Edexcel conflict poetry anthology notes - summary and context for each poem.

A poison tree – William Blake – 1794.

• Published in ‘Songs of Innocence and experience’ and dealt with more provocative issues such as religion. He was controversial for believing that the church was often used as a political and religious institution rather than a place of worship.
• William Blake was a poet and artist, writing in the Romantic Literary period. Lived in London and saw it as a place of corrupted by greed and inequality. Considered radical for believing in equality for both genders.
• Central message: Not expressing anger is like nurturing a poison tree that can eventually cause serious harm to others. Teaches benefits of self-awareness and communication.

The destruction of Sennacherib – Lord Byron – 1815.

• Lord Byron a poet in the romantic period. He had a reputation as someone who was often involved in scandal, very well known and some consider him the first celebrity. He rejected societal pressure throughout his life and in his work. He created the ‘Byronic hero’ who was someone who rejects authority, is self-destructive, is physically attractive, is secretive and is an outsider.
• Poem tells the story of the failed Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. Byron focuses on the victory of the Jewish people more than the suffering and despair that conflict can cause. Byron spotlights the supreme power of God in relation to the inferior power of the army.

Extract from the Prelude – William Wordsworth – 1798.

• William Wordsworth grew up in the Lake district. His parents died when he was young, so he was raised by relatives. He had a troubled relationship with them, so he spent a lot of time outdoors. He was strongly opposed to the idea of industrialisation and preferred the simpler ways of nature.
• The poem is based on childhood memory. The poet stole a boat and rowed into the middle of the lake. As he did so, the mountain became bigger than he realised it was. He was amazed by the monumental size of the mountain and came home changed in awe of the power of nature.

The man he killed – Thomas Hardy – 1902.

• Boer war 1899-1902. British empire vs two states in South Africa. Britain was greedy and wanted the diamond mines. The SAs were just defending their land. Lots of civilians were forced to live in concentration camps and many died from hunger and disease.
• Thomas Hardy was an English Poet who publicly disagreed with the politicians about the war and made his feelings very clear.
• The poem is a hypothetical situation at the start, this helps the reader to understand the humanity of each man. If they’d met under different circumstances, they might have been friends. This highlights the senselessness of war.

Cousin Kate – Christina Rosetti – 1859.

• Christina Rosetti was born 1830 died 1894. Very well-known poet from the Victorian era. She was devoutly religious and often uses religious imagery in her work. She also wrote about the unfair treatment of women in comparison with men. She never…