Poetry anthology

• Ozymandias context:

  -Shelley was a poet of the ‘Romantic period’ Romantic poets were interested in emotion and the power of nature.

  -Shelley also disliked the concept of a monarchy and the oppression of ordinary people.

  -He had been inspired by the French revolution – when the French monarchy was overthrown.

  -inspired by a statue of Egyptian Pharaohs like Ramesses who believed theselves to be god in mortal form and their lagacy will last forever
• Exposure:

  the poem has authenticity as it is written by an actual soldier. - Of his work, Owen said: “My theme is war and the pity of war”. -Despite highlighting the tragedy of war and mistakes of senior commanders, he had a deep sense of duty shows that he was not bitter about his suffering.

  he saw the full horror of conditions on the front line. Owen’s poems were often angry that the soldiers were in muddy dangerous trenches while the generals behind the lines were living in comfort. = show the truth of conditions to people back home.
• Checking out me history:

  -John Agard poetry challenge racism and prejudice.

  -This poem may, to some extent, have achieved its purpose: in 2016, a statue was erected in London in honour of Mary Seacole, one of the subjects of the poem.

  -received a British education and given a eurocentric view of history. (Guyana).

  -during his time Africans are sold as salves to America and Carribean = country become independent.
• My Last Duchess:

  -Browning may have been inspired by the story of an Italian Duke his wife died in suspicious circumstances and it was rumoured that she had been poisoned.

  The son of a wealthy bank clerk, he didn't fit in as much in London society, he left the country and went to Italy to marry fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett because of her over protective father. As a result they were both familiar with over controlling patriarchs in the family . The assumption being that he was dissatisfied with his former wife and had her killed.
• Prelude:

  Wordsworth was a romantic poet and so his poetry explores themes of nature, human emotion and how humans are shaped by their interaction with nature.The Romantics highlighted the healing power of the imagination, because they truly believed that it could enable people to transcend their troubles and their circumstances. In addition, they often chose child speakers or perspectives in their poems because they believed they were innocent and uncorrupted, enjoying a precious affinity with nature. Spiritual grow up.
• Storm on the island:

  -This poem was published in Northern Ireland: a period of deep unrest and violence between those who wanted to remain part of the UK and those who wanted to become part of Ireland. -The first eight letters of the title spell ‘Stormont’: this is the name of Northern Ireland’s parliament. The poem might be a metaphor for the political storm that was building in the country at the time.
• London:

  -The poem was published in time of great poverty is many parts of London. -William Blake work was influenced by his radical political views: he believed in social and racial equality. which focuses on how innocence is lost and society is corrupt. -He also questioned the teachings of the Church and the decisions of Government.
• The charge of Light Brigade

  The Crimean war saw British troops fighting in Russia. However the light brigade were very lightly equipped, more for attacking from the back or sides rather than charging straight in. During a battle, a miscommunication sent the light brigade charging head first into the cannons, it was a huge catastrophe and many died. It showed even mistakes can happen = respected for following orders, even though they knew they may be wrong. / criticised the way they blindly followed orders. poet who was asked to write about their glorious sacrifice.
• Bayonet charge

  The poem is about a nameless soldier going over the top in the trenches. Soldiers would have bayonets attached to the end of their rifles and would use them to stab enemy soldiers. The nameless soldier in the poem seems to become more a weapon than a man, rushing toward the enemy. It is clear at the end there is definitely a change in him. His actions are very raw and primal, much like an animal, suddenly pausing, preparing to react. The poet was a former RAF serviceman and looks at man’s impact on nature
• Remains

  They are on patrol and fire on some bank robbers. One of the looters appeared to possibly have a gun so they open fire. Post traumatic stress and mental illness is very common in soldiers who struggle to come to terms with some part of their duty, normally a horrific memory of killing or being in danger which gives them nightmares and panic attacks as well as depression and sometimes suicidal tendencies. Simon . His recent poems have looked at the experiences of war and soldiers
• War photographer

  The poem is written about a war photographer who has returned home and is developing his photos. The poem is also looking at the contrast between the war zones and safety of being back home and the way people just do not understand the truth, after all a single photo cannot show everything. War photographers do a very dangerous job, many are killed and injured as they must get in harms way to get the photos they are after.
• TIssue

  A great number of her poems look at issues such as religion, terrorism and global politics/identity. The poem is written from the point of view of someone today looking out at the conflict and troubles of the modern world; destruction, war and politics, money and wealth as well as terrorism and identity. Nothing is meant to last, that it would be better not to hold too tightly to that / willing to let go and pass things on in their time to be remade. In short, that the world would be better if it shared more qualities with ‘tissue’
• THe emigree

  The poem explores the memory of the poet and their experiences in a far off city they spent time in as a child. The poet is looking at this city through the eyes of a child and the happy memories she had, she compares these to the truths she knows as an adult which is much harsher. Emigree relates to the word emigrate, the idea that sometimes not feeling welcome to return. The poet bases many of the ideas on modern examples of emigration from countries like in the Middle East where people are fleeing corruption and tyranny.
• Kamikaze


  Kamikaze pilots were expected to use up all their weapons and then suicide by flying into their targets as a final act of destruction. It was considered a great honour in Japan to die for your country. The poem is written both from a narrator and the daughter of the pilot. The narrator explains the events, almost translating the story, while the speaker gives a first person account of how they excluded her father. The poet questions at the end which death would have been better, to die as a kamikaze pilot young or to grow old with a family who shut you out
• EMigree context

  Rumens was born in London but also lived in Belfast and Wales as well as travelling widely throughout Russia and eastern Europe.