English Literature Relationship Anthology

do you have any notes on these poems
Simon Armitage: The Manhunt
Carol Ann Duffy: Hour
James Fenton: In Paris with You
Carol Ann Duffy: Quickdraw
Mimi Khalvati: Ghazal
Andrew Forster: Brothers
Grace Nichols: Praise Song for My Mother
Simon Armitage: Harmonium
William Shakespeare: Sonnet 116
Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Sonnet 43
Andrew Marvell: To His Coy Mistress
Charlotte Mew: The Farmer's Bride
Christina Georgina Rossetti: Sister
Vernon Scannell: Nettle
Phillip Larkin: Born Yesterday

I have my anthology book and I annotated a few poems (other people annotated other poems)

I have no idea what Brothers is about but it's been annotated in my book so I'll tell you what someone has written.
On brothers:
"Saddled" in the first line = as though dumped on; holding responsibility fore. Horses metaphor.
"Ambled" = wandered - bus stop.
"Threadbare field" = thin - grass.
The reference to Sheffield Wednesday = related to Rotherham?
Line 6= You froze = metaphor to ice.
"Stopped in your tracks" = no bus fare - older boys had enough money.
Line 7 = "I sighed" = frustration; suggestion to his mum to go home.
Line 9 = "his smile was like mine" - feeling is mutual, both happy.
Line 12 = Look back could be reference to physically looking back or "looking back" on memories.

(sorry I haven't done this poem but maybe it's of some help)

Sonnet 43.
All that's written is that there's plenty of religious references. Repetition = like a ritual; religious reference. (I'm so sorry, I'm trying to help but it's failing lol)

Nettles:
"Regiment" = soldiers.
"Spears" = weapons.
"Parade" = march of soldiers.
"Fallen dead" = soldier metaphor.
"Tall recruits" new soldires, new nettle.
"Sharp wounds" = caused by nettles, caused by life.

In Paris with you:
line 1: "Don't" = tone - irritated. "Of love" = subject. "Earful" = slang - ears are full.
line 2: "tearful" - "ful" again; upset.
line 3: evidently feeling lost and abandoned.
line 4: same as line 3; e.g lost / abaonded through the use of maroonded.

line 6: poet directly tells you he's angry. bamboozled = tricked and confused by her treatment.
line 7: again he's telling you he's angry, "resentful at the mess"
line 8: I admit I'm on the rebound - from one relationship into another.

line 18 / 19: the poet has been hurt and confused. he now needs to rediscover himself and find out again who he is and what he wamts.

in verse 3, everything changes. "don't talk to me of love" (repetition of verse 1).
"the hotel walls are peeling" pun; appealing... they appeal to him.
"i'm in paris, with all points south" heaven with your eyes mouth. she is paris; she is heavenly. the poet has mentioned her eyes and mouth.


This probably doesn't help but there you go..

This is probably the best resource for the AQA relationships cluster available. Can't stress how great this guy is.