Poems and Poets AS Level English Literature

Who is the author of ‘Growing Old’?

Matthew Arnold

What is Matthew Arnold’s background?

English in the Victorian era, often regarded as the father of modern literary criticism, 40 when wrote Growing Old

When was Growing Old written?

1867 as part of a collection ‘New Poems’

What is the structure of Growing Old?

didactic, unrhymed cinquains alternating between trimeter and pentameter so the stanzas seem to stagger

What is the rhyme scheme of Growing Old?

unrhymed, so has a plain surface appropriate for the unvarnished truth

Who is the poet of from “The Complaints of Poverty”?

Nicholas James

What is Nicholas James’ background?

English in the Georgian / Enlightenment Era

When was The Complaints of Poverty written?

1742

What is the structure of The Complaints of Poverty?

elegant heroic rhyming couplets of iambic pentameter as satire, blank verse

What is the rhyme scheme of The Complaints of Poverty ?

rhyming couplets

Who is the poet of Passion?

Kathleen Raine

What is Kathleen Raine’s background?

English, often explores spiritual elements of Christian mysticism and philosophy, following Romantic tradition and connection to nature

When was Passion written?

1943

What is the structure of Passion?

Rhyming tercet stanzas, consistent structure gives a balanced harmonious quality, consistent end stopped lines give measured pace

What is the rhyme scheme of passion?

rhyming tercet stanzas

Who is the poet of Love (III)?

George Herbert

What is the background of George Herbert?

metaphysical poet exploring philosophy. Priest at the Church of England, known for being generous

When was Love (III) written?

1633, Stuart Era

What is the structure of Love (III)?

alternates between long and short lines of iambic pentameter which mimics God reaching out and speaker shrinking back

What is the rhyme scheme of Love (III)?

ABABCC, conversation then God’s firm reply to speakers hesitation

Who is the poet of Stabat Mater?

Sam Hunt

What is the background of Sam Hunt?

NZ Poet, parents had 30 year age difference

When was Stabat Mater written?

1973

What is the structure of Stabat Mater?

shakespearean sonnet, though not rigid in structure, about mother’s love

What is the rhyme scheme of Stabat Mater?

concludes in rhyming couplet

Who is the poet of Blessing?

Imtiaz Darker

What is Imtiaz Dharker’s background?

Pakistani born, moved to Britain when she was a baby.

When was Blessing written?

1997

Where is Blessing set?

dharani, India

What is the structure of Blessing?

free verse, suits chaos which is depicted

Who is the poet of The Road?

Nancy Fotheringham Cato

What is Nancy Fotheringham Cato’s background?

Australian poet and environmental activist known for fusing australian landscape with philosophical ideas

When was The Road written?

1957

What is the structure of The Road?

five quatrains, common meter evoking reliability and musicality

What is the rhyme scheme of The Road?

ABAB- bouncy and steady

Who is the poet of The Darkling Thrush?

Thomas Hardy

What is Thomas Hardy’s background?

english poet influenced by romanticism, victorian era

When was The Darkling Thrush written?

1900, change of the century and industrial revolution. an elegy to the old century and Britain

What is the structure of The Darkling Thrush?

Ballad, in eight line stanzas of alternating iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter. Jaunty feel in juxtaposition to the poem’s primary mood

What is the rhyme scheme of Darkling Thrush?

ABABCDCD

Who is the poet of Australia 1970?

Judith Wright

What is Judith Wright’s background?

Australian white poet, environmentalist and campaigner for aboriginal rights.

When was Australia 1970 written?

published 1971, contemporary poem inspired by Romantic tradition

What is the structure of Australia 1970?

form controlled and measured in contrast to the passion and intense imagery to evoke sharp focus and accusation

What is the rhyme scheme of Australia 1970?

unpredictable but musical rhyme scheme

Who is the poet of She was a Phantom of Delight?

William Wordsworth

What is William Wordsworth’s background?

English Romantic poet, poem about his wife

When was She was a Phantom of Delight written?

1803

What is the structure of She was a Phantom of Delight?

lyrical ballad in iambic tetrameter

What is the rhyme scheme of She was a Phantom of Delight?

AABB, adding musicality which reflect the joyous love the speaker holds

Who is the poet of The Clod and the Pebble?

William Blake

What is William Blake’s background?

english romantic poet committed to christianity, lots of poems about “contrary states”

When was The Clod and the Pebble written?

1794

What is the structure of The Clod and the Pebble?

antithesis in symmetry, iambic tetrameter giving musicality just as each personified view of love sings

What is the rhyme scheme of The Clod and the Pebble?

ABAB

Who is the poet of Description of Spring?

Henry Howard

What is Henry Howard’s background?

earl of surrey, English poet and founder of english renaissance poetry

When was Description of Spring written?

Early 1500s in the tudor era

What is the structure of Description of Spring?

14 line shakespearean sonnet in iambic pentameter giving musicality and consistent structure

What is the rhyme scheme of Description of Spring?

concludes with a rhyming couplet

Who is the poet of The Spring?

Thomas Carew

What is Thomas Carew’s background?

English caroline poet

When was The Spring published?

1640, stuart era

What is the structure of The Spring?

rhyming heroic couplets of iambic pentameter giving steady and reliable pace

What is the rhyme scheme of The Spring?

rhyming couplets

Who is the poet of A Long Journey?

Musaemura Zimunya

What is Musaemura Zimunya’s background?

Zimbabwean poet

When was A Long Journey written?

1985, five years after Zimbabwean independence from the British empire

What is the structure of A Long Journey?

free verse no punctuation

What is the rhyme scheme of A Long Journey?

no rhyme scheme

Who is the poet of Winter Song?

Elizabeth Tollet

What is Elizabeth Tollet’s background?

Augustan era. very educated

When was Winter Song written?

18th century

What is the structure of Winter Song?

rhyming couplets in iambic tetrameter singe stanza evokes long journey for lover

What is the rhyme scheme of Winter Song?

rhyming couplets

Who is the poet of I Hear an Army…?

James Joyce

What is James Joyce’s background?

irish Poet

When was I Hear an Army… published?

1907 during the irish fight for independence

What is the structure of I Hear an Army…?

three quatrains of mostly iambic rhythm, the steady stanzas evoke the rigid organisation if the army. Iambic meter evokes horse galloping and men charging

What is the rhyme scheme of I Hear an Army…?

ABAC relentless momentum

Who is the poet of The Hour is Come?

Louisa lawson

What is Louisa Lawson’s background?

feminist, a leader of the Australian women’s suffrage movement around the turn of the 20th century

When was The Hour is Come published?

1905, women allowed to vote 1902

What is the structure of The Hour is Come?

didactic, 5 rhymed quatrains with dactylic meter

What is the rhyme scheme of The Hour is Come?

includes internal rhyme in the 3rd line

Who is the poet of Who in One Lifetime?

Muriel Rukeyser

What is Muriel Rukeyser’s background?

jewish american poet and political activist

When was Who in One Lifetime written?

1941, when ww2 began, but depicts the chaotic tense inter war years

What is the structure of Who in One Lifetime?

mix of Shakespearean but closer to Italian sonnet. clash of tradition reflects upheaval and instability of the time. not about love but the death of it. iambic pentameter evokes trudge of soldiers and woman’s determination

What is the rhyme scheme of Who in One Lifetime?

split into an octave and a sestet