Compare the ways in which poets make use of time in The Deliverer by Tishani Doshi and one

other poem of your choice from Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of
Poetry 2002–2011.
In your answer, you should consider the following:
• the poets’ development of themes
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
(Total for Question 1 = 25 marks)

The Deliverer:

1. Cyclical Nature of Time:

Time in The Deliverer can be seen as cyclical, symbolizing the life cycle, particularly the process
of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. The poet uses the passage of time to explore the physical
and emotional transformations that the protagonist undergoes as she prepares to give birth. The
reference to "months" and "days" throughout the poem highlights the constant forward march of
time, a reminder that the body and mind undergo inevitable changes as part of the cycle of life.

This cyclical nature of time suggests the continuity of life: birth leads to growth, which in turn
leads to aging and, ultimately, death. However, the poem emphasizes the beginning of life
(birth), suggesting that time is not just about decay or loss, but also about the renewal and
continuation of life.

2. Time as a Marker of Change and Transformation:

Throughout the poem, time marks personal transformation. For the protagonist, time is not just
about counting days or months, but about the internal changes she experiences in preparation
for childbirth. The image of the growing fetus inside her is a powerful representation of time, as
it marks the development of a new life, which will be born into the world.

Time is also connected to emotional growth. As the protagonist waits to give birth, she reflects
on the profound changes occurring within her, both physically and emotionally. These moments
of waiting, anticipation, and eventual release are intricately tied to time as a marker of change.
In this sense, time represents both personal growth and the passage from one state of being to
another (from pregnant to mother, from anticipation to action).

3. Time as Unstoppable and Inevitable:

The poem also portrays time as something inevitable, relentless, and beyond the control of the
individual. The passing of time is not something the protagonist can stop or slow down; it simply
moves forward, marking moments and milestones, regardless of her emotional state or desires.
This unstoppable progression is especially evident in the context of childbirth, a natural process
that unfolds according to the rhythms of the body and the natural world.

The unstoppable nature of time can be seen as a reflection of life's inexorable changes. The
poet highlights the tension between the desire to hold onto or resist change, and the reality that
time, and the transformations it brings, is unavoidable.

4. Time and Mortality:

Finally, time in The Deliverer is also connected to themes of mortality. As the protagonist faces
the impending birth of her child, she may reflect on the fleeting nature of her own life and the
passage of time. The arrival of new life can bring both hope and fear: hope for the future and the
continuation of life, but also an awareness of the inevitable passage of time and the eventual
loss of that life.

Time represents the inescapable truth of human existence—birth and death are part of the
same cycle. However, in The Deliverer, the focus is primarily on the birth of new life, and time
becomes a symbol of hope, renewal, and the endless cycle of life’s changes.

OR 2
Compare the ways in which poets make use of the natural world in History by John Burnside
and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward
Books of Poetry 2002–2011.
In your answer, you should consider the following:
• the poets’ development of themes
• the poets’ use of language and imagery
• the use of other poetic techniques.
(Total for Question 2 = 25 marks)

Comparative essay: ‘Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass’ by Simon Armitage and
‘History’ by John Burnside

Nature = destructed by man-made world

History
“that gasoline smell from Leuchars gusting across” allusion to RAF
“the rose of petrol blue of jellyfish and sea anemone” - whilst the colour imagery conveys the
vibrancy of nature, the petrol has a double meaning, creating a sinister undertone with reference
to fossil fuels and the destruction of the natural world by mankind.
Likewise Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass
“Plant-juice spat from the pipes and tubes… ripped into pockets of secret dark warmth” -verb
illustrates the disregard for nature, while reference to pipes and tubes evokes ideas of blood
and abuse, making this image more disturbing. The second phrase creates further shock for the
readers as it evokes ideas of sexual assault or rape.
“Overkill.” Use of caesura fragments.

Nature = fragile
History
1)​ “Sand spinning off ribbons along the beach” The sibilance balance conveys a sense of
elegance of nature.
2)​ “reading from the book / of silt and tides”
3)​ “Snail shells; shreds of razorship; smudges of weed and flesh on tideworn stone”- Triplet
focuses on the variety of nature- beauty of nature acts as an antidote to hatred and
violence.

Likewise Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass

1)​ “The pampas grass with its ludicrous feathers / and plumes”
2)​ “This was the sledgehammer taken to crack the nut”

Nature = can come back to life

Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass
“New shoots like asparagus tips” simile
“it was riding high in its saddle, wearing a new crown”

Unlike, History:
“gathering shells / and pebbles / finding evidence of life”
“Sometimes I am dizzy with the fear / of losing everything - the sea, the sky” -implies when
nature is lost it never comes back
• the fragmented form of the poem on the page, refusing to conform to any fixed stanza
structure, rhythm or rhyme scheme suggests the discomforting and unpredictable situation of
humanity and its relationship with the natural world.

Comparison of ‘History’ and ‘Look What We Have Coming Dover!”

-Nature = unpleasant/ hostile??
Look What We Have Coming Dover!
“gobfuls of surf phlegmed by cushy come-and-go”
“yobbish rain and wind on our escape hutched in a Bedford van”

History
Nature = calm/peasant
4)​ “Sand spinning off ribbons along the beach” The sibilance balance conveys a sense of
elegance of nature.
5)​ “reading from the book / of silt and tides”
6)​ “Snail shells; shreds of razorship; smudges of weed and flesh on tideworn stone”- Triplet
focuses on the variety of nature- beauty of nature acts as an antidote to hatred and
violence.

-Nature = destructed by man-made world

Look What We Have Coming Dover!
“the alfresco lash of diesel-breeze” -sensory imagery
Give another quote

History
“that gasoline smell from Leuchars gusting across” allusion to RAF
“the rose of petrol blue of jellyfish and sea anemone” - whilst the colour imagery conveys the
vibrancy of nature, the petrol has a double meaning, creating a sinister undertone with reference
to fossil fuels and the destruction of the natural world by mankind.

Nature has a connected with death:

History
“gathering shells / and pebbles / finding evidence of life”
“Sometimes I am dizzy with the fear / of losing everything - the sea, the sky”
• Burnside’s placing of humans as part of the natural world could be a
metaphor for the poet himself, e.g. ‘the rose or petrol blue / of jellyfish and sea anemone /
combining with a child’s / first nakedness’; ‘a toddler on a beach / sifting wood and dried weed
from the sand’
• the fragmented form of the poem on the page, refusing to conform to any fixed stanza
structure, rhythm or rhyme scheme suggests the discomforting and unpredictable situation of
humanity and its relationship with the natural world.
These are suggestions only. Accept any

Likewise in Look We Have Coming to Dover!

“Seagull and shoal life / Vexing their blarnies upon our huddled / camouflage past the
vast crumble of scummed cliffs."
-flow of poem reflects flow of life???
To compare History by John Burnside with another poem from Poems of the Decade, focusing
on the use of the natural world, here are some suggested pairings and their potential
connections:.

2. "An Easy Passage" by Julia Copus

This poem’s use of natural imagery is intertwined with themes of transition, fleeting moments,
and the passage of time.

●​ Themes: While History explores humanity’s place in a vast, eternal natural world, An
Easy Passage focuses on the transience of youth and life, using the natural world as a
backdrop for reflection on time.
●​ Language and Imagery: Both poets employ rich, sensory imagery. Copus uses light
and warmth (e.g., sunlight on skin) to symbolize change, while Burnside explores air,
water, and sand as metaphors for resilience and ephemerality.
●​ Techniques: Copus’ controlled syntax contrasts with Burnside’s flowing, contemplative
structure, offering a chance to compare how poetic form mirrors content.

3. "Look We Have Coming to Dover!" by Daljit Nagra

This poem could be an interesting contrast because it incorporates the natural world alongside
themes of migration, identity, and human impact.

●​ Themes: Both poems explore human interaction with natural spaces but from different
perspectives. While Historyfocuses on healing and continuity, Nagra critiques the
colonial and migratory histories tied to nature.
●​ Language and Imagery: Nagra uses lively, often jarring imagery to depict the sea as a
site of hope and hardship. Burnside’s calmer, introspective tone contrasts with Nagra’s
more fragmented, energetic style.
●​ Techniques: Nagra employs wordplay, cultural references, and unconventional syntax,
contrasting with Burnside’s quiet lyricism.

2 different perspectives:
Natural World
History: nature = beautiful->
7)​ “Sand spinning off ribbons along the beach” The sibilance balance conveys a sense of
elegance of nature.
8)​
Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass
The pampas grass, personified as a "ludicrous feathers and plumes," symbolizes a
force of nature that withstands the chainsaw’s aggression.

Violence
Monday 11 January 2021
Compare the ways in which poets use ideas about movement in Look We Have Coming
to Dover! by Daljit Nagra and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Decade:
An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry.
Pertinent choices of second poem might be: ‘Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn’ by Tim Turnbull, ‘The
Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled’ by Leontia Flynn, or ‘History’ by John Burnside.

Descriptions of Boat Movement

●​ Imagery of Movement: Nagra uses vivid, sensory imagery to describe the boat’s
journey, such as "the alfresco lash of dieselbreeze" and "ratcheting speed into the tide."

Emotional Responses to Movement

●​ Nagra’s Perspective: Emotional resonance is conveyed through phrases like "gobfuls,"

which imply hostility or abuse. The immigrants experience alienation and vulnerability,
feeling "unclocked by the national eye" and enduring "stabs in the back."
●​ Second Poet’s Perspective: The emotional undertone highlights the physical and
psychological toll of migration, reflecting the immigrants’ resilience amid adversity.

Presentation of Migration

●​ Secretive and Unacknowledged Migration: Both poets emphasize the clandestine

nature of migration, as seen in "our huddled/camouflage" and the immigrants being
"unclocked by the national eye."
●​ Escape and Opportunity: Migration offers hope and freedom, described as a chance to
"passport us to life" and "be human to hoick ourselves, bare-faced for the clear."

Social Movement

●​ Economic Contributions: Nagra reflects on the unnoticed contributions of migrants,

using phrases like "Blair’d in the cash / of our beeswax’d cars" to underscore their
labor’s impact on the economy.

Language of Movement

●​ Varied Effects of Movement: Nagra employs dynamic verbs and phrases like "coming,"
"invade," "ratcheting speed," and "come-and-go tourists." These create a spectrum of
motion, ranging from relaxed to tension-filled.

Cultural Movement
 ●​ Literary Allusion: Nagra references Arnold’s Dover Beach to explore cultural attitudes
toward migration.
●​ Immigration and Cultural Attitudes: Suggestive language examines societal
perceptions of immigration, emphasizing both barriers and integration efforts.

Poetic Structure and Movement

●​ Use of Enjambment: Both poets utilize enjambment to mirror physical and cultural
transitions, enhancing the sense of flow and progression in their poems.

Movement of Language

●​ Non-Standard Forms: Nagra integrates colloquial and dialect expressions, such as

"scramming on mulch" and "vexing their blarnies," to depict the fluidity and adaptability of
language in migration contexts.

‘Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn’ by Tim Turnbull

Dynamic Imagery of Youth and Urban Energy

●​ The poem captures the frenetic movement of contemporary youth culture, particularly
through depictions of teenagers on motorbikes and cars. Phrases like:​
“kids in cars on crap estates”​
and​
“skid and burn, spin doughnuts, and wheelie”​
emphasize the energy, recklessness, and vitality of their actions. The descriptions
suggest a sense of freedom and rebellion, underscored by their physical and emotional
movements.

2. Juxtaposition of Movement and Stillness

●​ The poem contrasts the chaotic, perpetual motion of the youths with the stillness of the
urn’s artwork. The urn immortalizes their actions, freezing their movement in time:​
“They will stay out late forever, / pumped on youth and ecstasy.”​
The captured moment highlights the tension between transient human experiences and
their preservation in art.

3. Language Reflecting Momentum and Energy

●​ Turnbull uses verbs and phrases that suggest speed, thrill, and recklessness, such as
“skid,” “burn,” and “spin doughnuts.”
 ●​ This creates a vivid sense of the physical movement of the vehicles and the emotional
intensity of the youths. The linguistic choices contribute to the poem’s vitality.

4. Cultural Movement and Transition

●​ Movement in the poem is not only physical but also symbolic of cultural shifts. The young
people represent modern, urban life, contrasting with the classical world of art and
tradition symbolized by the urn.
●​ The juxtaposition reflects how art captures and preserves fleeting moments of cultural
and societal change.

5. Enjambment and Fluidity

●​ The poem’s structure mirrors the sense of motion. Turnbull uses enjambment to create a
fluid, continuous rhythm, propelling the reader through the scenes without pause,
mimicking the energy of the depicted events.

6. Movement Toward Immortality

●​ The poem explores how the physical movement of the youths becomes immortalized in
art. The urn “arrests” their actions, turning transient moments into eternal symbols. This
mirrors John Keats’s idea in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" of art as a means to capture and
preserve fleeting human experiences.

Dynamic Imagery of Movement

●​ In Turnbull's Poem: Movement is depicted through the frenetic energy of youth culture.
The imagery of cars and motorbikes (“skid and burn, spin doughnuts, and wheelie”)
highlights reckless freedom and rebellion.
●​ In Nagra's Poem: Movement reflects the journey of immigrants and their integration into
a new society. Phrases like “ratcheting speed into the tide” and “scramming on mulch”
convey both physical and metaphorical movement, symbolizing resilience and survival.

Comparison: While Turnbull captures the thrill and chaos of youthful physical motion, Nagra’s
movement is more symbolic, representing cultural and societal shifts driven by migration.

2. Juxtaposition of Stillness and Motion

 ●​ In Turnbull's Poem: The urn immortalizes the transient, chaotic actions of the youths.
The dynamic present (skidding cars) is contrasted with the frozen, eternal depiction on
the urn: “They will stay out late forever.”
●​ In Nagra's Poem: The tension lies between the migrants’ physical and cultural
movement versus the static, indifferent gaze of the "national eye." This highlights how
migrants remain unseen despite their ongoing contributions.

Comparison: Both poets explore contrasts between motion and stasis, but Turnbull focuses on
youth preserved through art, while Nagra explores migrants' invisibility despite their dynamic
presence.

3. Cultural and Social Movement

●​ In Turnbull's Poem: The poem captures the cultural vibrancy and rebellion of modern
urban life, contrasting it with the classical, traditional art of the urn. Movement
symbolizes a break from tradition and the spirit of a new generation.
●​ In Nagra's Poem: Movement is tied to migration, reflecting both the physical journey and
the cultural shift immigrants experience. Lines like “huddled camouflage” and “passport
us to life” evoke both the struggle and hope of migration.

Comparison: Turnbull’s cultural movement is inward, celebrating youth culture in the present,
while Nagra’s movement is outward, exploring migration as an act of cultural blending and
resilience.

4. Language of Movement

●​ In Turnbull's Poem: The language is fast-paced and dynamic, with verbs like “skid,”
“burn,” and “spin” evoking physical speed and vitality.
●​ In Nagra's Poem: The language is layered and evocative, blending colloquial and poetic
forms to reflect movement: “blarnies” and “dieselbreeze” suggest cultural hybridity and
fluidity.

Comparison: Both poems use energetic, vivid language to depict movement, but Turnbull
focuses on the immediacy of physical action, while Nagra uses language to reflect the nuanced,
ongoing process of migration and cultural integration.

5. Symbolism of Movement
 ●​ In Turnbull's Poem: Movement symbolizes the fleeting nature of youth and its
preservation in art, as the urn captures vitality and rebellion for eternity.
●​ In Nagra's Poem: Movement represents the struggle for survival and identity, as
migrants navigate their journey to integration and recognition in a new land.

Comparison: Both poets use movement as a metaphor for broader themes. Turnbull’s focus is
on the tension between youth and permanence, while Nagra explores the resilience of migrants
seeking belonging.

6. Structural Reflection of Movement

●​ In Turnbull's Poem: Enjambment mimics the fluidity and chaos of the youths’ actions,
creating a fast, relentless rhythm.
●​ In Nagra's Poem: The poem’s irregular rhythm and blending of languages reflect the
physical and cultural turbulence of migration.

Comparison: Both poets use form to mirror movement, with Turnbull emphasizing the rhythm of
urban energy and Nagra reflecting the disjointed yet persistent journey of migrants.

2 Compare the ways in which poets explore the idea of connection in Genetics by Sinéad
Morrissey and one other poem of your choice from Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the
Forward Books of Poetry
‘Out of the Bag’ by Seamus Heaney, ‘Inheritance’ by Eavan Boland, or ‘The Deliverer’ by
Tishani Doshi.

Genetics by Sinéad Morrissey – Key Themes of Connection

Connection to Parents

●​ The speaker emphasizes how their body connects them to their parents:​
“My father’s in my fingers, but my mother’s in my palms.”​
This reinforces the idea that identity is shared and inherited.

Connection to Self

●​ The use of personal pronouns (“I,” “me,” “my”) reflects a strong sense of individuality.
●​ A shift to more inclusive pronouns (“we”) signifies the speaker’s desire for connection
beyond themselves.
●​

Parental Separation
 ●​ The speaker notes the physical and emotional separation of their parents:​
“They may have been repelled to separate lands, / to separate hemispheres.”​
Despite this, a sense of connection persists through legacy.

Religious and Cultural Connection

●​ The image of the chapel:​

“I shape a chapel where a steeple stands.”​
This connects the speaker to shared cultural and religious traditions, evoking childhood
memories.

Desire for Future Connection

●​ The speaker expresses a wish to build new connections:​

“I’ll bequeath my fingers, if you bequeath your palms.”​
The final stanza suggests a desire to continue the cycle of life and relationships.

Structure and Form

●​ The circular form of the villanelle mirrors the interconnected nature of relationships and
legacy.

Eat Me by Patience Agbabi

●​ Explore how power and control are presented in Eat Me and one other poem of your
choice from Poems of the Decade.
●​ How does Agbabi use structure and imagery to portray themes of consumption and
dominance in Eat Me?

Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass by Simon Armitage

●​ Compare the presentation of conflict between humans and nature in Chainsaw Versus
the Pampas Grass and one other poem of your choice.
●​ How does Armitage use symbolism and contrast to explore power dynamics in Chainsaw
Versus the Pampas Grass?

Material by Ros Barber

●​ Explore how memory and change are presented in Material and one other poem of your
choice.
●​ How does Barber use imagery and tone to convey the relationship between past and
present in Material?
History by John Burnside

●​ Compare the treatment of global events and personal reflection in History and one other
poem of your choice.
●​ How does Burnside use form and language to explore themes of uncertainty and identity
in History?

An Easy Passage by Julia Copus

●​ How does Copus explore the theme of transition and the passage of time in An Easy
Passage? Compare with one other poem of your choice.
●​ Explore how imagery and structure contribute to the presentation of adolescence in An
Easy Passage.

The Deliverer by Tishani Doshi

●​ Compare how Doshi and one other poet from Poems of the Decade explore themes of
societal injustice and gender roles.
●​ How does Doshi use contrasting settings and perspectives to explore dehumanization in
The Deliverer?

The Map Woman by Carol Ann Duffy

●​ How does Duffy explore identity and self-perception in The Map Woman? Compare with
one other poem of your choice.
●​ Explore the use of metaphor and narrative in presenting themes of memory and place in
The Map Woman.

The Lammas Hireling by Ian Duhig

●​ Compare how mystery and transformation are presented in The Lammas Hireling and
one other poem of your choice.
●​ How does Duhig use structure, tone, and ambiguity to explore themes of guilt and
superstition in The Lammas Hireling?
To My Nine-Year-Old Self by Helen Dunmore

●​ How does Dunmore explore the relationship between past and present selves in To My
Nine-Year-Old Self? Compare with one other poem of your choice.
●​ Explore how language and tone are used to present nostalgia and regret in To My
Nine-Year-Old Self.

A Minor Role by UA Fanthorpe

●​ Compare how the theme of identity and societal roles is explored in A Minor Role and
one other poem of your choice.
●​ How does Fanthorpe use dramatic voice and imagery to explore the constraints of
societal expectations in A Minor Role?

The Gun by Vicki Feaver

●​ How does Feaver explore the theme of power and violence in The Gun? Compare with
one other poem of your choice.
●​ Explore how Feaver uses imagery and symbolism to convey the destructive allure of
violence in The Gun.

The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled by Leontia Flynn

●​ Compare how the theme of journeys is explored in The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled
and one other poem of your choice.
●​ How does Flynn use form and personal reflection to explore identity and travel in The
Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled?

Giuseppe by Roderick Ford

●​ How does Ford explore themes of guilt and complicity in Giuseppe? Compare with one
other poem of your choice.
●​ Explore how Ford uses narrative and imagery to reflect on the darker aspects of human
nature in Giuseppe.
Out of the Bag by Seamus Heaney

●​ Compare how memory and mythology are explored in Out of the Bag and one other
poem of your choice.
●​ How does Heaney use structure and symbolism to reflect on childhood perceptions in
Out of the Bag?

Effects by Alan Jenkins

●​ How does Jenkins explore grief and loss in Effects? Compare with one other poem of
your choice.
●​ Explore how Jenkins uses detail and narrative to reflect on memory and family
relationships in Effects.

Genetics by Sinéad Morrissey

●​ How does Morrissey explore themes of family and identity in Genetics? Compare with
one other poem of your choice.
●​ Explore how form and language are used to present the continuity of heritage in
Genetics.

From the Journal of a Disappointed Man by Andrew Motion

●​ Compare how masculinity and societal expectations are explored in From the Journal of
a Disappointed Man and one other poem of your choice.
●​ How does Motion use tone and imagery to reflect on alienation and observation in From
the Journal of a Disappointed Man?

Look We Have Coming to Dover! by Daljit Nagra

●​ How does Nagra explore themes of migration and cultural identity in Look We Have
Coming to Dover!? Compare with one other poem of your choice.
●​ Explore how Nagra uses language and structure to reflect on the experience of
immigrants in Look We Have Coming to Dover!.
Please Hold by Ciaran O’Driscoll

●​ Compare how O’Driscoll and one other poet explore themes of frustration and modernity
in their work.
●​ How does O’Driscoll use humor and repetition to critique bureaucracy and technology in
Please Hold?

On Her Blindness by Adam Thorpe

●​ How does Thorpe explore themes of dignity and loss in On Her Blindness? Compare
with one other poem of your choice.
●​ Explore how Thorpe uses tone and narrative voice to reflect on family and illness in On
Her Blindness.

Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn by Tim Turnbull

●​ Compare how Turnbull and one other poet explore the interaction between
contemporary culture and tradition.
●​ How does Turnbull use form and humor to critique modern society in Ode on a Grayson
Perry Urn?
●​ Theme
●​ Development of themes
●​ Language and imagery
●​ Poetic techniques

Eat Me

Question: Compare how power and control are explored in Eat Me by Patience Agbabi and one
other poem from Poems of the Decade.

Theme: Power, control, consumption.

●​ Development: Explores toxic relationships where power manifests physically and

psychologically through dominance and dependence.

Key Quotes:

●​ “The bigger the better, he said.” → Direct speech shows control.

 ●​ “I was his Jacuzzi” → Metaphor, objectifying the speaker as a source of pleasure.
●​ “His flesh, my flesh flowed.” → Power shifts in climax; reversal of roles.

Techniques:

●​ Dramatic monologue creates a chilling insight into a controlling relationship.

●​ Repetition of “too fat” builds tension.
●​ Symbolism of food: desire and destruction intertwined.

Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass

Question: Compare how conflict between humans and nature is presented in Chainsaw Versus
the Pampas Grass by Simon Armitage and one other poem.

Theme: Human arrogance and the resilience of nature.

●​ Development: Contrasts the destructive violence of the chainsaw with the delicate yet
persistent pampas grass.

Key Quotes:

●​ “It seemed an unlikely match.” → Juxtaposition of power.

●​ “The pampas grass with its ludicrous feathers” → Mockery of nature, arrogance.
●​ “New shoots like asparagus tips.” → Nature regenerates.

Techniques:

●​ Personification of the chainsaw makes it a violent, almost masculine force.

●​ Caesura and fragmentation mimic the abruptness of destruction.
●​ Extended metaphor of battle underscores the cyclical nature of human attempts to
dominate nature.

Material

Question: Compare how memory and change are presented in Material by Ros Barber and one
other poem.

Theme: Nostalgia, generational change.

●​ Development: The hanky symbolizes the shift from traditional values to modern,
disposable culture.

Key Quotes:
 ●​ “She bought her own; I never did.” → Highlights generational shifts.
●​ “Raw silk… / a thing of cloth” → Symbol of permanence versus change.
●​ “I raised neglected looking kids” → Reflects guilt about modern parenting.

Techniques:

●​ Enjambment mimics the flow of memory.

●​ Conversational tone creates intimacy with the reader.
●​ Symbolism of the handkerchief contrasts permanence with modern impermanence.

History

Question: Compare how poets explore humanity’s relationship with nature in History by John
Burnside and one other poem.

Theme: Fragility of nature, human insignificance.

●​ Development: Burnside juxtaposes human destruction with the resilience of nature.

Key Quotes:

●​ “The rose or petrol blue of jellyfish and sea anemone.” → Juxtaposes beauty and
pollution.
●​ “Gathering shells / finding evidence of life.” → Nature as a source of healing.
●​ “Dizzy with the fear of losing everything.” → Ephemeral nature of human existence.

Techniques:

●​ Fragmented structure mirrors the instability of the world post-9/11.

●​ Sensory imagery evokes the interconnectedness of humans and nature.
●​ Allusions to global conflict juxtaposed with intimate, personal moments.

An Easy Passage

Question: Compare how poets explore moments of transition in An Easy Passage by Julia
Copus and one other poem.

Theme: Adolescence, fleeting time.

●​ Development: Focuses on a single moment to highlight the precarious nature of growing

up.

Key Quotes:
 ●​ “Halfway up there, crouched in her bikini.” → Caught between childhood and adulthood.
●​ “The one thing she must not do is think.” → Loss of innocence.
●​ “She is close to the edge of a long journey.” → Symbolic of life transitions.

Techniques:

●​ Enjambment mimics the flow of time and uncertainty.

●​ Visual imagery emphasizes the contrast between light (innocence) and shadow
(adulthood).
●​ Symbolism of the window as a threshold between worlds.

The Gun

Question: Compare how poets explore violence and its allure in The Gun by Vicki Feaver and
one other poem.

Theme: Power, destruction, morality.

●​ Development: Explores the seductive and destructive nature of violence through the
gun.

Key Quotes:

●​ “Bringing a gun into a house / changes it.” → Symbolic of its power.

●​ “The King of Death / had arrived.” → Personification of the gun as an agent of violence.
●​ “A gun brings a house alive.” → Ironic and chilling reflection.

Techniques:

●​ Ambiguity in tone: is the speaker seduced by or critical of violence?

●​ Symbolism of life and death: the gun represents destruction yet sparks vitality.
●​ Sparse structure mirrors the sharpness and impact of gunfire.

The Lammas Hireling

Question: Compare how poets use mystery and transformation in The Lammas Hireling by Ian
Duhig and one other poem.

Theme: Guilt, superstition, transformation.

●​ Development: Blurs the line between reality and the supernatural to explore human guilt.

Key Quotes:
 ●​ “Bless me, Father, I have sinned.” → Religious guilt.
●​ “His lovely head thinned.” → Transformation; eerie.
●​ “Disturbed from dreams of my dear late wife.” → Grief and haunting intertwined.

Techniques:

●​ Ambiguous narrative leaves interpretation open.

●​ Gothic imagery builds tension and unease.
●​ Use of enjambment reflects the fluidity between real and unreal.

To My Nine-Year-Old Self

Question: Compare how poets explore the relationship between past and present in To My
Nine-Year-Old Self by Helen Dunmore and one other poem.

Theme: Nostalgia, regret, identity.

●​ Development: Addresses the speaker’s younger self, exploring the divide between
innocence and experience.

Key Quotes:

●​ “You would rather run than walk, rather climb than run.” → Energetic innocence.
●​ “I have spoiled this body.” → Guilt and regret.
●​ “I shivered once beneath a tree.” → Connection to nature, past joy.

Techniques:

●​ Direct address creates intimacy and vulnerability.

●​ Juxtaposition between past energy and present frailty.
●​ Natural imagery symbolizes freedom and youth.

Look We Have Coming to Dover!

Question: Compare how poets explore migration and identity in Look We Have Coming to
Dover! by Daljit Nagra and one other poem.

Theme: Migration, cultural identity.

●​ Development: Explores the hardships of migration and the hybridity of identity.

Key Quotes:

●​ “Phlegmed by cushy come-and-go.” → Violent imagery of migration.

●​ “Blarnies upon our huddled camouflage.” → Hidden identities, alienation.
●​ “Seagull and shoal life vexing their blarnies.” → Nature mirroring the migrant experience.

Techniques:

●​ Colloquial tone and dialect reflect cultural hybridity.

●​ Enjambment mimics the movement and uncertainty of migration.
●​ Juxtaposition of natural imagery and industrial landscapes reflects displacement.

Eat Me

Themes: Power, relationships, painful emotions, life and death.

●​ Development of Themes: Explores dominance in relationships, physical consumption

as a metaphor for emotional control, and eventual rebellion.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “The bigger the better, he said.” → Power dynamic through direct speech.
○​ “I was a tidal wave of flesh.” → Dehumanization; body as a landscape.
○​ “His flesh, my flesh flowed.” → Power shifts in climax; death and consumption.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Dramatic monologue reveals the voice of the controlled.
○​ Repetition of “too fat” builds tension.
○​ Caesura emphasizes key moments of rebellion.
●​ Comparison: The Gun (violence and rebellion), The Lammas Hireling (power and guilt).

Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass

Themes: Conflict, natural world, power, danger.

●​ Development of Themes: The chainsaw represents human aggression, while the

pampas grass symbolizes nature’s resilience.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “It seemed an unlikely match.” → Conflict between power and fragility.
○​ “The pampas grass with its ludicrous feathers.” → Mockery of nature.
○​ “New shoots like asparagus tips.” → Nature’s regenerative power.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Violent imagery: “Plant juice spat.”
 ○​ Extended metaphor of battle.
○​ Juxtaposition between harshness of chainsaw and delicacy of pampas grass.
●​ Comparison: History (destruction of nature), The Deliverer (violence and fragility).

Material

Themes: Memory, time, identity, relationships, transition and growth.

●​ Development of Themes: Focuses on generational change and the loss of tradition,

symbolized by the handkerchief.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “Raw silk / a thing of cloth.” → Nostalgia for permanence.
○​ “I raised neglected-looking kids.” → Modern parenting, guilt.
○​ “The hanky… is history.” → Transition and change.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Conversational tone reflects personal reflection.
○​ Symbolism of the hanky contrasts permanence with modern disposability.
○​ Enjambment mirrors the flow of memory.
●​ Comparison: To My Nine-Year-Old Self (nostalgia for the past), An Easy Passage
(transition and fleeting time).

History

Themes: Natural world, life and death, painful emotions, memory, conflict.

●​ Development of Themes: Reflects on the fragility of the natural world and humanity’s
destructive tendencies.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “The rose of petrol blue of jellyfish.” → Juxtaposes beauty and pollution.
○​ “Gathering shells / finding evidence of life.” → Connection to life and healing.
○​ “Fear of losing everything—the sea, the sky.” → Human insignificance.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Fragmented structure mirrors instability.
○​ Sensory imagery evokes intimacy with the natural world.
○​ Juxtaposition of global conflict with local nature.
●​ Comparison: Look We Have Coming to Dover! (man vs. nature), Chainsaw Versus the
Pampas Grass (fragility of nature).

An Easy Passage
Themes: Childhood, transition and growth, time, identity.

●​ Development of Themes: Captures a fleeting moment between childhood and

adulthood.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “Halfway up there, crouched in her bikini.” → Transition from innocence.
○​ “She is close to the edge of a long journey.” → Metaphor for life ahead.
○​ “What can she know of the way the world admits us less and less?” → Loss of
innocence.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Enjambment reflects fluidity and uncertainty.
○​ Visual imagery contrasts sunlight (youth) with shadow (adulthood).
○​ Symbolism of the window as a boundary.
●​ Comparison: To My Nine-Year-Old Self (childhood vs. adulthood), Material (memory
and transition).

The Gun

Themes: Power, danger, life and death, conflict.

●​ Development of Themes: Explores the destructive allure of violence and its

transformative effects.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “Bringing a gun into a house changes it.” → Power of violence.
○​ “A gun brings a house alive.” → Irony, life from death.
○​ “The King of Death had arrived.” → Personification of the gun.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Symbolism of the gun as destruction and vitality.
○​ Ambiguous tone creates tension.
○​ Sparse structure reflects the impact of gunfire.
●​ Comparison: Eat Me (power and danger), Giuseppe (violence and morality).

The Lammas Hireling

Themes: Mystery, guilt, life and death, painful emotions.

●​ Development of Themes: Blurs reality and superstition to explore guilt and

transformation.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “Bless me, Father, I have sinned.” → Guilt and confession.
○​ “His lovely head thinned.” → Supernatural transformation.
 ○​ “Disturbed from dreams of my dear late wife.” → Grief and the past.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Ambiguous narrative allows multiple interpretations.
○​ Gothic imagery creates tension.
○​ Enjambment reflects fluidity between real and unreal.
●​ Comparison: Giuseppe (guilt and morality), The Deliverer (violence and transformation).

To My Nine-Year-Old Self

Themes: Childhood, memory, time, relationships, painful emotions.

●​ Development of Themes: Reflects on the divide between the energy of youth and the
regrets of adulthood.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “You would rather run than walk.” → Innocence and vitality.
○​ “I have spoiled this body.” → Guilt and loss.
○​ “We made a den with branches.” → Nostalgia for connection with nature.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Direct address creates intimacy.
○​ Juxtaposition of past energy and present frailty.
○​ Natural imagery symbolizes freedom and youth.
●​ Comparison: Material (nostalgia and memory), An Easy Passage (transition and
growth).

Look We Have Coming to Dover!

Themes: Identity, migration, natural world, conflict, movement.

●​ Development of Themes: Explores the migrant experience and cultural hybridity

through nature.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “Phlegmed by cushy come-and-go.” → Harsh realities of migration.
○​ “Seagull and shoal life vexing their blarnies.” → Nature mirrors human
displacement.
○​ “Blarnies upon our huddled camouflage.” → Hidden identities.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Colloquial tone reflects cultural hybridity.
○​ Sensory imagery emphasizes hardship and resilience.
○​ Enjambment mirrors movement and uncertainty.
●​ Comparison: History (man and nature), The Deliverer (displacement and identity).
The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled

Themes: Movement, identity, relationships, transition and growth, memory.

●​ Development of Themes: Explores physical and emotional journeys, emphasizing how

travel shapes identity and relationships.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “The furthest distances I’ve travelled / have been those between people.” →
Emotional connection over physical distance.
○​ “Exotic places / crackle with unfamiliarity.” → Romanticized view of travel.
○​ “Routine evictions.” → Mundanity of movement contrasts youthful exploration.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Enjambment mirrors the fluidity of travel.
○​ Juxtaposition of youthful adventure vs. adult stability.
○​ Alliteration creates rhythm, echoing the movement of journeys.
●​ Comparison: Look We Have Coming to Dover! (movement and identity), Material
(transitions over time).

Giuseppe

Themes: Power, morality, conflict, memory, painful emotions.

●​ Development of Themes: Explores guilt, morality, and the justification of violence

through an allegorical tale.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “The only captive mermaid in the world.” → Myth as metaphor for innocence.
○​ “The priest who held one of her hands / while her throat was cut.” → Corruption
of morality and power.
○​ “Starvation forgives men many things.” → Justification of atrocities.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Prose-poem style blurs reality and myth.
○​ Ambiguity forces readers to question morality.
○​ Symbolism of the mermaid as innocence and otherness.
●​ Comparison: The Lammas Hireling (morality and guilt), The Gun (violence and power).

Out of the Bag

Themes: Childhood, identity, memory, life and death, power.

 ●​ Development of Themes: Blends childhood imagination with adult understanding,
reflecting on the power of storytelling and medicine.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “All of us came in Doctor Kerlin’s bag.” → Childlike perception of birth as magical.
○​ “A bird’s nesting material / of clothes and scissors.” → Symbolism of birth and
creation.
○​ “Those nosy, rosy, big, soft hands.” → Doctor as a god-like figure.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Shifts in tone (childhood wonder to adult reflection).
○​ Sensory imagery evokes nostalgia and intimacy.
○​ Symbolism of the bag as mystery and life.
●​ Comparison: An Easy Passage (childhood vs. adulthood), Material (nostalgia and
identity).

Effects

Themes: Memory, identity, painful emotions, relationships, loss.

●​ Development of Themes: Reflects on grief and loss through the lens of a mother’s
belongings.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “She’d taken it off to feed me, to give me my bath.” → Intimacy and sacrifice in
motherhood.
○​ “A nurse bring the little bag of her effects.” → The finality of death.
○​ “But now she lay / a thick rubber band.” → Deterioration and loss.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Single stanza mirrors the unbroken flow of grief.
○​ Symbolism of objects (the watch, the bag).
○​ Tone of regret and tenderness.
●​ Comparison: Material (parental relationships and loss), To My Nine-Year-Old Self
(memory and regret).

Genetics

Themes: Identity, relationships, memory, time, connection.

●​ Development of Themes: Explores familial connection through physical and emotional

traits passed between parents and child.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “My father’s in my fingers, but my mother’s in my palms.” → Physical connection
between generations.
 ○​ “We know our parents make us by our hands.” → Identity tied to heritage.
○​ “I shape a chapel where a steeple stands.” → Symbolism of unity.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Villanelle structure emphasizes repetition and continuity.
○​ Symbolism of hands as a metaphor for connection.
○​ Rhythmic tone mirrors eternal bonds.
●​ Comparison: Material (parental connections), The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled
(relationships shaping identity).

From the Journal of a Disappointed Man

Themes: Power, identity, painful emotions, alternative visions of life.

●​ Development of Themes: Observes the silent power and futility of masculine labor,
questioning societal expectations of masculinity.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “The men… seemed to be staring at the water.” → Futility and passivity.
○​ “The pile still in mid-air, and me of course.” → Isolation and detachment.
○​ “That left the pile still in mid-air.” → Unfinished, unresolved.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Juxtaposition of labor and futility.
○​ Detached narrative voice reflects alienation.
○​ Symbolism of the pile as unfinished work or failed purpose.
●​ Comparison: Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass (power and masculinity), The
Lammas Hireling (identity and ambiguity).

Please Hold

Themes: Conflict, power, relationships, identity, painful emotions.

●​ Development of Themes: Satirizes modern life, focusing on automation, control, and

frustration.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “This is the future, my wife says.” → Resigned tone.
○​ “Please hold. Please grow old.” → Irony and dehumanization.
○​ “My voice is a zombie.” → Loss of individuality.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Repetition mimics automation.
○​ Satirical tone critiques modern society.
○​ Juxtaposition of humor and despair.
 ●​ Comparison: Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn (critique of modern life), Look We Have
Coming to Dover! (identity and cultural change).

On Her Blindness

Themes: Memory, identity, painful emotions, life and death.

●​ Development of Themes: Reflects on the loss of a mother’s sight and life, balancing
dignity with vulnerability.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “She’d hint at it, hoping I’d understand.” → Struggle to maintain dignity.
○​ “She kept her dignity… trying to make a joke of it.” → Humor as coping.
○​ “She was watching, somewhere, in the end.” → Faith and love endure.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Enjambment mirrors the difficulty of communication.
○​ Intimate tone reflects personal grief.
○​ Juxtaposition of humor and tragedy.
●​ Comparison: Effects (parental loss), Material (memory and familial connection).

Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn

Themes: Identity, relationships, movement, alternative visions of life.

●​ Development of Themes: Examines modern culture through the lens of classical

tradition, critiquing and celebrating it.
●​ Key Quotes:
○​ “Kids in cars on crap estates.” → Juxtaposition of urban reality and artistic legacy.
○​ “It will stay this way forever.” → Preservation of fleeting moments.
○​ “A beauty that will last forever.” → Irony of permanence in transient lives.
●​ Techniques:
○​ Ode structure satirizes high art.
○​ Colloquial language contrasts classical form.
○​ Allusion to Keats emphasizes timeless beauty in modern life.
●​ Comparison: Look We Have Coming to Dover! (cultural hybridity), Please Hold (critique
of modern life).