This document covers the poem: 'History' from the Poems of the Decade Poetry. I studied this poem for my A Level, Edexcel English Literature Exam as part of the poetry module. By constructing these summarises and notes these provided me with ideas and themes which I could for my essays and thesis. ...
• Could link to an event
• Every moment makes history, even if it is not the textbooks
• One work, three syllables
• Subtitle gives context of 9/11 event
• Perhaps suggests the importance of one making their own history. Memories
• Uncertainty at the time
Structure:
• Irregular structure throughout the poem
• Free verse for effect. Conveys the confusion and change that has been caused as a result of this
event
• No particular consistency in stanza or line length – conveys confusion and strong changes in
emotions that is felt by someone hearing the news – demonstrates the erratic state to process
information
• Visual representation of the destroyed twin towers or to represent confusion and shook within
society.
• Equally the poem could be a visual representation of the tides which go in and out. The allegory
of the beach creates a sense of peace that become antithesis to the conflict, sorrow and
destruction of both war and terrorism. Tides are everlasting while humans only have a
Transcience existence. Suggests that despite humans moving on this event will remain
penetrated in the idea of the sea which has lived through every existence. Poem could equally
be structured so that the gap between the stanzas represents the sea between the sand that
separates the observes for the event and moments in time an history. Connects abstract ideas
to concept to the world around him
• Stanzas which are more structure to emphasise the links people share in society though the line
‘At times I think’
• Smaller stanzas represent parts of society have disintegrated and been damaged over time due
to loss of past events over time
• Enjambment to represent the continued loss, long term effects and confusion of the event. An
atmosphere of uncertainty is therefore created as the leader is sure when a line will pause –
extends to the rhythm of their speech when the poem is read aloud which forces the reader to
slow down for significant effect
• The enjambment free flowing between lines is stopped by caesuras. Could suggests the fast-
paced nature of the 9/11 event which left the spectators with difficult to comprehend. The
constantly truncated and split sentences highlight the grief and confusion that follows
• Stanzas no specific length and line length varies. This allows it to reflect the vulnerability in
society that was fault after the 9/11 attack. Equally each stanza ends with a full stop. Suggests
that time moves on but this will always be a part of history
• No rhyme scheme to highlight the uncertainty that was felt after the terrorist attack.
, • Line longer similar over the course of stanza. Could suggest getting back into a normal routine
despite the disturbance that the event caused to thousands of people's lives. Importance of
appreciating life.
• Longer paragraph to finish it off. Connotes humans rebuild their lives and highlights the
Transcience impact this event will have as people to continue to move on past the impacts that
this will have. Uncertainty over issues occurring in the future
Language:
• Italics at the top is ‘St Andrews: west sands; September 2001’. Subtitle to the poem as while
history could be any event, this specifically could relate to an onlooker on the 9/11 event.
• Beginnings with the time phrase ‘Today’ perhaps highlighting the impact of the event then. Yet
the whole line ‘as we flew the kite’ creates a diary like form to the poem. Suggests that tit is an
reflection of the 9/11 event which had occurred. Highlights the innocence and this scarring and
dreadful event that killed many people and destroyed both historical landmarks.
• The imagery of ‘ribbons along the beach’ juxtaposes the calm atmosphere with the contrasting
panic derived through events such as the 9/11. Idea of ‘spinning off’ could be representative of
the destruction to the towers, or metaphorically representing the potential society as a while
now has to lurch to negative actions and to ‘spin out of control’. Equally the imagery of ‘ribbons’
suggests the naivety of the persona. Highlights the comfort of the beach which is a world away
to the destructive and grieving twin towers area
• Contrasts the ‘gasoline smell from Leuchars’. Suggests the peace that is destroyed by mankind
and terrorism attacks. The sensory imagery creates fear for the reader. Perhaps evoked by
Burnside to represent the trepidation over the 9/11 event
• ‘The tide far out’ not only creates a comforting tone with the idea that time will go on, but
becomes a metaphor for life and reflection which emphasises the omnipotence of the ‘sea’
which will see the past, the present and the future and will see both catastrophes and
celebrations, yet they both appear meaningless against this to create distance from the reader
and the persona witnessing the event. Equally the concrete noun ‘tide’ represents something
that is everlasting in comparison to the transience of life. Suggests that despite the probable fact
that humans will move past this event, is remains engraved as a part of the history
• Backdrop of more uncertain and war related ideas throughout the poem to ensure a sense of
unease felt by a reader. The reference to ‘war planes’ at the beginning of the poem to signify
the global and military consequences. Attempts to restore order
• ‘People jogging, or stopping to watch’. The horror of the 9/11 event is captured to suggest that
at the time people were watching the news stations waiting for the inevitable collapse of the
twin towers. The frequent use of caesura against end stopped lines highlights the anxiety and
the grief that followed as a result of this terrorism attack
• The use of the dynamic verb ‘muffled’ reflects to the claustrophobic feeling that many had that
this will start of something bigger and potentially worse. Distortion and lack of clarity for the
event.
• ‘Gathering shells and pebbles finding/ evidence of life in a this’. While the concrete nouns
‘shells’ and ’pebbles’ connote the peace and tranquillity of the peace to become the antithesis
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