Ted Hughes
Here are a collection of words and phrases taken from a poem. What’s the
poem about? Build an idea from these clues.
the dark heaven by night
half full of wine
ice across its eye
the lawn overtrodden
Mammoth and Sabre–tooth celebrate
Squeezes the fire
About to start
Study questions
'Jaguar'
1. Define the contrast between the first two and the last three stanzas:
Consider content and language.
2. Choose two striking and original uses of language which interest or
impress you. Comment.
3. Now examine the structure and rhythm of the sentence that stretches
across the last two stanzas. Comment on the way the sentence structure
relates to meaning here.
4. So, in a sentence of your own, what’s remarkable to Hughes about the
jaguar?
'The Thought Fox'
1. Identify something in the language of the poem that creates and conveys
the animality of the fox; the creature caught in words!
2. Explain the relationship between the last verse and the rest of the poem.
Is this a clever effect or a serious point about something?
3. Look at verse structure and punctuation – particularly the way that verse
ends sometimes coincide with punctuation and sometimes don’t. What is
the effect of this in the poem?
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Hughes and Gunn
1
MADE POEM ON THE THEME OF
THE COMING OF SPRING
Shoots are beginning to emerge, birds begin to sing,
Parks come alive with children and noise,
All the forced camaraderie of chocolate box nights is
Transformed into the Goodbyes I’m out tonight! of spring.
From dark black to light warm nights –
Spears of snowdrops break a brown crust of dirt under the
Bare trees left by winter.
Still it is
Frozen rivers on frosty mornings
Of sunlit days that soon are gone
But
The beams smother the grey,
The fresh smell of dew fills the air;
Winter frosts melting away.
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Hughes and Gunn
2
Study Questions: Hughes’ Poetry
'November'
1. The poem has ten verses. Presume that it has three phases of
development or meaning. Where do you notice the divisions or stages of
progression? Now answer the same question using the assumption that
the poem works in four phases.
2. List six instances (word, phrase or line – it’s up to you) of striking
description in the poem
3. So, November is obviously in some sense a poem about weather. Is it
about death also or is this to make too much of the dead pests
which are part of the November scene at the end? Comment.
CREATIVE
Poets have before now written seasonal cycles of poems. Move on six
months to June. Write a piece in Hughes’ style to follow “November”:
June the month of………..
'Thrushes'
1. How does the language of the poem attempt to physically evoke or create
the thrushes? Does it convince, shock or just puzzle you as description?
2. As well as describing birds, how is this a “metaphysical” poem about
ideas and states of being?
'Horses'
1. Tortuous statues
Iron light
Megalith still
Comment on the associations and effects of each phrase in the poem.
2. Examine and define these two images as used in the poem:
Blackening dregs of the brightening day
The curlew’s tear turned its edge on the silence
Slowly detail leafed from the darkness..
3. The horses are viewed twice in the poem. What’s the effect and meaning
of this?
4. What do you understand by the last four lines about the experience
presented in the poem?
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Hughes and Gunn
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Statement about poems: Discuss each statement.
You may agree, disagree or have a mixed
response, but use them to explore the poem(s).
'TheThought Fox'
•
There’s no physical description of a fox in
the poem.
•
There is movement of the fox in the lines
of the poem
•
It’s a poem about indoors and outdoors.
'November'
•
It’s about finding a dead tramp
•
It’s about lousy weather
•
There’s no dead tramp but there is death
in the poem
•
There are some vivid description of rain
and landscape
•
It’s a poem about imagination.
•
It’s a protest against fox hunting
•
It’s just a seasonal poem
•
It’s about a fox on the prowl and getting
in somewhere.
•
It’s about life against the odds – survival,
endurance
•
The poem should be called The Fox not
Thought Fox
•
Death and life coexist in this poem.
•
•
The poem is meant to depress us.
It’s a poem about writing a poem
•
•
This is like October Dawn
It’s all about memory
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Copyright © 2001 Teachit
Hughes and Gunn
4
Guidance on Note Making
Try to be selective and flexible in using these guidelines. There won't be
the same emphasis in your notes on different poems. And some poems
will prompt thoughts or raise issues which aren’t signalled here. It's
crucial to "go with" such responses and make some note of them.
SUBJECT MATTER AND DEVELOPMENT
What is the poem about? Be aware of the possibility of covert as well as surface
meanings but try not to force meanings.
"Development" is cue to examine and note the progress of subject-matter, ideas
effects(maybe also of your reactions) as the poem proceeds. Consider how
meanings or effects are "built up" in the poem in its progress from beginning to end.
The Ending: why does it end at this point? What has been accomplished or
completed? Could surprise or enigma or incompleteness be part of the poem's
intended final effect?
The Title: include some thought (where relevant) about the meaning/ effect of the
title; its relationship to the rest of the poem: obvious or not?
LANGUAGE AND FORM
Note/comment upon how the poem works. Go to what you find striking, memorable
or puzzling in the words or layout of the poem (its form). Look at verse structure.
What seems to regulate the organisation of the poem on the page? How do verse
length and breaks between verses relate to subject matter, development and overall
meaning? If there are patterns (eg. a chorus or a refrain), comment.
What's the tone? How does the language contribute to create this tone? Is there one
voice or more in the poem? Whose? Why?
How do sentences and line ends relate to each other? Is there a noticeable metre or
rhythm? Is there a rhyme pattern? Does it have any noticeable effect?
Anything else to say about the language? Images? Remember images are not the
only language to have impact. However, if there are images, what's their significance
and effect?
LINKS AND CONTRASTS
Quickly note poems this one might relate to (either by some similarity or contrast).
Links to Thom Gunn poems
Links to Ted Hughes poems.
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Hughes and Gunn
5
Thom Gunn; 'On The Move'
a gush of birds
UNDER THE DUST THROWN BY A BAFFLED
SENSE
the distance throws them forth
their hum Bulges to thunder
DONNED IMPERSONALITY
jackets trophied in dust
they strap in doubt
Much that is natural to the will must yield
MEN MANUFACTURE BOTH MACHINE AND SOUL
One lacks direct instinct
One joins the movement in a valueless world
….birds and saints complete their purposes
ONE IS ALWAYS NEARER BY NOT KEEPING STILL
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Hughes and Gunn
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'On The Move': Gunn
A Provisional Summary of The Poem As A Start To Close Analysis
The poet begins with description of a natural landscape; birds but no people.
Then:
Before they are seen, heralded by the approaching roar of engines, a group
of motorcyclists appear down the road and then pass into the distance.
The noise of their passage scatters a flight of birds.
The poem comments on their presence, appearance and their activity.
Gunn then generalises from the action and lifestyle of the motor bike riders
and comments on man’s life and mode of existence in the world: how he
differs from animals by possessing will.
In commenting on the motorbike boys he notes their assertion of a group
(gang?) identity and purpose. He suggests that maybe their lifestyle is one
kind of simple (if limited) answer to the perplexities of human life and the
questions life raises – questions of purpose and direction: what is life for?
Animals (birds) and saints he suggests, unlike “one” (ie ordinary human
beings like you and I), alone seem to have certainty of direction and purpose
in their lives.
BUT, he says, perhaps busy action of any kind – even that of the motorbike
boys – is better than nothing. It gives the feeling of going somewhere!
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Copyright © 2001 Teachit
Hughes and Gunn
7
Thom Gunn
'Innocence'
Look at the 12 statements about the poem. You can agree, disagree or
partly agree and partly disagree with each. Justify your opinions with
reference to the poem.
1. He was physically fit and healthy.
2. He was modest about, almost unconscious of, his physique and prowess.
3. He was a meditative, reflective person, an intellectual.
4. He was an individualist, a bit of a loner.
5. He was a typical representative of the Corps he joined.
6. “Innocence” is the term the poet uses to describe the mental outlook
instilled by the Corps he belonged to.
7. He had, underneath his confidence and his certainties, private doubts and
fears.
8. He was alive to and aware of physical discomfort.
9. He forced himself to watch things that he found morally repulsive in
order to prove his toughness.
10. Indoctrination explains and excuses the crimes he was involved with.
11. The poet offers a neutral view of this character, without judgement.
12. The poet admires this character.
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Hughes and Gunn
8
Poetry Gunn and Hughes
Essay Questions
1. Identify what for you seem to be the major concerns to be found in
Hughes’ poetry in this selection? How adequate, in the light of these, is it
to describe him as a “nature poet”?
2. Compare the way Gunn and Hughes present Man’s relationship with the
natural world. You should make reference to at least two poems by each
poet, more if you wish.
3. Compare Innocence ,by Gunn with The Martyrdom of Bishop Ferrar by
Hughes. Bring out each poet’s interest in, and treatment of, his chosen
subject.
4. Discuss the importance of form in the poetry of Gunn by detailed
reference to two of the poems in this selection.
5. To what extent have you found this poetry to concern itself with the 20th
century, to what extent are its concerns universal? Answer with
reference to the work of either Gunn or Hughes.
6. Compare Blackie The Electric Rembrandt with Jaguar and bring out
those features which make each poem representative of its author as a
poet.
7. “Much that is natural to will must yield” Discuss the significance of will
in the poetry of Gunn.
8. Which of the two poets in this volume do you prefer and why?
9. Compare In Santa Maria Del Popolo, by Gunn, with Six Young Men, by
Hughes. What have you found of interest or importance in either poem
10. “Violence of language and violence of subject”: How fair a description
is this of Hughes’ poetry?
11. Refer to In Santa Maria Del Popolo, by Gunn Horses, by Hughes to
examine each poet’s treatment of moments of vision or epiphany.
12. Offer a critical appraisal of The Corridor and say how typical it is of the
poetry of Gunn in this selection.
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Copyright © 2001 Teachit
Hughes and Gunn
9