Ted Hughes's Poetry
Support for studying English GCSE and A Level
Ted Hughes - BiographyEdward James Hughes was born (Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire, England) on 17 August 1930 and died on 28 October 1998 (London, England). He was a poet, translator, and children's writer. Hughes was Britain’s Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death.
Hughes was married to Sylvia Plath (an American poet) from 1956 – 1963 when she committed suicide, aged 30. They had a complex relationship, and this was something that was delved into in his last collection of poetry, Birthday Letters (1998). Hughes’ parents were William and Edith. He had an older brother and sister. Hughes was raised among the local farms of the Calder Valley and on the Pennine moorland. The Times newspaper (2008) classified Hughes fourth on their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945". |
|
Ted Hughes - 'Tractor' - Annotation
Annotation prompts for Ted Hughes' 'Tractor'. 'Tractor' is about someone trying to start a tractor in a hostile winter environment. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation. |
|
Ted Hughes - 'View of a Pig' - Annotation
Annotation prompts for Ted Hughes' 'View of a Pig'. 'View of a Pig' is about someone observing a swine that has died. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation. |
|
Ted Hughes - 'Bayonet Charge' - Annotation
Annotation prompts for Ted Hughes’ 'Bayonet Charge'. 'Bayonet Charge' is a poem that presents the thoughts and feelings of a soldier as he charges at the enemy and begins to question his role in the battle. “Bayonet” is a dagger-like steel weapon that is attached to or at the muzzle of a gun and used for stabbing or slashing in hand-to-hand combat. Hughes lived from 1930-1998. Was poet Laureate from 1984 until his death. Hughes was stationed as a ground wireless mechanic in the RAF (National Service, 1949–51) on an isolated three-man station in East Yorkshire. Poem was published in Hughes's 1st collection, ‘The Hawk in the Rain’ (1957). Belongs among a group of poems dealing with WW1, in which Hughes’ father / uncle fought. Hughes once said, that “the whole region [West Yorkshire] is in mourning for the First World War”. Hughes concentrates on man’s impact on nature and the horror and futility of war. Why is the enemy not described? Is war the true enemy? Explore the contrast between humanity and nature and how Hughes dramatises the struggle between a man's thoughts / actions. Study the parallels between this poem and Wilfred Owen’s WW1 poem, Spring Offensive. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation. |
Romeo and Juliet EssaysModel Romeo and Juliet essays for the AQA exam board.
|
A Christmas Carol Essays
Model A Christmas Carol essays for the AQA exam board.
|
An Inspector Calls EssaysModel An Inspector Calls essays for the AQA exam board.
|
Power and Conflict EssaysModel Power and Conflict poetry essays for the AQA exam board.
|
Unseen Poetry
|