Detailed Notes on Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology Poems

Part 3: Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology

This section introduces the poems included in the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology, specifically Part 3, which is Unit 1, Section B.

Poems Included:

  1. 'If-' (Rudyard Kipling)
  2. 'Prayer Before Birth' (Louis MacNeice)
  3. 'Blessing' (Imtiaz Dharker)
  4. 'Search For My Tongue' (Sujata Bhatt)
  5. 'Half-past Two' (U.A. Fanthorpe)
  6. 'Piano' (D.H. Lawrence)
  7. 'Hide and Seek' (Vernon Scannell)
  8. 'Sonnet 116: Let me not to the marriage of true minds' (William Shakespeare)
  9. 'La Belle Dame sans Merci' (John Keats)
  10. 'Poem at Thirty-Nine' (Alice Walker)
  11. 'War Photographer' (Carol Ann Duffy)
  12. 'The Tyger' (William Blake)
  13. 'My Last Duchess Ferrara' (Robert Browning)
  14. 'Half-caste' (John Agard)
  15. 'Do not go gentle into that good night' (Dylan Thomas)
  16. 'Remember' (Christina Rossetti)

'If-'

This section focuses on Rudyard Kipling's poem 'If-', providing:

  • An overview of the poem.
  • Analysis of its form, structure, and language.
  • Identification of key themes.
  • Suggestions for comparison with other anthology poems.

Overview

To effectively analyze the poem, the guide includes:

  • A summary of the poem.
  • A section-by-section translation.
  • Commentary outlining Kipling's intentions and message.

Summary

'If-' was written in 1896 and published in 1910. The poem offers advice from a father to his son on how to be a man, presented as conditional statements beginning with “if”.

Analysis (Lines 1-4)

  • Translation: The speaker advises his son to remain calm and self-possessed when others around him are losing their composure and blaming him, and to trust himself even when others doubt him, while also acknowledging the reasons for their doubt.
  • Kipling’s Intention: The repeated use of "if" introduces conditional statements, and the idiom "keep your head" creates an informal and intimate tone. The importance of self-belief is highlighted, as is empathy towards those who doubt you.

Analysis (Lines 5-8)

  • Translation: The speaker emphasizes the importance of patience, honesty, compassion, and modesty.
  • Kipling’s Intention: The use of polyptoton reinforces the importance of patience and honesty. The informality of "don't deal in lies" suggests honesty and deceit are transactional. Contractions and elliptical sentences create an intimate tone. Modesty and humility are emphasized through repetition in "don't look too good, nor talk too wise".

Analysis (Lines 9-12)

  • Translation: The speaker advises maintaining mental strength and agility in the face of success or misfortune.
  • Kipling’s Intention: Repetition, polyptoton, dashes, and contrasting diction reinforce the power of the advice. It underscores the importance of not being consumed by ambition and personifies triumph and disaster as imposters.

Analysis (Lines 13-16)

  • Translation: The speaker emphasizes determination and the ability to deal with failure and betrayal.
  • Kipling’s Intention: One must be prepared for their words to be twisted by deceitful people (knaves). Determination is necessary when faced with failure, illustrated by the imagery of worn-out tools. Rebuilding what is broken requires humility.

Analysis (Lines 17-20)

  • Translation: This stanza emphasizes taking risks and being daring.
  • Kipling’s Intention: The speaker suggests risking success and being prepared to lose. Failure is inevitable, and one must be able to start again without dwelling on the loss. Stoicism is highlighted.

Analysis (Lines 21-24)

  • Translation: This section emphasizes willpower and self-belief.
  • Kipling’s Intention: Polysyndeton emphasizes the qualities necessary for strength and self-belief. The words "heart," "nerve," and "sinew" represent emotions, bravery, and physical strength. Repetition of "hold on" emphasizes perseverance. "Will" is capitalized to highlight the power of the human mind.

Analysis (Lines 25-28)

  • Translation: Focus shifts to an individual's relationship with others.
  • Kipling’s Intention: It is important to converse with people from different walks of life without being corrupted, to talk to crowds without losing morals, and to converse with kings while remaining humble. One must not allow themselves to be hurt by others, which means not becoming too close.

Analysis (Lines 29-32)

  • Translation: This section presents the speaker's conclusion.
  • Kipling’s Intention: It emphasizes the importance of making use of every minute, as time is unforgiving. If the individual possesses all qualities listed, they have the