'The Laboratory' - Poison! Poison!

Need help with The Laboratory? It's tricky sometimes! This is not a stanza by stanza guide - you'll get that in class. This is a discussion of some of the themes.

'Sonnet 130' - Honest Love

Sonnet 130 may confuse you at first. It is NOT a poem in which Shakespeare is criticising his lover - it's more complicated than that. Cliched poetry of Shakespeare's time was full of similes in which men compared their beloved to natural images (the sun, flowers, the sea) - but Shakespeare rejects all that in favour of a more honest, realistic portrayal of love. Maybe we should accept those we like most for who they are...

'On My First Sonne' - Form vs Content

The structure of this noble, controlled poem is very different to the emotions that this poem creates in the reader. This podcast is a general introduction, as well as being an explanation of some of the ideas (conceits) of the poem.

'Homecoming' - Conflict and Trust

'Homecoming' is as hazy as your childhood memories. That's because it's about a childhood memory of a family disagreement. It's also about trust and the comfort and protection that friendship and love bring. It's quite complex - so listen on!

'Anne Hathaway' - The Power of Love!

What a poem! Elsewhere in the collection we've had psychotic killers, lady killers, man killers, jealousy and hatred. Here we have a beautiful poem about the power of love. Ahhhhh...

'My Last Duchess' - Deadly Jealousy

Be afraid! Be very afraid! This Duke is a sinister and controlling man. A wife-killer and proud of it, he's only intested in power, status and money. Women are possessions to him. Be very afraid...

'Mother any distance...' Letting go!

This is a higher poem. Letting go of those we love can be hard. In this Simon Armitage poem he shows us that we can feel completely opposite emotions at the same time; it's all part of being human!