Selected Poetry of the Romantic Era
Romanticism is one of the most influential movements in art and literature. In some ways, it was a critical commentary of its era. In other ways, it was both highly energetic and deeply melancholy. Many of the poets themselves were mad, bad and dangerous to know.
Introduction to the era of RomanticismRomantic poetry is better understood if you have some background to the European history from c1750 onwards and its significant people.
The first piece of work is collaborative. Access the Welcome to the Pleasuredome Googledoc. You will add a page to it today. William Blake's Songs of Innocence and of ExperienceThe first three poems we will look at are "The Lamb," "The Tiger" and "The Sick Rose." The main concept we will discuss is multiple readings (or multiple interpretations: the word "reading" often is used to mean "interpretation").
Firstly, some general discussion questions: "The Lamb" 1 Is the poem literal or metaphorical? 2 What does the lamb signify? 3 How is the poem structured? "The Tiger" 1 This poem is dominated by symmetry. How? 2 What does the poem mean overall? What might the tiger signify? 3 What makes it an effective Experience partner to the Innocence of the lamb? 4 What aspects of diction are worth discussing in detail? What is important in the poem? Now for something more difficult Aim: to synthesise different interpretations of the poem into a detailed and intelligent paragraph. Your "Sick Rose" task Write a few detailed paragraphs to discuss the ideas in the poem. Include different interpretations and signal that they are different by using phrases such as “some readers prefer the interpretation that …” Take ideas from this handout as well as your own. Consider what sources offer the most reliable interpretation. Here is an example of the sort of thing you could write: Blake’s “The Sick Rose” can be read on many levels. On a literal level, it is merely about a rose that is being destroyed by a worm but Blake placed this poem in Experience and so readers can expect it to have a more metaphorical meaning. Some critics comment on the sexual nature of the poem, whereas others read it as a religious allegory. ... Two depictions of London: Blake's "London" and Wordsworth's "Composed Upon Westminster Bridge"In class, we will build skills in annotating the poems and analysing the effects created by the language features.
Freedom! The Romatics' Rallying Cry.The documentary below is a BBC documentary about the ideas and personalities of the Romantic era. It is presented by Peter Ackroyd, an expert on this era, and it is an excellent way to summarise and recap some of the ideas we have been dealing with in class, both in the poems and the wider historical and political context.
First essay of the year - Paper 2 practice - deadline 10 March 2014In your exam, you will not write about Romantic poetry. Nevertheless, essay writing is a skill that is very useful for your IOPs. Therefore we will practise early. Your essay topics are:
Either (a) Many poems are about escaping: leaving the present behind and heading either into a past memory or some imagined world. With close reference to works by at least two of the poets in your study, explore the way they depict the idea of escape. Or (b) Poets may present Nature and Man in opposition or in communion. With close reference to works by at least two of the poets in your study, explore the way they represent the relationship between human beings and nature. |
Homework 1Write a bit more (about 5 - 10 lines) to your "Sick Rose" commentary.
This is not supposed to be a major piece of homework. It is part of the early diagnostic assessments you have been doing. Homework 2This is your first significant piece of homework. It is due by the end of school on Monday 24th February.
Write a commentary on any one of the poems in the anthology (except "The Sick Rose"). Your commentary will focus on discussing the ideas in the poem and how the poet uses language to express those ideas. If you want a challenge, choose a poem we have not yet studied in class. If you need more support, write your commentary on "The Tiger," "London" or "Composed Upon Westminster Bridge." In class this week, we will look at how to structure a commentary. Here are some language features and structural features you might like to discuss in your commentary. These features are in "London" "Westminster Bridge" and "The Daffodils."
The button above will let you download a Word document with the different grade criteria for Paper 1. For now, everyone is being assessed against SL criteria. You will decide later - May - whether you are SL or HL.
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