The Manhunt is written

from the perspective of the

wife of a soldier who has

sustained serious injuries at

war and has returned home.

The poem explores the

physical and mental effects

of living with injuries

sustained when on active

service in the armed forces.

Hour is about the feelings

that arise from spending time

with a loved one. The poem

suggests that to be with a

loved one, even for just an

hour, is precious and

valuable. It also presents the

traditional idea of time as an

obstacle to lovers.

In Paris with You is recounted by a (the narrator) whose

relationship has just ended and who is now in Paris with

someone else ("I'm on the rebound"). This suggests a long-

term relationship has ended and the speaker is currently

enjoying a less serious liaison. The narrator doesn't want to

examine the aftermath of the serious relationship: he doesn't

want to talk things over or even visit galleries or landmarks;

he just wants to enjoy the moment rather than thinking of the

future or the past.

Quickdraw is a one-sided

snapshot of a

relationship. The speaker of

the poem is waiting for

contact from her lover. The

context of the relationship is

unclear, and we do not know

if the speaker welcomes

contact or not. It would

appear that some sort of

disagreement or separation

has occurred before the

events presented in the

poem.

Ghazal is a love poem in

which a speaker seeks to

secure the love and attention

of another. The precise

details are unclear, but the

poem gives the impression

that the feelings of the

speaker are not shared by

the object of their affections.

The poem Brothers is about a boy spending an

afternoon with his younger brother and his

friend, and explores the relationship between

siblings. It is written from an adult perspective

but considers the feelings of the older brother

who thinks of his younger brother as an

inconvenience.

Praise Song For My Mother.

The title of this poem makes clear its

subject. A praise song is a traditional form

from many African cultures and is often

sung rather than being written down. This

poem is a child's celebration of her mother,

explaining her qualities and the ways in

which she has helped her daughter.

The harmonium is a musical organ

(usually found in a church) that is

played using keys and foot pedals.

The poem tells the story of someone

rescuing a harmonium from being

"bundled off to the skip". The

narrator needs the help of his father

to carry the instrument away from

the church.

Sonnet 116.

This poem is about love, not

between a speaker and his

lover, but as a concept or idea.

The poem explores what is

meant by love, and proposes

that, if it is true, love is one of

life's constants which does not

change with time or

circumstance.

Sonnet 43.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet sequence was

written before she married Robert Browning to

express her intense love for him. Sonnet 43 is the

most famous of the 44 sonnets. In it, Browning

attempts to define her love. The opening of the poem

suggests it arises from a question: "How do I love

thee? Let me count the ways!".

To His Coy Mistress.

The speaker of the poem is

trying to convince his

"mistress" that they should

seize the day and not hold

back from expressing their

feelings for each other, and

so should sleep together. The

fact that this is something he

is proposing tells us the

couple are not married.

The Farmer’s Bride.

The poem tells the story of a farmer who

marries "a maid" and refers to their early

experience of marriage. It is told from the

farmer's perspective; his wife is not given

voice. She appears to be badly affected by

the experience of marriage and becomes

withdrawn and uncommunicative: "like a

little frightened fay". She attempts to run

away and is food "All in a shiver and a

scare". She chooses to sleep in an attic

room, away from her husband, who longs for

her.

Sister Maude describes the death of a loved one caused by

the actions of a jealous sister. The poem is ambiguous but

hints strongly that jealousy and betrayal led to the death of a

sister's lover. The poem is written from the point of view of

the betrayed sister, left alone without her loved one, who was

coveted by Maude. The speaker believes that even if she

hadn't been born her dead lover would "never have looked at"

Maude, and perhaps this provided motivation for Maude to

destroy the lovers' relationship.

Nettles is about a child - Scannell had six

children - falling into a patch of nettles

and seeking comfort from his parents.

The speaker in the poem, after attending

to his son's injuries - sets about

destroying the nettles, only for them to

return with the passing of just "two

weeks".

Born Yesterday was written "For Sally Amis",

the newborn daughter of Kingsley Amis, a

friend of Larkin's and a famous novelist. In the

poem the speaker offers the child a welcome

into the world and outlines what he hopes will

become her attributes. The poem briefly

presents traditional good wishes and hopes

offered on such occasions - "the usual stuff" -

but follows with the suggestion of a less

conventional path to "happiness" won by "An

average of talents" rather than great beauty.

The title is a pun, or play on words: literally the

poem was written shortly after Sally's birth, but

"Born yesterday" is also a phrase used to

describe someone who is clueless about the

world.

STARTER SENTENCES: Both poems demonstrate...

Although the first poem has a positive tone,

the second poem...

Each of the poems takes a slightly different

approach...

The two poems contrast in...

There is a similar description of... in both

poems.

CRITERIA: ideas

attitudes and tone

structure and form

techniques used by the poets

CHECKLIST:

What is it about? Get to know the subject

matter of the poem.

What is the form of the poem? Notice lines,

rhymes and rhythm. How does the poem

work? Look at the language (words) the

poet has used. Think about the sound the

poem makes when you read it aloud.

Develop your ideas about the poem. What

feelings does the poem suggest to you?

What attitude does the poet seem to have

towards the subject matter? What is the

tone of the poem?