Writing about D. H. Lawrence Question1 ‘D. H. Lawrence’s poetry can be startlingly honest, as well as innovatively crafted.’
Discuss this statement with reference to or quotation from the poems on your course.
SAMPLE PLAN Paragraph Poem
1 ‘Snake’
Startlingly honest
„„Reveals all his feelings - honour, shame, remorse
„„Not a flattering portrayal of himself, but honest
2 3
‘What Have They Done to You?’
‘Delight of Being Alone’
4
„„Distressingly honest in his depiction of working men
„„Loves his own company and is unashamed to admit it
„„How did his wife feel when she read it?
‘Intimates’ „„ A rare insight into a private argument between two lovers
„„Title is a euphemism „„Witty „„Direct quotation „„Alliteration „„Exclamation „„Hyperbole
5
‘Call into Death’
„„An honest account of grief and his desire to be with his mother
„„Beautiful similes: ‘The white moon going among them like a bird among snow-berries’, ‘As a pigeon lets itself off from a cathedral dome/ To be lost in the haze of the sky; I would like to come/ And be lost out of sight with you, like a melting foam.’
„„Raw feelings „„Sincere
„„Disturbing word choices
„„Repeated phrases make it sound like a lament
„„Vivid imagery to depict the moon and the ash tree
„„Unashamedly upbeat tone
Innovatively crafted
„„Fabulous, detailed imagery of Sicily and the snake
