Poetry context

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Context and poetry

What info do you consider part of context?

How does context help?

Provides insight into the poet's purpose and intentions for writing the poem. What he/she was experiencing and feeling at the time.

Can help to make connections between content and history --> greater understanding of content and message

Doe the time or place when a poem is read influence the way the poem is interpreted?

1. Yes
2. No

Robert Graves

British poet

Hisotrical novelist

Fought in WW1

One of the first to write poetry about frontline experiences.

"Good-bye to all that"

1929

Good-bye to all that - context

Last night a lot of German stuff was flying about, including shrapnel. I heard one shell whish-whishing towards me and dropped flat. It burst just over the trench where ‘Petticoat Lane’ runs into ‘Lowndes Square’. My ears sang as though there were gnats in them, and a bright scarlet light shone over everything. My shoulder got twisted in falling and I thought I had been hit, but I hadn’t been. 

How does context help you understand what happens here?

Robert Graves

Read the first extract from Goodbye to all that in the reader. 

(pp. 7-9)

What impressions and feelings does this extract conjure up in you?

Task 4

In groups, analyze Anthem for Doomed Youth.

Work together with the classmates you go to school with. 

I have created private 'kanalen' in teams for you to work in. 

Remainder of today's lesson

Work in your groups on poetry task 4 (due Thursday 11 June).

and/or

Work on your advertising project.