Practical Criticism

7. “Poetry about journeys is also about self-discovery.” In response to this view, explore connections between the ways in which Hardy and Eliot write about journeys. You must analyse in detail at least two poems from each of your set texts.

9. “Poetry should transform a sense of loss into something positive.” In response to this view, explore connections between the ways in which Lawrence and Clarke write about social and personal loss. You must analyse in detail at least two poems from each of your set texts. [60]

11. “Poets tend to write more about the effects places have upon them than the places themselves.” In response to this view, explore connections between the ways in which Hughes and Plath make use of place in their poetry. You must analyse in detail at least two poems from each of your set texts. [60]

12. How far would you agree that Larkin and Duffy are alike in “creating characters to hide from or confront issues”? You must analyse in detail at least two poems from each of your set texts. [60]

14. “Poetry is a form of autobiography.” In response to this view, explore connections between the ways in which Heaney and Sheers write about their homelands. You must analyse in detail at least two poems from each of your set texts. [60]

Both writers use the topic of journeys to write about self-discovery in poems such as Hardy’s ‘The Going’ and ‘The Lovesong of Alfred J Prufrock’ by Eliot. However, not all of their journey poetry is only about self-discovery but rather discovery of something else such as ‘Gerontion’ by Eliot which explores the discovery of faith. Furthermore, ‘Drummer Hodge’ by Hardy features a journey where the persona learns nothing in meeting his untimely end but the reader discovers much about the nature of warfare and the value of human life.

Larkin and Duffy create characters within their poetry to both hide from and confront personal issues. ‘Self’s the Man’ by Larkin and ‘Captain of the 1964 Top of the Form Team’ by Duffy both present characters who lack self-awareness and address their discontent with life and personal circumstances, through techniques such as the use of vivid colloquial language. Arnold cannot recognise why he really marries his wife and Duffy’s Captain cannot see that his disappointments are, in fact, his own fault. Duffy’s ‘Havisham’ and Larkin’s ‘Talking in Bed’ confront some elements of personal relationships but, in doing so, hide from others. For example, Havisham confronts her pain and anger at being abandoned but cannot acknowledge her own failure to recover and create an independent identity. Each of the characters in these poems attempts to confront some issues but simultaneously hide from more important ones.