reoccurring theme in my two poems of choice; ‘Brendon Gallacher’ and ‘Medusa.’ ‘Brendon Gallacher’ is an affectionate elegy for an imaginary, eponymous childhood friend, ‘Medusa’ is a poem divided into stanzas of mostly equal length. Both poets use varying language to help the reader visualise the characters’ feelings and persona. Emptiness and loss are presented in both poems through numerous techniques including alliteration, imagery and refrain. There is a childlike quality to Jackie Kay’s elegy for the death of an imaginary friend. The persona uses simple language and a range of techniques such as colloquialism. Contrastingly, in Medusa, Duffy uses a sombre tone thought the poem which helps the poem flow naturally and contributes to the developing sorrow. In ‘Brendon Gallacher’, Jackie Kay’s use of a repetitive refrain gives a song-like quality; this is further reinforced by the interjections that show grief in the last lines: ‘Oh Brendon, Oh my Brendon Gallacher’. The passing of Brendon leaves an empty void, filled by the repetition of ‘Brendon Gallacher’, which demonstrates fixation and inability to let ones feelings pass – an emotional attachment; ‘Brendon’ as opposed to the full name previously used. The repetition of the
Compare and contrast the ways in which Owen and Auden present the alienation of the speakers in "Refugee Blues" and "Disabled"
Compare and contrast the ways in which Owen and Auden present the alienation of the speakers in “Refugee Blues” and “Disabled” James Kim Owen and Auden both war poets explore the sense of alienation, which was brought about by war. Owen takes on the theme of exclusion in ‘Disabled’ by converting a fine and healthy young individual into a physically disabled soldier of World War I. He faces alienation from a non-handicapped society, as he no longer has the charm of the past. Auden’s ‘Refugee Blues’ is also based on alienation but is more about the excluded human races that were stripped from their human rights in World War II. By basing the poems on past events in history, the readers feel a sense of helplessness, incapability to help, and sympathy for the excluded individuals as both poems strike a poignant chord with the readers. Each poet uses very distinct techniques to carry out the same theme of alienation. In ‘Disabled’, Owen portrays a picture of a man being alienated because of his disability. Having physical disabilities downgrades one’s masculinity and self-esteem and the soldier in the poem seems to be suffering in paranoia as he envies and constantly looks upon the “strong men that were whole”. He has lost all his self-confidence because he is physically incapable of carrying out actions, which normal people can do. He notices how the
Compare how the theme of loss is presented in Owens Disabled and Frosts Out, Out-
Compare how the theme of loss is presented in Owen’s ‘Disabled’ and Frost’s ‘Out, Out-’ Both Wilfred Owen (of ‘Disabled’) and Robert Frost (of ‘Out, Out-’) have based their poem on an anonymous character; both happen to be young boys whose lives have been shattered due to a horrific accident which result in a loss of limbs. The idea of it being anonymous universalises the subject which makes it more relatable to the reader as the war had affected millions of lives, also expands on the idea of loss. ‘Disabled’ tells the story of a young man who loses all of his limbs in the First World War for stupid, unpatriotic and personal reasons: fame, vanity and “to please his Meg” at the age of about 17. In comparison, ‘Out, Out’ is about a young boy doing labour in a saw mill and accidently saws his hand off. It is a metaphor for the loss of soldiers because it was written at the time of the First World War. This undermines war; in a way that Frost is reminding the public there is other pain that people suffer from other than war. The key comparison between the two is that both are about young boys doing a man’s work. In both ‘Out, Out-’ and ‘Disabled’ the poets manage to emphasise how short and fragile life is by portraying the characters as “young” “boys” who have their whole lives ahead of them, which represents the innocence of
Compare how a relationship is presented in "Manhunt" and "Quickdraw".
Compare how a relationship is presented in ‘Manhunt’ and on another poem from ‘Relationships’ ‘The Manhunt’ is read in first person in the perspective of the wife of Eddie Beddoes, who has just returned from war. Simon Armitage explores the physical effects of war and how it effects on soldiers returning from war and their family. However in ‘Quickdraw’ Duffy uses arrogant language to express the pain and pleasures of being in a romantic relationship in the modern world. The structure of ‘The Manhunt’ is in the form of rhyming couplets. The use of this gives a sense that the relationship is fragmented and fragile. But it also shows that the wife patience as she is slowly repairing her husband bit by bit. The rhyming couplets give a sense of intimacy and togetherness. However the half rhyme of “mine” and “mind” gives a sense to the reader that the relationship is breaking down due to the war, or that the relationship is incomplete. Similarly ‘Quickdraw is a free verse poem this creates tension as we do not know what to expect. The first three stanzas are unorganized and disordered showing the displacement and arguing in the relationship, however the last stanza returns to a normal quatrain, reflecting that the relationship has turned back to normality. Duffy uses enjambment, assonance, alliteration and internal rhymes, to make the poem tense and