English Literature Poems

• Belfast Confetti by Ciaran Carson (Super Poem)
• RED-Modern Conflict (Been on exam paper)
• Purpose


  Depicts the chaos of "The Troubles' in Northern Ireland 1970s trapped
• Form


  • Narrative poem in the first person creating psychological confusion
• Tone


  Violent, desperate and confused between military, Catholics and protestants
• Structural Features


  • Overlong stretched out stanzas/lines run ons
  • Free Verse with punctuation an extended metaphor for bullets and bombs
• Language Features


  • Opening Lines: "Suddenly as the riot squad moved in, it was raining exclamation marks,"
  • This hyphenated line, a burst of rapid fire...
  • I know this labyrinth so well-Balaclava, Raglan, Inkerman, Odessa Street-
  • "Saracen, Kremlin-2 mesh. Makrolon face-shields. Walkietalkies'
  • Closing Lines: What is my name? Where am I coming from? Where am I going? A fusillade of question-marks.
• Born in Belfast (1948) and lived through the 'Troubles' of IRA Terrorism in the 1970s to 1990s;
• IRA wanted Northern Ireland separate from British rule;
• 1960s Catholic minority campaigned against Protestant majority because of discrimination;
• British Troops were on the street first to protect Catholics but then were seen as a military occupation. Many civilians, police and soldiers died.
• Alliteration


  Repetition of connected words beginning with the some letter. It is used to highlight the feeling of sound and movement, to intensify feeling or to bind words together
• Assonance


  Repetition of similar or identical vowel sounds in words which follow each other
• Diction


  The words that the poet has specifically chosen to create a particular effect, meaning or atmosphere
• Enjambment


  A line ending in which the syntax, rhythm and thought are continued into the next line
• Imagery


  Use of word pictures, figures of speech and description to evoke ideas, feelings, objects, actions, states of mind, etc.
• Metaphor


  A comparative description based on similarity between two things, but one that directly connects them
• Onomatopoeia


  Use of words which make their meaning in sound e.g. "Snap", "bong"
• Personification


  Technique of presenting things which are not human as if they are
• Punctuation


  A way in which the poet is able to control the rhythm and pace of the poem
• Rhyme


  The use of words with matching sounds, usually at the end of each line
• Rhythm


  The pace or beat of the poem-can vary enormously from line to line in order to achieve a particular effect
• Sensory Description


  A description which uses the five human senses-touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing
• Simile


  A form of comparison based on a similarity between two things, which suggests one object shares features with another but is not wholly identical
• Structure


  How the poem appears on the page, how it is constructed and organized e.g. ballad, acrostic, sonnet, blank verse, etc.
• Stanza


  Another, more sophisticated word for a verse in a poem
• Symbolism


  When a word, phrase or image stands for or evokes a complex set of ideas which is determined by its context
• Theme


  What the poem is about-its meaning, comment or point
• Questions will focus on the language, form, structure of the poem (A02) and the contexts in which the poems were written (A03)
• PETALLETAL and Evaluate


  • Relevant points
  • Appropriate evidence (can be linked)
  • Tekkers (Language, structure and form)
  • Anabae (A) Ask-Why? What's the effect? "Be critical-Look for alternative interpretational
  • Link to context
  • Link to other poem
  • Appropriate evidence (can be linked)
  • Tekkers Language, structure and form
  • Anabae (A) Ask-Why? What's the effect? "Be critical-Look for alternative interpretational
  • Link to context
  • Evaluate (EV) for top band
  • Coverage of the text and key points-Track through the text (beginning, middle and end) paragraphs
• Timed Conditions
• A Poison Tree By William Blake
• AMBER-Old Conflict with God/Identity
• Purpose


  Message to not repress your anger as it will grow and end up in vengeance
• Structural Features


  • Form: 4 Quatrains/AABB rhyme
  • Tone: resentful, First Person, Past Tense until last two lines in present
• Trochaic Beat


  Four stresses Emphasises 'T' and 'And
• Language Features


  • Opening Lines: I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
  • And I water'd it in fears, not Night and morning with my tears;
  • And it grew both day and night, Till it bore an apple bright;
  • Closing Lines: In the morning glad I see My foe outstretch'd beneath the tree.
• Blake (1757-1827), Artist, engraver, From 'Songs of Experience' a negative collection
• Ignored in his time, Considered insane;
• Family Christian Dissenters- His religion not orthodox and considered shocking