O What Is That Sound - W H Auden (Reading Journal)

Firstly, the story is told through the use of ballad form, which means the poem is slightly more upbeat.  This adds a certain ironic aspect the poem, as it discusses quite a serious topic (war) yet with a more upbeat tone.  Moreover, there is a lot of use of repetition to tell the story, such as ‘O what is that sound which so thrills the ear’ and ‘O what is that light I see flashing so clear’.  This repetition may be to represent how each day seems the same in war and life gets very repetitive.  The fact that ‘O’ is repeated so much also gives the idea of a cry for help, or a lament, showing the soldier’s helplessness. 

Enjambment is also a key feature of the poem, and is used frequently for example: ‘their boots are heavy on the floor // And their eyes are burning’, possibly used by Auden to symbolise how time drags on for the soldiers who are fighting in the war. The use of metaphorical language also sticks out in the poem, such as stanza seven which contains phrases such as ‘Stay with me here’ and ‘No, I promised to love you, dear // But I must be leaving’ to represent how the narrator is thinking back to when he had to leave his wife to come to war, but possible also the relatives who have had to say goodbye to the men they have lost through war.

Finally, more repetition is used in each of the stanzas, repeating key words such as ‘drumming’ and ‘horses’.  These words are linked to the theme of war, and may be used by Auden to exaggerate the theme of war throughout the poem, and keep a serious feel that would contrast to the form that it is written in. 

James Honeyman - W H Auden (Reading Journal)

• ABCB rhyme scheme, apart from first stanza. Possible showing how he didn't fit in from the very beginning of his life.
• Use of several settings e.g. school and his shed at the bottom of the garden. Narrative moves through the locations.
• First 11 stanzas give context, a background to his life.  Shows his love for science 'But he doesn't play with the other boys' isolation.
• Auden seems to follow people to their death, shown in this poem as well as others, e.g. Victor, Miss Gee. 
• Themes of War, ambition, isolation, responsibility (links with morality of poem)
• We see two sides of him, a seemingly nice man has created a killer gas that is used against his own country during the war. 
• Stanza 6, about 5 years told in one stanza, very rapid pace which slows down later in the poem (like Victor).
• Use of different voices - subjective opinions. 
• 'With Imperial Alkali' Opposite of Acid (acid seen as dangerous) he left safety to work with dangerous chemicals.
• Final 3 stanzas, repetition of 'Oh', like a lament, talking about how his gas has killed thousands.

As I Walked Out One Evening - W H Auden (Reading Journal)

• ABCB rhyme scheme, ballad form, typical of Auden's style. Written in the first person, once again taking on a character.
• References to Clocks and Time frequently, 'Time watches from the shadow', 'You cannot conquer time' gives idea of time being a key feature of the poem
• Repetition e.g. 'O look, look...O look'. Almost like a lament/cry for help. 
• 'You will love your crooked neighbor' links to bible quote 'love you neighbor as yourself', but 'crooked' adds a twisted aspect to it.
• 'And the deep river ran on', 'And the river jumps over the mountain', personification of the river. River represents how life carries on regardless.

Victor - W H Auden (Reading Journal)

• ABCB rhyming scheme, ballad form. Adds a more song-like feel, almost a cautionary tale? Warning of what happens when you cheat / turn away from God.
• Stanzas show progression of time, each stanza shows a different event in Victor's life.
• Stanzas also show change in pace. At the beginning, each stanza could be a year or a month, towards the end lots of stanzas are used to describe the events of one day.
• This poem is more typical of Auden's style, regular rhyme scheme, ballad form.
• Quatrains throughout, no irregularities in this respect. Different voices used, ''Have you ever had a woman' they said'. Anna's voice also used frequently.
• 'It was a frosty december' references to dates give idea of time.
• 'Climbed into bed, took his Bible and read // Of what happened to Jezebel' Jezebel was fed to dogs for cheating on her husband, his future wife is going to cheat on him - foreshadowing.
• When calling for 'Father' later on in the poem (stanzas 22-26), could mean God or his own father, ambiguous. Biblical references once again used.
• 'But ace of spades reversed' ace of spades is associated with death, foreshadowing.
• 'I am Alpha and Omega' First and last letters of Greek alphabet, Jesus and God, religious links once again.

1st September 1939 - W H Auden (Reading Journal)

• Not written in ballad form which is typical of Auden's poetry, links to Musee des Beaux Arts in this way. Free Verse, no rhyme scheme or rhythm.
• Like a monologue/inner voice, lots of enjambement ('All the conventions conspire // To make this fort assume) which exaggerates this idea. Stream of thoughts.
• Also stands out in Auden's poetry as there is not character, it is just Auden himself talking to the reader, rather than using a different narrative voice. 
• 1939 - Just before the start of the second world war lots of links to this throughout, e.g. 'Into this neutral air', Hitler slowly becoming a dictator, dictator's prefer neutrality. 'Blind Skyscrapers' lots of power but no vision?
• 'Where blind skyscrapers use // Their full height to proclaim // The strength of Collective Man' - Published world wide in Newspapers after 911 mainly because of this stanza.
• 'On Fifty Second Street' Sets the scene, Englishman in a dive in New York.
• 'What mad Nijinsky wrote // About Diaghilev' Lovers who worked for the Ballet Rous, had a stormy relationship.  Representation of the world at that time, countries had very stormy relationship, just before the outbreak of war. 
• 'I will be true to the wife, I'll concentrate more on my work'  Only time in the poem that other voices are used, and it is a chorus of voices, not one person.  Almost like a pledge.
• Repetition of 'Who' (lines 75-78) almost as if he is pleading with society 'all i have is a voice // To undo the folded lie' woeful.

The History Boys - Act One

From the very beginning of the play one of the main things that struck me was the clear sense of characterization that we received, particularly through Hector's character.  His flamboyance and unique style of teaching really stuck out to me, as it creates and enthusiasm for Literature and learning within his students which must be admired. It does however seem odd that he is still such a likeable character, considering his pedophilic  behavior towards the boys.  Pedophilia is possibly the most frowned upon crime in modern society, yet Hector is still a character that we as an audience can empathize with and admire.

The boys group dynamic seems to be an important feature of the play as a whole, and although it seems obvious to me, it does seem to be a point that is open for debate.  I see Dakin as the leader of the group, with Scripps as his 'right hand man', shown in the scene where the two of them are discussing his relationship with Fiona, and the new book he's been reading.  I also see Lockwood and Timms as quite high up within the group, with Crowther, Akthar and Posner falling closely behind.  Rudge however doesn't seem to fit entirely with this group dynamic.  All of the boys seem to value their intelligence, and to be achieving top grades, however Rudge is considered to be slightly less academic than them, and remains quiet during their lessons and the banter outside of the lessons.  

 

The Great Gatsby - Chapter Nine

• 'Look here old sport...' Nick is hearing Gatsby's voice, shows the connection that the two of them had.
• 'And it rested there' personification, gives the case a whole new meaning to Nick and the reader.
• The story is told through telephone conversations which fill in the gaps, also shows Nick's loneliness  now that Gatsby is gone.  
• 'Trembling hand' Links back to when Gatsby catches the clock, link between father and son.  Gives Gatsby's father a character without having to describe him in too much detail. 
• 'He was so hard up he had to keep on wearing his uniform because he couldn't buy some regular clothes' Death brings out the truth, Gatsby never really honest with Nick about everything?  Narration has shifted, Meyer W now the narrator.
• 'Nobody came' everyone very superficial, only friends with Gatsby for the alcohol and the parties.  All very fake.
• 'One of my most vivid memories' completely unrelated, shows how the narration is just a stream of Nick's thoughts.
• 'ceaselessly into the past' relationships returning to the state they were in before the summer. Nick was lonely before he met Gatsby, stood on the outside and observed, returning to that.