1. Framework for Analysing Single Texts
Overview ( Content/Context):
It was written in 1722, and it is about the death of John Churchill, the duke of Marlborough. Churchill
had a diplomatic and military career, and was a political enemy of the poet Jonathan Swift.
Statement Evidence Analysis
Structure
and Form
Rhyme scheme is
aa bb cc.
Enjambment
“…dead!...bed…”
See line 3-4
It gives the poem a happy feel,
contrasting the topic of the poem,
mocking the Duke’s death.
The enjambment shows he is enjoying
making fun of the general.
Narrative
Stance
Third person “His grace!” Gives the feel that the writer is watching/
observing, pokes fun at the Duke.
Grammar
and
Sentence
Structure
Incorrect grammar
Exclamatory
mood
“His grace!
impossible..”
See line 1
The poet doesn’t want the exclamations
to be separate, he wants them all as one
sentence because it shows the rush and
surprise of the death.
The exclamation marks show surprise
but he’s not surprised about the death-
mocking the general.
Lexis and
Imagery
War lexis
Rhetorical
questions
“Warrior”, “fall”,
“tramp”,
“stronger”,
“mighty”
“And so inglorious,
after all?”
Links to the main character and
juxtaposition of the word “mighty” and
“inglorious” mocks the general
Makes the answer sound
obvious/sarcastic- mocking the general
Phonology
and Sound
Patterning
Iambic tetrameter Fast pace contrasts the sad theme of the
poem and adds to the mocking of the
general’s death.