War Photographer by Carol Ann Duffy is a striking poem, full of rich imagery which explores the complex experience of witnessing and capturing images of the suffering of people in conflict zones. Likely inspired by the work of Don McCullin, it is a hard-hitting and thought -provoking text.
Read MoreRossetti’s ‘Remember’ is an Italian sonnet and tackles the themes of death and memory which are also the focus of other poems in the anthology. Unlike the Shakespearean sonnet, it is composed of an octave and a sestet, allowing her to present two different lines of enquiry into the nature of memory and grief. Let’s explore it in a little more detail…
Read MoreDylan Thomas’ ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’ is the structural equivalent of a cryptic crossword - composed as a villanelle (one of the most challenging poetic forms) - so why did he choose this form and how does it help him to reflect on the very personal subject of his own father’s imminent death? Let’s find out…
Read MoreMy Last Duchess by Robert Browning can seem a little intimidating because of it’s length and the density of the language used by the speaker, but in this recording I argue for some good reasons why this dramatic monologue is worth preparing for the exam.
Read MoreThe Tyger, written and self published by William Blake in 1794 asks a profound question - how can it be that a benevolent creator who made the innocent lamb, can also be responsible for producing a terrifying apex predator like the tiger?! Composed with nursery-rhyme simplicity, it is perhaps one of the most thematically complex poem’s in the anthology.
Read More‘Poem at Thirty Nine’ by Alice Walker is a nostalgic poem, composed in free verse which reflects on her identity as she approaches middle age. It touches on many of the themes in the anthology, including memory, time, identity and the relationship between children and parents.
Read More‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ by Keats is a Romantic ballad full or drama and erotic imagery. Written in 1819, it depicts Keats obsession with love, death and the relationship between the two.
Read MoreSonnet 116, one of a collection of 154 sonnets composed by Shakespeare, presents a philosophical argument about the nature of love but it is oddly devoid of passion. In this recording we take a look at how this might prove an advantage if you choose to write about this poem in the exam.
Read More‘Piano’ by Lawrence is a nostalgic poem that explores the power of music and memory. It does some interesting things with chronology and is a good example of how a good poem uses language, form and structure to achieve effects greater than the sum of their parts.
Read MoreThis is probably my favourite poem in the anthology - I love Fanthorpe’s exploration of time and how we can escape it through our imagination. Let’s take a look at the language, form and structure that makes this such a successful poem.
Read More‘Blessing’ is a brief poem but with lots going on in terms of language, form and structure. In this recording we look at the way Dharker focuses on a specific moment in the Mumbai slums to comment on an unexpected moment of joy despite the hardships of life.
Read More‘Prayer Before Birth’ is a striking poem - a monologue addressed to God, railing against the horrors of the world that a child has yet to experience. In this recording we look at some of the key form/structure and language features and their effects.
Read MoreKipling’s ‘If’ has been a favourite British poem for generations - a classic 19th century monologue on the qualities needed to live a good life. Here are some concentrated revision notes to help you prepare for the final exam.
Read MoreA narrated presentation, offering an overview for the IGCSE English Literature Poetry anthology comparison task. Included within the presentation is an exemplar answer.
Read MoreIn this episode we’ll be looking at Agard’s poem and considering the theme of identity - one of the big ideas explored in the Edexcel IGCSE Literature Poetry anthology.
Read MoreA recording of Agard reading his poem, followed by some of my thoughts which will help you to prepare for the Literature IGCSE Paper 1.
Read MoreA podcast in which I share my thoughts on the poem ‘Search for my Tongue’ by Sujata Bhatt - please make sure you have a copy of the poem in front of you as you listen and annotate/take notes as you listen.
Read MoreHere, you’ll find an audio recording in which I offer my thoughts on Scannell’s poem and some of the key themes and AO2 prompts that are worth exploring.
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