A01 Develop
an informed response to the text
A02 Understanding
how form, structure and language shape meaning
A03 Explore
connections, comparisons and the interpretations of other readers
A04
Understanding the significance and influence of contexts
A01 Develop an informed response to the text
Just as in the exam you will be given a copy of the poem. The first thing you must do is annotate the text
A film extract from 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'
Key question - What is the poem about?
A02 Understanding
how form, structure and language shape meaning
Continue to annotate the text
Pick out key points about form, structure and language
Here are a set of prompts to help you;
Rhyme
Tone
Punctuation
Structure
Stanzas
Imagery
Title
Form
Imperative
Mood
Now concentrate on one verse
Choose a scribe and someone to feedback. Annotate your verse and feedback to the group
And here is a video of me annotating the text as an example..
A04 Understanding the significance and influence of contexts
Who is the 'speaker' in this poem?
How would you describe the 'voice'?
Here are some photographs of WH Auden
The poem was written in 1937.
How does this information help you to understand the poem further?
A03 Explore connections, comparisons and the interpretations of other readers
The exam requires you to make reference to at least three other texts
Which texts do you think you could refer to if this was your unseen extract?
Here are three possible poems to explore;
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How does this information help you to understand the poem further?
A03 Explore connections, comparisons and the interpretations of other readers
The exam requires you to make reference to at least three other texts
Which texts do you think you could refer to if this was your unseen extract?
Here are three possible poems to explore;
Remember
Remember me
when I am gone away,
Gone far away
into the silent land;
When you can no
more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn
to go yet turning stay.
Remember me
when no more day by day
You tell me of
our future that you plann'd:
Only remember
me; you understand
It will be late
to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you
should forget me for a while
And afterwards
remember, do not grieve:
For if the
darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of
the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you
should forget and smile
Than that you
should remember and be sad.
Christina
Rossetti
Do not stand at my grave and weep –
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!
Mary Frye (1932)
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Do not Go Gentle Into That Good Night –
Dylan Thomas
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightening they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Because their words had forked no lightening they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Dylan Thomas
You will need to conduct wider reading and further research to establish the context of the poem and how it has been received or read by different audiences.
Here are some links to help you. Click on the link and it will take you to the article, video or source.
There are a number of biographies of the poet but he was a divisive figure so chose a range of perspectives as sources about his life. This one is by the Poetry Society.
The use of 'Funeral Blues' in the film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' allowed Auden to reach a new audience and the poem has been a touchstone in many funerals since.
A documentary about the life and work of WH Auden
