ENGLISH LITERATURE

POETRY MATRIX FOR CSEC

POEM THEMES TONE MOOD FIGURATIVE FORM/ POINT OF

LANGUAGES/ STRUCTURE VIEW/
DEVICES Type NARRATIVE
TECHNIQUE
1. Parent-Child Wistful, Nostalgic/ Alliteration Free verse 1st person
‘My relationship, Conversational, reflective/ Visual Imagery (narrative type An adult
Parents’ by Childhood /informative reminiscent Enjambment poem) Remembering
Stephen Experiences, Hyperbole childhood
Spender Forgiveness, Simile
Bullying, Metaphor
Minor Themes
Discrimination,
Poverty,
2. Parent-Child CHANGES Depressing Metaphor Free Verse Omniscient
‘Little Boy relationship, Hateful, Soft, and Fairy-tale allusion Didactic poem (child, a father
Crying’ by Discipline, Regretful Melancholy Alliteration (the intention or an adult)
Mervyn Childhood Imagery to teach)
Morris Experiences Visual imagery Elegy (poem
Love, Youth and Anaphora of serious
Innocence Onomatopoeia reflection)
Minor Themes Allusion An example of
Sadness, Remorse Enjambment an aphorism
Contrast/juxtaposition
Assonance,
consonance

3. Parent-Child Pessimistic and Reflective Metaphor Free Verse Third person

‘The relationship Pragmatic Simile
Woman Single Parenting Personification
Speaks To Pregnancy Irony
The Man Love, Dreams vs Biblical Allusion
Who Has Reality, Crime, Sarcasm
Employed Betrayal, Neglect
Her Son’ by Abandonment,
Lorna Religion vs Faith
Goodison Minor Themes
Sadness, Death

POEM THEMES TONE MOOD FIGURATIVE FORM/ POINT OF

LANGUAGE STRUCTURE VIEW/
 S/ DEVICES Type NARRATIV
E
TECHNIQU
E
4. Hypocrisy Conversational Sombre/ Allusion Free Verse 1st Person
‘Once Upon A Changes Nostalgic, Nostalgic Metaphor (Narrative Poem) Parent
Time’ by Cultural Shift (end: hopeful) Sad Simile speaking to
Gabriel Okara Dreams & Desire Irony a child
Repetition
Contrast
Juxtaposition
Imagery
5. Equality Desire and Longing/Desire Repetition Free Verse 1st Person
‘Dreaming Racism/ Sadness Sadness Allusion
Black Boy’ by Prejudice Metaphor
James Berry Longing/Desire Simile
Alliteration

6. Discrimination Frustrated Tense and Angry Rhetorical Free Verse 1st Person
‘Test Match Sports (West Indian) Question
Sabina Park’ Culture Clash Embarrassed Allusion
by Stewart Ignorance vs (English man) Sarcasm
Brown Knowledge PUN
Racism/ Metaphor
Prejudice Hyperbole

7. Racism Sad, Anxious Repetition 1st Person

‘This Is A Dark Oppression pessimistic & Tense Alliteration
Time Love’ by Unrest Sorrowful Fearful Metaphor
Martin Carter Pain Sorrowful Personificatio
Misery (gloomy) n
Conflict Imagery:
Visual

8. War Angry and Bitter, Bleak, Simile Two Sonnets 1st Person
‘Dulce Death Critical, Harsh, and Metaphor (Narrative
et Suffering Horrified Unpleased Personificatio poem)
Decorum Warfare n
Est by Wilfred Patriotism Hyperbole
Owen Violence Onomatopoei
Minor Themes a
Propaganda Irony
Imagery
Assonance
Euphuism
Oxymoron
Juxtaposition

9. Nature vs Relaxed, Calm Pensive or Simile Lyrical Sonnet 1st Person

‘Sonnet Civilisation and Amazed Thoughtful Metaphor Petrarchan/ (Narrative
Composed Fleeting beauty Personificatio Italian poem)
Upon Amazement/ n Sonnet
Westminster awe Hyperbole
Bridge, Countryside vs Visual Imagery
September 3, city life Assonance
1802’ by Enjambment
William Consonance
Wordsworth Rhyme
10. Nature vs Men Gratitude, Reverence and Simile Petrarchan/ 1st Person
‘God’s Worship Awe, Wilfulness Metaphor Italian (Narrative
Grandeur’ by Industry& Confusion Assonance Sonnet poem)
Manley Destruction Consonance
Hopkins God Biblical
Allusion

11. Religion The tone Violent, Vengeful Allusion Free Verse 1st Person
‘A Violence changes; Lustful Metaphor (A Pharisee)
Stone Throw’ Sexism Condescendin Unapologetic Biblical
Elma Mitchell Hypocrisy g Allusion
Discrimination Scornful, Irony
Appearance vs proud
Reality Sarcastic
Oppression Informative
Power vs Conversational
Powerless
Sin
12. Nature Annoyed and Pensive and Allusion Free Verse 1st Person
‘Orchids’ Survival Confused, Thoughtful Metaphor
by Bravery Bored musing Simile
Hazel Disparaging Alliteration
McDonald and
Simmons admiration
13. Love, Remorse, Remorseful Solemn, Sad, Personificatio
‘It Is Guilt, and Wistful Guilt n
The Places, Desires & Oxymoron
Constant dreams
Image Of Your
Face’
By
Dennis Brutus
14. Identity / Self- Serious, Sad, Melancholy Repetition Free Verse 1st Person
‘Mirror’ image struggle Detached bitter Metaphor
by Silvia Plath Loss of Youth Personificatio
Woman vs Aging n
Truth and its Imagery:
effects Visual
Comparisons
15. Supernatural Argumentative Irritable, Smug, Repetition Free Verse 1st Person
‘Ol’ Higue ‘ by Folklore and Defensive Bitter Metaphor
Mark McWatt Immortality But Sensitive Simile
Fear and Reflective Alliteration
at the end Rhetorical
Question

16.
‘Bird Shooting
Season’
by Olive
Senior
17.
‘An
African
Thunderstorm
’ by
David Rubadiri
18. ‘West
Indies, USA’
by
Stewart
Brown

19.
‘Theme
For English B’
By Langston
Highs

20.
‘South’
By
Kamau
Brathwaite