Born Yesterday by Philip Larkin

This poem expresses a parent's desire for his baby's life, which at first sounds harsh and cruel. He wishes her to be ordinary and average, in looks and talents. However, what he ultimately wants for his child is for her to be happy.

1. What is the contrast between the first and second stanza?
2. Why does the end of the poem have the most impact?
3. What effect does the 'ordinary' language have?
4. How does this poem contrast with other poets' views of love?

The Farmer's Bride

This poem by Charlotte Mew depicts the innocence and naivety of a young girl who is married to an older farmer and is so frightened of her life that she runs away. Narrated from the viewpoint of the husband, he explains how she was captured and he uses animal imagery to convey her fear of him. Whilst she is good housewife, they do not have a physical relationship and the farmer is disappointed that they have no children to celebrate Christmas with. There is a sense of foreboding at the end of the poem, that the farmer will not be able to control his frustration for much longer.

1. Which other poems would could you compare with the unhappy love in this poem?
2. How does the fact that the poem is narrated by the farmer affect the way we view the bride?
3. What effect does the animal imagery have?
4. What effect does the structure have on our interpretation of the poem?

To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell

This poem is presented as three parts to an argument as the poet is persuading his lover to give in to his desires rather than waste time and their youth. In the first stanza he exaggerates how much time he would spend flattering and praising his lover - if they had all the time in the world. In the second stanza he takes a different approach using shock tactics to emphasise how fast time will pass and that her 'long preserved virginity' will be taken by worms in her death. In the final stanza he uses passionate language to emphasise their youth and the fact that the should make the most of their youth in the present - whilst they still have it.

1. What references does the poet make to time and death?
2. Which other poems also refer to these?
3. What is the effect of the imagery the poet uses?
4. Is his argument persuasive?

Sonnet 43

This sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning was written as a declaration of love to the poet's husband. The poet uses spiritual and religious imagery to suggest that her love extends beyond the physical world. She uses repetition to emphasise the different aspects of her love and the last line represents how her love will live on despite death. There are many similarities between this sonnet and Shakespeare's sonnet.

Sonnet 116

Shakespeare explores the idea of true love in this sonnet. He believes that true love will remain even when difficult situations arise, when appearances change, when time takes away youth and beauty and even when death is near. The rhyming couplet at the end of the poem is his proof, as a famous writer, that his view is true.

1. Why is the sonnet used for love poetry?
2. How and why does Shakespeare personify time and death?
3. Do you agree with Shakespeare's view of love?
4. Which other poems would you compare this to?

Harmonium

This poem by Simon Armitage, at first appears to be about a dilapidated church organ (a harmonium) which the poet is going to rescue from the scrap heap. A deeper look at the end of the poem reveals that it is actually about the poet's relationship with his father, which is perhaps mirrored in the way the organ has been treated.

1. Can you compare any descriptions of the organ in stanza two with descriptions of the father in the final stanza?
2. What positive imagery is used to describe the organ?
3. What is the relationship between father and son like?
4. There is a lot of alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia in the poem. What effect do these sounds create? How does this link to the title of the poem?
5. What could the shape of the poem on the page (and the structure) represent?

Praise Song for my Mother

This poem by Grace Nichols is a positive reflection about the poet's mother. The poem is full of metaphors depicting different aspects of the mother-daughter relationship: the mother was a necessity in life, like water; a strong influence, like the moon; always there for her, like the sun; different foods, nourishing her life. The final one-line stanza explains the way her mother pushed her into her future, almost like she was setting her free.

1. Look at the structure of the poem. Why is there repetition at the start of each stanza?
2. Why do you think the poem is written in the past tense?
3. Why does the structure of the poem change at the end - what could it represent?
4. Why does the poet use metaphors (not similes as I have used above) to describe her mother?

Brothers

This poem by Andrew Forster is about the frustrating relationship with a younger brother. Although it is about an event in the poet's childhood, the themes in the poem suggest a sense of regret at his behaviour. There is also snese of conflict in the poem, between the assumed maturity of the older brother and the nnocence of the younger brother.

1. Which words indicate the poet's dislike/embarrassment at being responsible for his younger brother?
2. Look at the structure of the poem. What is each verse about and how does each verse reflect a change in the poem?
3. Which other poems could you compare this too and why?

Ghazal

Ghazal explores the relationship between the narrator and the person they want to be their lover. In the poem, the narrator experiences spiritual love, sexual desire and an unrequited longing. The key themes are love, separation and impossible love. The beloved appears to not return the feelings of the narrator. The narrator continues to love them, even though their love is not returned and wants their beloved to take control of their relationship.

Quickdraw

‘Quickdraw’ is about the breakdown of a relationship. It explores the effects of love turned sour, breakdown of communication and the impact of modern technology (mobiles, texts) on relationships. In this poem, the relationship is more like a battle and the poem (like a quick draw from Wild West movies) is a painful gunfight of words which takes place over the phone.

Hour

Hour is about the early stages of relationship. The lovers, blind to anything but each other, are completely absorbed in the affair and want time to stand still so that this moment of love can last longer. Images of nature and riches create a light and happy tone and traditional objects of romance such as flowers and wine are rejected. However, references to King Midas and the story of Rumpelstiltskin cast a dark foreboding shadow over the relationship and hint at jealousy and problems in the future.

Questions

1. What does the personification in the first two lines tell us about love?
2. What do the lovers spend their time doing?
3. How do the references to King Midas and Rumpelstitlskin hint at something dark in the relationship?
4. What effect does the enjambment have in the poem?
5. Can you compare this poem to other sonnets in the cluster?

In Paris with You

The poem is about love and regret. The narrator reminisces about the good memories shared in Paris (the city of romance) with their lover and how they rejected traditional romantic experiences for that of a shabby hotel room and sensual moments. The narrator prefers remembering a happy time with his lover, than the bitterness and hurt that is the present.

Questions

1. What does the poet mean in the first stanza when he says he is “talking wounded”, “hostage” and “maroonded”?

2. How do we know the past relationship is painful for him?

3. What is the effect of repeating the refrain “I’m in Paris with you”?

4. Why has the third stanza been indented?

5. How do we know there is a sexual theme in the poem?

The Manhunt

This poem is about a man who has returned home from war with several physical injuries and possibly mental injuries too. The narrator of the poem describes getting to know his injuries, almost uncovering them, as some of the internal injuries are hidden from her. The poet uses metaphors to describe the man’s different wounds ending with hints to his changed personality.

Questions

1. Who do you think the narrator is and how does help create atmosphere in the poem?

2. What has happened to this man and how do you know? How could the title be interpreted in different ways?

3. What military references can you find in the poem and what effect do they create?

4. How is personification used to suggest there are more than just physical injuries to this man?