Hi im currently studying GCSE Literature and wrote this essay. Can someone please comment on what i have written and tell me if its any good. I know its a lot
Essay Question: Some people find the poems in the AQA anthology very depressing. Compare four poems and their reference towards depression. Not all the poems have to be around the theme of depression.
Depression: a state of emotion which cause confusion and anxiety in an individual’s mind. Some poets portray the use of depression using vivid descriptions and imagery. My essay will be a critical analysis of four poems. Ben Jonson expresses depression through the death of his son. His emotion represents his depression. Seamus Heaney develops the concept of depression through his child-hood. Gillian Clarke also uses the effect of her child- hood to show depression. Alfred Tennyson use the element of an eagle to contradict the emotion of depression
In this paragraph I will write about how the poets use structure to express depression. Ben Jonson uses a unique structure because his poem is represented by an incomplete sonnet. The affect of this is it reflects his son’s incomplete life which in tandem causes the father into a state of depression. However the father try’s to stay positive and show admiration of his son. “His best piece of poetrie”. The words “best piece” shows the love between Jonson and his son. Jonson also uses rhyming couplets to show his depression throughout the poem. Depression forces the poet into many other states of emotion. “Rage” “age”. The depression also causes anger in the poet. The death of his son has depressed his mental state and health. Death of a naturalist also conveys the concept of depression. Seamus Heaney takes the reader through his child hood memories using vivid descriptions and imagery. The use of enjambment shows his growing fear of nature will not stop and the way it has caused a negative depressive attitude “Poised like mud grenades” “I sickened turned and ran”. The quote shows the depression Heaney went through when nature turned its back on him. The reader feels sorry for both poets. The affect of depression has had a negative effect on both their lives however the context of depression differs between both poets.
In addition Gillian Clarke uses the structure of enjambment to express depression. The use of enjambment could be the lake and the flow of the water or it could be the tears from her eyes. “She lay for dead”. The use of the stanzas splits the poem into different aspects of Clarke’s memory. The word “dead” sets a very depressing tone. The poet assumes the girl is dead and causes Clarke into a state of depression. Clarke also uses the use of rhyming couplets. “Under closing water” “poor man’s daughter”. Clarke is depressed because she doesn’t feel she knows the full content of the drowning girl. She doesn’t know if she could have helped the girl. In Contrast Alfred Tennyson personifies the use of an eagle to contradict the affect of depression. The poet use two stanza’s to express the power of the eagle. The first stanza expresses the eagle’s physical stature and predator like domination over the rest of nature “with the azure world he stands”. The second stanzas show the eagle in action catching its prey. The poet shows his passion and admiration of the eagle, and instead of being depressed he is amazed. The poets show different emotions throughout their poems. One poet shows depression the other passion.
In this paragraph I will write about how the poets use language to express depression. Ben Jonson uses metaphorical language to portray his depression “tho wert lent to me and I thee pay”. Jonson presents his son as a loan and now he is having to pay the debt by going through depression of his sons death. Jonson in tandem with the metaphorical language uses religious references so that his son doesn’t have to go through the depression. “my right hand”. Similarly Seamus Heaney also uses metaphorical language to represent depression. “the great slime king”. He creates an unpleasant atmosphere which contradicts a war between him and nature not love and passion. The growing rivalry between Heaney and nature forces him to choose between nature or nurture. His bond between nature is no longer and causes Heaney to go through depression. The reader feels both poets use of metaphorical language show the true extent of their depression.
In addition Gillian Clarke uses metaphorical language to express her depression. “Waters long green silk” This represents the poor lifestyle the girl drowning is living. Clarke compares her to silk to show the stark contrast between them. Clarke is depressed that the poor girl is nearly dying and she cannot do anything about it. Clarke also uses alliteration to create a depressive atmosphere.“ drawn by the dread of it” This adds to the drama Clarke is witnessing this increases her depression and fear of the girl’s death. In contrast Alfred Tennyson use
I’m doing AQA english Gcse on tuesday too 
The opening paragraph is really good !
all of it is in fact good because you used different language techniques you could easily get an a or maybe more for this 
I don’t know what else you could add tbh
is this question from a past paper ?
May 21st, 2010 at 7:13 am
I’m doing AQA english Gcse on tuesday too
The opening paragraph is really good !
all of it is in fact good because you used different language techniques you could easily get an a or maybe more for this
I don’t know what else you could add tbh
is this question from a past paper ?
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