Transcript Writing Introductions and Conclusions in Comparative Poetry essays

The Question
Q.) Compare how poets use language to present
feelings in ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ and one
other poem from Relationships. (36 marks)
Introduction
Example…
There are many similarities and differences
between ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ and ‘Hour’. The
examples of these are possession, time and lust.
Feedback
There are many similarities and differences between ‘The
Farmer’s Bride’ and ‘Hour’. The examples of these are
possession, time and lust.
- Needs to mention the poets’ names
- Too general- avoid using ‘similarities and differences’
- You do not need to list exactly what is coming up in the
essay
Instead…
- Make a statement- have a ‘take’ on the poems/an angle- be
opinionated (but do not congratulate the poet!)
A punchy introduction
Example…
The poet Charlotte Mew, in ‘The Farmer’s Bride’, and
Carol Ann Duffy, in ‘Hour’, explore feelings of possession
and lust within romantic love, with a strong sense of the
pressure of time on relationships. Though ‘The Farmer’s
Bride’ takes after a folk ballad, and ‘Hour’ is an
unconventional sonnet, they are united in their
characterisation of speakers with hugely intense
emotions.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT HERE?
Conclusion
Example…
Overall, you can see links between the two
poems through themes such as lust and time.
They also have a similar structure that is
interesting when comparing the two poems.
Feedback
Example…
Overall, you can see links between the two poems
through themes such as lust and time. They also
have a similar structure that is interesting when
comparing the two poems.
- Repeats question
- Repeats what has been said in the essay- not
adding anything new
Conclusion
Instead…
• Draw your points together
• Make a statement- evaluate the key essence
of the poems.
• You could pose a rhetorical question- Could
we suggest that Duffy and Mew are trying to…
(Though do not chat to your reader!)
An evaluative conclusion
Both ‘The Farmer’s Bride’ and ‘Hour’ are dominated by the
speakers’ obsessive feelings. It is important to note the key
difference, however, in that the speaker in ‘Hour’ has their
obsessive lust apparently requited, whereas in ‘The Farmer’s
Bride’ the speaker lusts after his wife despite having no
encouragement or response.
The reader will be left
disconcerted after reading ‘The Farmer’s Bride’, though we
might question whether ‘Hour’ leaves us with a similar sense
of unease. Can such obsession ever be positive or healthy
within a relationship?
WHERE ARE THE EVALUATIVE PHRASES IN THIS CONCLUSION?