English Literature Unit 2 Section A

• You should spent 45 minutes on this question of the exam
• It is worth 36 marks
• It is 23% of your GCSE
• You will have the choice of 2 questions
• You answer one of these questions in the form of an essay 

Each question will take the form of an essay question which will give you one named poem.

You should compare this poem with one other of your choice.

The names poems with be any out of the cluster except 'Price We Pay for the Sun' 'Spellbound' and 'A Vision'

• understanding and interpretation
• ability to quote, analyse and evaluate the form structure and language
• ability to consider the effects on and response of the reader
• ability to compare

Using FLIRT can help you remember these ideas

You should plan carefully using a structure like the Christmas Tree to help you to PEE link and compare consistently.

The poems are divided into contemporary (modern) and Literary Heritage (where the poet is generally dead)

Poet- Seamus Heaney

Themes- Life, Death, Nature

Key devices- Imagery, Economy of expression(language), Rhythm, Form

Poet- Simon Armitage

Themes- Hope, Dreams, Nature vs. Man, Urban landscape, Illusion and reality, Environment, Loss of Hope 

Key Devices- form, regular stanza structure, imagery, caesura

Poet- Margaret Atwood

Themes- Nature vs. Man, Place and Power, Hierarchy within the Relationship

Key Devices- imagery, enjambment, graphological devices (italics)

Poet- Gillian Clarke

Themes- Life, death, the power of nature, 

Key Devices- fairytale lanuage, imagery, voice of narrator, form

Poet- Grace Nichols

Themes- Conflict between the realities of life on an island and the idyllic life portrayed in postcards

Key Devices- Creole/Standard English, irregular structure, drum beat rhythm

Poet- Gillian Clarke

Themes- Relationship between Man and Nature, Effects of the Chernobyl disaster

Key Devices- manipulating natural images and making them seem wrong or dangerous

Poet- Kathleen Jamie

Themes- Nature vs. Humanity, Youth vs. Experience

Key Devices- structure, language

Poet-Jean Sprackland

Themes- Water as an Extended Metaphor, Feelings Towards her Home

Key Devices-adjectives, strong words, imagery

Poet- William Blake

Themes- Contrast between Oppressive Ruling Classes and Poverty

Key Devices- regular alternating rhyme scheme, imagery

Poet- William Wordsworth

Themes- Awestruck by Nature, Sublimity

Key Devices- structure, imagery

Poet- W.B Yeats

Themes- War, Contrast, Nature

Key Devices- imagery, structure

Poet- Norma MacCaig

Themes- Extended Metaphor of Highwayman to Represent Power of the Mountains

Key Devices- personification

Poet- D.H Lawrence

Themes- Nature over Man, 

Key Devices- imagery to demonstrate power

Poet- Ted Hughes

Themes- Power of Nature, Mans Inferiority

Key Devices- enjambment, participle verbs