Welcome to the World of Modern Poetry!

Hello! You are about to dive into the Poems of the Decade anthology. This is a collection of some of the best poems written between 2002 and 2011. Don’t worry if poetry sometimes feels like a secret code—it’s actually just people trying to explain what it feels like to be alive today. In these notes, we will break down how to approach these poems and, more importantly, how to compare them for your exam.

Why is this important? Modern poetry is about us. It deals with technology, modern family life, changing identities, and the world we see on the news. In your exam (Component 3, Section A), you will be asked to compare one poem you’ve studied with a brand-new "unseen" poem. These notes will give you the tools to do that with confidence.

Section 1: What is "Poems of the Decade"?

The Forward Books of Poetry are like the "Grammys" of the poetry world. Every year, they pick the best poems published in the UK. This anthology is a "best of the best" collection.

Key Concept: The Contemporary Voice
Unlike Shakespeare or the Romantics, these poets use modern language. They might talk about mobile phones, genetics, or global warming. Even when they use difficult words, they are usually reflecting on real-world experiences that we can all recognize.

Did you know? Many of these poets are still alive and writing today! Poetry isn't just something found in old dusty books; it’s a living, breathing way of communicating.

Section 2: Understanding the Exam (Component 3, Section A)

For this part of your A Level, you need to master three specific skills, known as Assessment Objectives (AOs). Let’s look at them in plain English:

1. AO1: Your Response – This is what you think about the poem and using the right "lit-crit" terms (like metaphor or caesura) to explain it.
2. AO2: The Poet's Craft – This is the "How." How did the poet use rhythm, structure, and words to make you feel a certain way?
3. AO4: The Connection – This is the big one! You must find links between your studied poem and the unseen poem. Are they both about childhood? Do they both use messy, irregular stanzas?

Quick Review Box:
AO1: What is happening and what terms am I using?
AO2: How is it written (structure/language)?
AO4: How are these two poems similar or different?

Section 3: The "Poetry Toolkit" (AO2 Skills)

Don't worry if you find technical terms tricky. Think of a poem like a house. The structure is the layout of the rooms, and the language is the wallpaper and furniture. You need to comment on both!

Structure and Form (The Layout)

  • Stanzas: The "paragraphs" of a poem. If they are all the same size, the poem might feel controlled. If they are messy, the poem might be about chaos.
  • Enjambment: When a sentence spills over from one line to the next without a comma or period. Analogy: It’s like a car that can’t stop at a red light—it creates a sense of speed or loss of control.
  • Caesura: A big pause (like a full stop or dash) in the middle of a line. This often makes the reader stop and think about a specific word.

Language and Imagery (The Decoration)

  • Metaphor/Simile: Comparing something to something else to help us see it better.
  • Tone: The "mood" of the poem. Is it angry? Sad? Sarcastic?
  • Sound Devices: Look for Alliteration (repeated starting sounds) or Sibilance (hissing 's' sounds). Analogy: Think of this as the "soundtrack" of the poem.

Key Takeaway: Always ask yourself, "Why did the poet do this?" If a line is short, does it make the poem feel "snappy" or "broken"?

Section 4: How to Compare Two Poems (AO4)

This is often where students get stuck. The secret is to look for thematic bridges. A bridge is a topic that both poems walk across.

Step-by-Step Process for Comparison:
1. Identify the Theme: Are both poems about Nature? Loss? Identity? Time?
2. Compare the Speaker: Who is talking? Is it an adult looking back at childhood? A person observing a stranger?
3. Compare the Structure: Does Poem A have neat stanzas while Poem B is one long block of text?
4. Compare the Ending: Do both poems end on a hopeful note, or is one more depressing?

Memory Aid: The "S.M.I.L.E." Trick
When looking at any poem (especially the unseen one!), remember S.M.I.L.E.:
Structure (How is it built?)
Meaning (What is it about?)
Imagery (What word-pictures are there?)
Language (What specific words stand out?)
Effect (How do I feel as a reader?)

Section 5: Common Themes in "Poems of the Decade"

To help you prepare, think about these common categories that many poems in the anthology fall into:

  • Childhood and Memory: Many poets look back at how things used to be compared to how they are now.
  • The Human Body and Health: Poems about growing old, getting sick, or how amazing the body is.
  • Environment and Place: How humans interact with the world around them.
  • Societal Change: How modern life (technology, work, politics) affects our relationships.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! You don't need to know every single poem by heart. You just need to know your "named" poems well enough to spot patterns when you see the unseen poem in the exam.

Section 6: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid "Feature Spotting": This is when you say "There is a metaphor in line 4" but don't explain why it's there. Always follow up with: "This suggests..." or "This makes the reader feel..."

Don't forget the comparison: Some students write one essay on Poem A and then one essay on Poem B. You must weave them together! Use connecting words like "Similarly," "In contrast," or "Whereas."

Ignoring the Title: The title is the poet's first gift to you. It usually tells you exactly what the "Meaning" (the M in SMILE) is.

Final Summary: Key Takeaways

1. Section A is about comparing a poem you know with a poem you’ve never seen before.
2. Focus on AO1 (Terminology), AO2 (Analysis), and AO4 (Comparison).
3. Use the S.M.I.L.E. method to break down the unseen poem quickly.
4. Always explain why a poet chose a specific structure or word—don't just point it out.
5. Look for "thematic bridges" like family, time, or nature to link the two poems together.

You've got this! Modern poetry is just another way of storytelling. Treat each poem like a short story told in a musical way, and you'll find plenty to write about.