1. If you’re taking the Unit 2 Poetry exam in May you need to give yourself as much practice as
possible. Write timed essays with exam-style conditions (blank copies of the poems, no
revision guides or books, make sure you plan) as often as you can – these can be submitted
for marking if you want to check you’re on target, or mark them yourself using this.
Comparisons (36 marks – 45 minutes):
Compare the ways poets portray intense passion in ‘To His Coy Mistress’ and one
other poem
Compare the ways poets portray ideas of enduring love in ‘Ghazal’ and one other
poem
Compare the ways poets present ideas of regret in ‘Harmonium’ and one other poem
Compare the way poets present feelings of powerlessness in ‘Nettles’ and one other
poem
Compare the way poets present strained relationships in ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ and one
other poem
Compare the ways poets present hopes for the future in ‘Born Yesterday’ and one
other poem
Compare the ways poets portray attitudes towards age in ‘Harmonium’ and one other
poem
Compare the ways poets portray attitudes towards loss in ‘Praise Song for My
Mother’ and one other poem
Compare the ways the effects of time are presented in ‘Hour’ and one other poem
Compare the ways imagery is used to convey attitudes towards love in ‘Manhunt’ and
one other poem
Compare the ways negative aspects of relationships are portrayed in ‘Quickdraw’ and
one other poem
Compare the ways poets use structure to present attitudes towards relationships in
‘Sonnet 116′ and one other poem
Compare the ways ideas about religion are presented in ‘Sonnet 43′ and one other
poem
Unseen (18 marks – 30 minutes)
All poems are in your Anthology
‘Clown Punk’ (page 4) – What is the poet’s attitude towards identity and how does he
present this attitude to the reader?
‘Below the Green Corrie’ (page 31) – What is the poet’s attitude towards people’s
relationship with nature and how is this attitude presented to the reader?
‘Futility’ (page 42) – What is the poet’s attitude to war and how does he present this
attitude to the reader?
‘Wind’ (page 33) – What is the poet’s attitude to nature and how is this attitude
presented to the reader?
‘London’ (page 28) – What is the poet’s attitude towards the city and how does he
present this attitude to the reader?
‘Belfast Confetti’ (page 40) – What is the poet’s attitude towards the effects of
conflict and how does he present this attitude to the reader?
‘Flag’ – What is the poet’s attitude towards national pride and how does he present
this attitude to the reader?