English with Kaylee: Analyzing 'The Horses' by Ted Hughes

Introduction

• Video focus: Stanza-by-stanza analysis of "The Horses" by Ted Hughes
• Resources available for teaching and studying: PowerPoint on Kaylee's website
• Structure of the video:
  • Read through the poem
  • Short summary and theme discussion
  • Detailed stanza analysis
  • Practice essay question
  • Audience engagement through comments and discussion

Reading of the Poem

• Poem describes a journey through nature, observing horses and a sunrise
• Key imagery: Stillness, coldness, nature's beauty, and tranquility

Summary

• Speaker's journey from darkness to witnessing a sunrise
• Horses symbolize nature's stability and tranquility
• Speaker reflects on the desire to remember this peaceful moment amidst urban life

Themes

1. Stability and Beauty of Nature
   • Horses symbolize nature's enduring stability
   • Reflected in their unchanged demeanor throughout the day
2. Rural Silence vs. Urban Noise
   • Contrast between the peace of rural environments and the chaos of urban life
   • Speaker hopes to retain memories of silence and peace

Stanza Analysis

Stanzas 1-4

• Dark, ominous atmosphere with harsh alliteration and imagery of coldness
• Transition from darkness to light as the speaker climbs the hill

Stanzas 5-8

• Introduction of horses: described as still, silent, and ghost-like
• Horses embody tranquility and are a metaphor for nature's stability

Stanzas 9-12

• Speaker pauses in silence; a curlew's cry marks a change
• Awe and wonder at the changing world as the sunrise occurs
• Vivid imagery and dramatic verbs convey the sunrise's power and beauty

Stanzas 13-16

• Speaker's emotional journey: change in subconscious suggested by "fever of a dream"
• Horses remain unchanged; symbolize nature's permanence
• Repeated imagery of nature's power and beauty

Final Stanzas

• Reflection on the need to remember this moment of peace upon returning to urban life
• Alliteration and imagery underscore the speaker's desire for calm

Form, Meter, and Rhyme

• Form: Free verse with couplets, creating isolation and silence
• Meter: Non-specific, meditative, and intimate
• Rhyme: Occasional; aids intensity and beauty of descriptions

Essay Question

• Discuss how Hughes reflects the beauty of nature in 'The Horses'
• Engage and share ideas in comments section

Conclusion

• Encouragement to engage with the poem and English literature analysis
• Call to action: Like, subscribe, and comment for more content