What Were They Like? (1967) (Edexcel GCSE English Literature): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
14 cards from this deck
Author of 'What Were They Like?'
Author of 'What Were They Like?'
Denise Levertov
Year Levertov wrote 'What Were They Like?'
Year Levertov wrote 'What Were They Like?'
1966
War context of 'What Were They Like?'
War context of 'What Were They Like?'
Vietnam War (1955-1973)
Time setting of poem
Time setting of poem
Set in future, imagining culture destroyed by war
Form: stanza structure
Form: stanza structure
2 stanzas: 1st questions, 2nd answers
Verse form used
Verse form used
Free verse (no consistent rhyme/metre)
Meaning: 'light hearts turned to stone'
Meaning: 'light hearts turned to stone'
War hardened Vietnamese people, lost innocence
Meaning: 'no more buds'
Meaning: 'no more buds'
Loss of children and new life/future
Device in 'bitter to the burned mouth'
Device in 'bitter to the burned mouth'
Alliteration ('b' sound) & metaphor
Meaning: 'All the bones were charred'
Meaning: 'All the bones were charred'
Physical destruction, death of people & culture
Final line of poem
Final line of poem
'It is silent now'
Symbolism of 'It is silent now'
Symbolism of 'It is silent now'
Complete destruction & erasure of culture
Repeated phrase in poem
Repeated phrase in poem
'It is not remembered' (twice)
Juxtaposition in structure
Juxtaposition in structure
'old tales' vs 'time only to scream' (peace to violence)