William Blake's "London"

This section explores William Blake's poem "London", written in 1794 by the romantic poet and radicalist.

Context Blake was concerned about oppressed people in society and used his poetry to critique social injustice.

The poem describes the misery and despair witnessed in London, pointing to people in power (monarchs, government) as the source of problems. It conveys feelings of anger and hopelessness.

"London" compares well with poems like "Ozymandias", "My Last Duchess", and "Checking Out Me History".

Key literary techniques analyzed include

1. Metaphor "Mind-forg'd manacles" creates an image of metal chains, suggesting control and indoctrination. This represents the brainwashing and constant control exerted by those with wealth and authority.

2. Metaphor "Palace walls / With blood" implies that the government has blood on their hands, having caused pain and suffering to the people. It symbolizes the sacrifice of ordinary citizens for king and country.

3. Repetition and structure The rigidity of the poem reflects the controlling nature of people in power. The repetition reinforces the endless misery of oppressed people within society.

Quote "In every cry of every Man, / In every Infant's cry of fear, / In every voice, in every ban, / The mind-forg'd manacles I hear"

This powerful stanza emphasizes the pervasive nature of oppression in London society.

Carol Ann Duffy's "War Photographer"

This section examines Carol Ann Duffy's poem "War Photographer", inspired by her friends who were war photographers.

Context Duffy was interested in the difficulties that war photographers experience and used this poem to explore their emotional struggles.

The poem refers to the famous "Napalm Girl" photograph of a nine-year-old girl running naked and in extreme pain after being badly burned by a bomb. This powerful image won a prize and was widely published.

"War Photographer" compares well with poems like "Remains", "Poppies", "Bayonet Charge", and "Exposure".

Key literary techniques analyzed include

1. Metaphor "Spools of suffering set out in ordered rows" creates an image reminiscent of headstones in a cemetery. The fragility of the spools represents the vulnerability of the people captured on film.

2. Imagery "Blood stained into foreign dust" emphasizes how war leaves a lasting mark on the photographer and highlights the theme of death and the fragility of life.

3. Structure The regular six-line stanzas, each ending with a rhyming couplet, emphasize the photographer's determination to find order in chaos and tragedy.

Quote "A hundred agonies in black-and-white / From which his editor will pick out five or six / For Sunday's supplement"

This line highlights the contrast between the photographer's experiences and the limited exposure given to the public, emphasizing the disconnect between war zones and comfortable civilian life.

Simon Armitage's "Remains"

This section explores Simon Armitage's poem "Remains", which examines the effects of PTSD on soldiers returning from war.

Context Armitage, an English poet, playwright, and novelist, seeks to understand the mentality of British soldiers after returning from wars overseas.

The poem describes a group of soldiers who shoot a man running away from a bank raid and explores the traumatic flashbacks they experience upon returning home. It conveys feelings of nonchalance, guilt, and panic.

"Remains" compares well with poems like "War Photographer", "Poppies", "Bayonet Charge", and "Exposure".

Key literary techniques analyzed include

1. Colloquial language Phrases like "carted off in the back of a lorry" use casual language to distance readers from the brutality of war, highlighting how soldiers have been numbed by their actions.

2. Sound devices The use of monosyllabic words, alliteration, and plosive sounds in lines like "rips through his life" emphasizes the violence and aggression of the killing.

3. Repetition and volta The repetition reflects how the events of the killing are repeating endlessly in the soldier's mind, emphasizing his inability to forget.

Quote "He's here in my head when I close my eyes, / dug in behind enemy lines"

This powerful imagery illustrates how the memory of the killing haunts the soldier, becoming an inescapable part of his psyche.

Remains Analysis

Simon Armitage's examination of PTSD and war trauma through a soldier's perspective of a shooting incident.

Context Written to understand returning soldiers' mental state

Vocabulary Colloquial language used to show psychological distancing

Highlight Explores the lasting impact of combat trauma

Example Links to War Photographer and Exposure through shared themes of war's psychological impact

Exposure Analysis

Wilfred Owen's WWI poem focusing on soldiers' suffering from extreme weather conditions rather than combat.

Context Written from trenches before Owen's death in battle

Quote "Merciless ices east winds that knive"

Highlight Nature presented as more threatening than human enemies

Example Connects with Storm on the Island through theme of nature's power

Storm on the Island Analysis

A poem examining community response to extreme weather, with political undertones relating to Northern Ireland.

Context "Stormont" reference connects to Northern Ireland politics

Vocabulary "Plosive alliteration" used to convey storm's force

Highlight Storm serves as metaphor for political upheaval

Example Shares themes with Exposure about nature's overwhelming force

Tissue Analysis

Imtiaz Dharker's exploration of paper's significance in recording human history and controlling lives.

Context Written from multicultural perspective $Pakistan/Glasgow/India/Britain$

Quote "paper that lets the light shine through"

Highlight Uses paper as metaphor for life's fragility and power

Example Connects with Ozymandias through themes of temporary power

John Agard's "Checking Out Me History"

This section examines John Agard's poem "Checking Out Me History", which expresses frustration with colonial rule and its impact on cultural identity.

Highlight Agard, born in Guyana, moved to Britain in 1977 at age 28 and uses this poem to voice his anger about the treatment of his ancestors and the threat to his identity due to British colonial rule.

The poem conveys feelings of anger, admiration, and celebration. It compares well with other poems like "The Emigree", "Tissue", "Ozymandias", "London", and "War Photographer".

Key literary techniques analyzed include

1. Metaphor "Bandage up me eye" suggests injury and pain, linking to Black culture. The 'b' sound creates a tone of aggression, highlighting the damaging effect of covering up Black history.

2. Metaphor "Carving out me identity" implies a painful journey of self-discovery, emphasizing the skill and time required to reclaim one's history after being deprived of it in school.

3. Rhyme and lack of punctuation The chanting rhythm creates a crescendo of anger, reflecting the ongoing process of finding one's identity and the difficulty of comprehending an unfamiliar culture.

Quote "Dem tell me wha dem want to tell me"

This line emphasizes the selective teaching of history from a colonial perspective, ignoring the rich cultural heritage of the colonized people.