Revision Ideas

Relationships ‘love spins gold, gold, gold from straw’ (‘Hour’, Carol Ann Duffy) The different kinds of relationships between people are the focus for this cluster; romantic love, the sometimes strained relationships between siblings, or the strong bonds of love between parent and child. Some of these poems challenge the reader to consider how relationships form who we are as people, change us and alter our perceptions of ourselves and the world. The difficulties as well as the joys of love are highlighted, from Shakespeare’s classic Sonnet 116 to the painful images of ‘Manhunt’ by Simon Armitage.

‘Manhunt’ by Simon Armitage 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.

The Hour by Carol Ann Duffy 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 by James Fenton 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 by Carol Ann Duffy 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.

Mimi Khalvati: Ghazal 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.

Andrew Forster: Brothers 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.

Grace Nichols: 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.

Simon Armitage: Harmonium 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.

William Shakespeare: 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.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning: 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!".

Andrew Marvell: 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.

Charlotte Mew: 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 found "All in a shiver and a scare". She chooses to sleep in an attic room, away from her husband, who longs for her.

Christina Georgina Rossetti: Sister Maude 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.

Vernon Scannell: Nettles 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".

Phillip Larkin: Born Yesterday 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.