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Strategies for Comparing Anthology Poems

Apr 28, 2025

Lecture Notes: Comparing Poems in the Anthology

Overview

  • The lecture provides strategies for comparing various poems in the Anthology, focusing on themes of nature, power, conflict, and propaganda.
  • "Exposure" by Wilfred Owen is emphasized as a versatile poem for comparisons.
  • Categories for comparison:
    1. Exposure to the Elements
    2. Nature's Power
    3. Reality of Conflict
    4. Power of Propaganda and Ideology

Categories and Comparisons

1. Exposure to the Elements

  • Poems: "Exposure" and "Ozymandias"
  • Both poems show nature’s power through exposure to elements.
  • In "Storm on the Island," lack of natural shelter is a common theme with "Exposure."

2. Nature's Power

  • Poems: "The Prelude," "Kamikaze," "Tissue"
  • "The Prelude" shows power through a peak on the horizon.
  • In "Kamikaze," nature’s power tempts the protagonist to abandon his mission.
  • "Tissue" suggests power through the sun removing borders, indicating hope.

3. Reality of Conflict

  • Poems: "Charge of the Light Brigade," "Bayonet Charge," "Remains," "London," "Poppies," "War Photographer," "The EmigrĂ©e"
  • Conflict shows commanders’ mistakes in "Charge of the Light Brigade."
  • "Bayonet Charge" and "Exposure" highlight lack of glory and brutal reality.
  • "London" and "Exposure" share themes of meaningless deaths.
  • In "Poppies," conflict affects others, contrasting with dehumanization in "Exposure."
  • "War Photographer" involves grief for captured images.
  • "The EmigrĂ©e" reflects on disconnection from home, similar to "Exposure."

4. Power of Propaganda and Ideology

  • Poems: "Checking Out Me History," "My Last Duchess"
  • "Exposure" critiques war propaganda; soldiers feel tricked.
  • "Checking Out Me History" deals with restricted historical narratives.
  • "My Last Duchess" involves the Duke’s self-serving propaganda.

Key Themes and Ideas

  • Nature: Often depicted as an unstoppable force that impacts humans.
  • Conflict: Explored through both personal and collective experiences, often in harsh, unheroic terms.
  • Propaganda: Critiqued as manipulative and misleading in several poems.

Tips for Comparison

  • Focus on how poems illustrate themes rather than memorizing text.
  • Think critically about the poets’ intentions and the messages conveyed.
  • Use specific examples and quotations to support comparative points.

Conclusion

  • Exposure is a versatile poem that can be compared with various poems across different themes.
  • For literature paper questions, consider how the themes of each poem relate to each other.

Full transcript