Excellent Victorians Resource

http://dcc.newberry.org/collections/victorians-and-the-hidden-self

This is really intelligent stuff.

Like.

Get on it.

TPE

'Bayonet Charge' - Ted Hughes

This is an excellent website, like the one Eliot found for 'Kamikaze'.  You hover over the parts of the poem for analysis.

http://genius.com/Ted-hughes-bayonet-charge-annotated

See also:

https://poetryshark.wordpress.com/2015/10/26/bayonet-charge-by-ted-hughes-poetry-analysis-gcse/

Half Term Homework

Write a discussion about which of the conflict poems we have studied you consider to be the most effective.

It should make reference to theme, language, structure and context.

It should also make comparisons to other poems to which the poem is thematically similar and different.

You should post your response here if you have a Google account or email them to tpope@bgis.co.uk and I will post them for you.

'The Charge of the Light Brigade' - Alfred Tennyson

Here is a good quality video on 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' designed for GCSE students.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuTrx8lDYI0

This is a good short analysis of the poem

https://interestingliterature.com/2016/01/26/a-short-analysis-of-the-charge-of-the-light-brigade/

And a good article about the poem from The Guardian newspaper

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/jan/20/poem-of-the-week-charge-light-brigade-Tennyson

'My Last Duchess' - Robert Browning

Here is a good model essay on 'My Last Duchess' - remember that the form is a dramatic monologue and that this is important to a full understanding of the poem.

http://englishtutorhome2.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/analysis-my-last-duchess-ferrara-robert.html

Here is a little context information on Browning from the nice people at AQA, who set your exam!

http://anthology.aqa.org.uk/browning

Learn and know some facts and details about his life.

Jekyll and Hyde Context

This is a fascinating article with all sorts of interesting embedded source material in it.  It is highly relevant, written in an accessible way and particularly detailed.  Read it.  Make notes.  Bring notes to school.  Stick in book.  Win.

https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/duality-in-robert-louis-stevensons-strange-case-of-dr-jekyll-and-mr-hyde

'London' - William Blake

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/poetryblake_lon/

The BBC Bitesize page has an impressive analysis of 'London' by William Blake.  Particularly, make sure you see the video which juxtaposes images of London in the Georgian era with a reading of the poem.  Your understanding of the poem relies on a sound understanding of the context it is set in.

Read about the context of the poem and under no circumstances call it a Victorian poem.  Because it wasn't.  It was written in 1794 and Queen Victoria did not reign until 1837.

George III was followed by George IV Who was followed by William IV and then Queen Victoria.  So to call Blake's work Victorian is three monarchs out!

https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/looking-at-the-manuscript-of-william-blakes-London

For something a little more advanced go to the above link.  Here you can see the original, handwritten version of the poem and read about how Blake made alterations to the poem as he was composing it.  It is a fascinating insight into Blake's writing process and worthy of the attention of anyone aiming for a top grade!

'Tissue' - Imtiaz Dharker

http://www.imtiazdharker.com/

Visit the poet's website.  Read the homepage.  Discover what issues are of particular interest to the poet.  Consider how these issues are evident in 'Tissue'.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6izJ0bl_nuk

You can't just study a poem once and know it.  You have to keep going over and over it to have a really good understanding of it.  Spend 20 minutes watching the above link to revise the themes and language features in the poem.

'Cheking Out Me History' by John Agard

The Historical Figures in 'Checking Out Me History'

The poem makes a specific reference to Toussaint L'Ouverture.  Understanding this historical reference is important to a full understanding of the poem.  Read more here:

http://www.blackpast.org/gah/loverture-toussaint-1742-1803

Similarly the poem makes reference to Nanny de Maroon.  She is an important cultural figure and an understanding of this historical figure is necessary to understand the poem properly.

http://jis.gov.jm/heroes/nanny-of-the-maroons/

Another reference to a historical figure is Shaka Zulu:

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_shaka_zulu.html

You don't need much information on each historical figure.  This page from BBC primary resources is enough on Mary Seacole:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/famouspeople/mary_seacole/

Further Exploration

Hear the poet read the poem himself here.  Expand the section on the right hand side to read a few simple comments about structure and language.

http://genius.com/John-agard-checking-out-me-history-annotated


This is an excellent Prezi presentation on the poem.  It is quite basic in places but it covers quite a lot of important information:

https://prezi.com/vd4jw5tzb1ud/checking-out-me-history/

'The Emigree' by Carol Rumens

This video is half an hour long but it is thorough, detailed and analytical.  Find half an hour and watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5_oPM97kfg


Consider also the paragraph on Carol Rumens website where she mentions the types of writing she does and how they might come together in poetry.  This may go some way to explaining the form and structure of the poem.

http://www.carolrumens.co.uk/

'Kamikaze' by Beatrice Garland

Visit Beatrice Garland's own website.  Ask yourself these questions:

"What are the recurring themes in Garland's poetry?"

"Can you find another poem that deals with similar themes as Kamikaze?"

 

This would be a really impressive piece of research and an impressive piece of knowledge on an exam.

 

http://www.beatricegarland.co.uk/poems/168-2/

 

The BBC guide to the poem is clear and thorough.  Read through it and make a few bullet point notes.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zynw2p3/revision

Thanks to Eliot who suggested this site

 

 

http://genius.com/Beatrice-garland-kamikaze-annotated



'Exposure' by Wilfred Owen

Here is an excellent link to a very detailed analysis of Exposure by Wilfred Owen.  There are two pages of analysis so you need to click onto the next page when you have finished the first.

http://crossref-it.info/textguide/wilfred-owen-selected-poems/36/2587

Here is an excellent video which claims to give you all the knowledge you need to access the highest grades!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RIvUeyN2To

Finally, here is an analysis from the Wilfred Owen website which is well worth a read.

http://www.wilfredowen.org.uk/poetry/exposure

If you are following the blog tasks then well done and keep going.  I guarantee this will help you.

Extract from 'The Prelude': Stealing the Boat

Here is an outstanding blog to read on the poem:

http://romantics-uab.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/wordsworths-prelude-boat-stealing.html

and here is a quality YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D87M_pIcj8s