Poetry anthology (Songs of Ourselves) — IGCSE English - Literature In English (0475) questions by topic
Poems from Songs of Ourselves, including work by Charles Tennyson Turner, Tony Harrison and Julius Chingono, are examined through how-questions on language and imagery, drawn from 60 real questions set in 2023 to 2025 papers, all worth 25 marks.
Explore and how dominate every question here, always asking how a named poet makes a poem memorable, moving or intriguing through specific techniques rather than paraphrase of its content. Since the strongest responses identify a precise symbolic connection, such as a waterfall standing for the passage of time, drafting a full answer and submitting it for instant marking is a quick way to check that a technique, not just a theme, has been named and explained.
What examiners look for
- Strong answers understand the symbolic connection between an image, such as a waterfall, and the passing of time and the speaker's acceptance of the changes this brings.
- Strong responses appreciate and evaluate specific writing features, such as rich sensuous language, the use of enjambment, or a conversational tone.
- Strong answers explore the tension between conflicting feelings in a poem, such as death releasing a narrator from pain while also removing her from someone she loves.
- Strong responses sustain engagement with a difficult subject, for example the brutality of a speaker and his enjoyment in a violent act, evident in a single well-chosen word.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
Read the poem 'Rain' by Edward Thomas, and then answer the question that follows it: Explore how Thomas makes you feel sympathy for the speaker in this poem.
Answer this question and get it marked →How does Turner movingly convey the speaker's thoughts about death in On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book?
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the poem 'The Capital' by W H Auden, and then answer the question that follows it: How does Auden powerfully convey the speaker's feelings about the capital?
Answer this question and get it marked →In what ways does Cato use words and images to striking effect in The Road?
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Read the poem 'Ozymandias' by Percy Bysshe Shelley (printed on the paper), and then answer the question that follows it: How does Shelley vividly contrast the past and the present…
Answer this question and get it marked →Explore how Hardy memorably conveys the speaker's thoughts and feelings in 'He Never Expected Much' (printed on the paper).
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the poem 'At The Bus Station' by Julius Chingono (printed on the paper, with most content removed for copyright), and then answer the question that follows it: How does…
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the poem 'Song' by George Szirtes (printed on the paper), and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does Szirtes vividly present ideas about change in this…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Read this poem (Long Distance by Tony Harrison, printed on the paper), and then answer the question that follows it: Explore how Harrison…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. How does Auden make you feel sympathy for the speaker in Funeral Blues? (The poem is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES, VOLUME 2: from Part 3. Read this poem (an afternoon nap by Arthur Yap, printed on the paper), and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES, VOLUME 2: from Part 3. How does Kolatkar create vivid impressions of the bus journey in The Bus? (The poem is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Read this poem ('The City Planners' by Margaret Atwood), and then answer the question that follows it: How does Atwood convey such…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Explore the ways in which Hardy makes He Never Expected Much such a memorable poem.
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Read this poem ('Rooms' by Charlotte Mew), and then answer the question that follows it: How does Mew memorably depict rooms that she has…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Explore the ways in which Shelley uses words and images to vivid effect in Stanzas Written in Dejection, Near Naples.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Read this poem ('Long Distance' by Tony Harrison), and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does Harrison make this…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Explore the ways in which Wright makes Request To A Year both amusing and serious.
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Read this poem ('A Leave-Taking' by Algernon Charles Swinburne), and then answer the question that follows it: How does the poet…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Explore the ways in which Joyce powerfully depicts the speaker's dream in I Hear an Army...
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 13
SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Read this poem ('Ozymandias' by Percy Bysshe Shelley), and then answer the question that follows it: Explore the ways in which Shelley…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. How does Lowell make Night Sweat such a disturbing poem?
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Read this poem ('Verses Written on Her Death-bed at Bath to Her Husband in London' by Mary Monck ('Marinda')), and then answer the…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Explore the ways in which Pope makes his ideas so memorable in this extract from An Essay on Criticism.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Read this poem ('The Man with Night Sweats' by Thom Gunn), and then answer the question that follows it: How does Gunn memorably convey…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Explore how Stevenson movingly portrays the speaker's strong emotions about her baby in The Spirit is Too Blunt an Instrument.
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Read this poem ('I Find No Peace' by Sir Thomas Wyatt), and then answer the question that follows it: How does Wyatt make this such a…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Explore the ways in which Edmond makes Waterfall such a moving poem.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 12
SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Read this poem ('Funeral Blues' by W H Auden), and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does Auden use words and images…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. How does Adcock make The Telephone Call such an intriguing poem?
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Read this poem ('Stanzas Written in Dejection, Near Naples' by Percy Bysshe Shelley), and then answer the question that follows it:…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. In what ways does Wotton strikingly convey his thoughts and feelings in The Character of a Happy Life?
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 13
SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. Read this poem ('On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book' by Charles Tennyson Turner), and then answer the question that follows it:…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 1: from Part 4. In what ways does Cheng make The Planners such a powerful poem?
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Read this poem ('Love in a Life' by Robert Browning), and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does Browning make this…
Answer this question and get it marked →SONGS OF OURSELVES VOLUME 2: from Part 4. Explore the ways in which Walcott makes Nearing Forty such a striking poem.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
Read the poem 'Funeral Blues' by W H Auden, and then answer the question that follows it: How does Auden strikingly convey the speaker's grief in this poem?
Answer this question and get it marked →How does Adcock vividly portray the behaviour of the people from Universal Lotteries in 'The Telephone Call'? (The full poem by Fleur Adcock is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the poem 'Verses Written on Her Death-bed at Bath to Her Husband in London' by Mary Monck ('Marinda'), and then answer the question that follows it: Explore how Monck…
Answer this question and get it marked →In what ways does Wotton vividly convey how a person can become 'Lord of himself' in 'The Character of a Happy Life'? (The full poem by Henry Wotton is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
Read the poem 'Rain' by Edward Thomas, and then answer the question that follows it: Explore the ways in which Thomas makes this such a moving poem.
Answer this question and get it marked →How does Cheng create such disturbing impressions of the city in 'The Planners'? (The full poem by Boey Kim Cheng is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the poem 'I Find No Peace' by Sir Thomas Wyatt, and then answer the question that follows it: Explore the ways in which Wyatt strikingly conveys his feelings in this poem.
Answer this question and get it marked →How does Fairburn make 'Rhyme of the Dead Self' such a memorable poem? (The full poem by A R D Fairburn is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
Read the poem 'Request To A Year' by Judith Wright, and then answer the question that follows it: How does Wright vividly convey the speaker's admiration for her…
Answer this question and get it marked →Explore how Gunn uses words and images to powerful effect in 'The Man with Night Sweats'. (The poem is printed on the paper; central lines removed here for copyright.)
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the poem 'After' by Philip Bourke Marston, and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does Marston make this such a sad poem?
Answer this question and get it marked →How does Edmond make 'Waterfall' such a memorable poem? (The poem is printed on the paper; central lines removed here for copyright.)
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
Read the poem 'Long Distance' (II) by Tony Harrison, and then answer the question that follows it: Explore the ways in which Harrison powerfully depicts his father's reaction to…
Answer this question and get it marked →How does Lowell strikingly convey his feelings in 'Night Sweat'? (The poem is printed on the paper; central lines removed here for copyright.)
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the poem 'A Leave-Taking' by Algernon Charles Swinburne, and then answer the question that follows it: Explore how Swinburne memorably conveys the speaker's feelings in this…
Answer this question and get it marked →How does Walcott make 'Nearing Forty' such a moving poem? (The poem is printed on the paper; lines removed here for copyright.)
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
Read the poem 'On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book' by Charles Tennyson Turner, and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does Turner strikingly convey the…
Answer this question and get it marked →Explore the ways in which Stevenson makes 'The Spirit is too Blunt an Instrument' such a fascinating poem. (The poem by Anne Stevenson is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the passage 'from An Essay on Criticism' by Alexander Pope, and then answer the question that follows it: How does Pope vividly convey his thoughts and feelings in this poem?
Answer this question and get it marked →In what ways does Browning make 'Love in a Life' such a memorable poem? (The poem by Robert Browning is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
Read the poem 'He Never Expected Much' by Thomas Hardy, and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does Hardy strikingly convey the speaker's memories in this poem?
Answer this question and get it marked →In what ways does Smith convey feelings of hope in 'Away, Melancholy'? (The poem by Stevie Smith is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →Read the poem 'Rooms' by Charlotte Mew, and then answer the question that follows it: In what ways does Mew use words and images to powerful effect in this poem?
Answer this question and get it marked →Explore the ways in which Swinburne memorably conveys feelings of rejection in 'A Leave-Taking'. (The poem by Algernon Charles Swinburne is printed on the paper.)
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE English - Literature In English topics
- Prose (210)
- Drama (150)
- Poetry (30)
- Prose anthology (Stories of Ourselves) (30)
- Unseen poetry and prose (30)
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