History

Question 1

Summarise ‘History’.

Answer 1

• It is a reflective poem set on a Scottish beach during the 9/11 attacks, contrasting the innocence of daily life with global tragedy
• It explores the, often overlooked, “local forms of history” - nature and small, personal moments - as a counter to fear and large-scale violence

Question 2

How does ‘History’ evoke thoughts and feelings?

Answer 2

• The speaker admits to having “the news in my mind, and the muffled dread / of what may come,” evoking a feeling of helplessness and fear regarding how this event has altered the world forever - Anxiety
• The scene is anchored by the speaker’s son, “Lucas,” gathering shells and driftwood. This innocence acts as an emotional counterweight to the dread, providing a sense of hope and the need to protect the next generation - Hope

Question 3

What poetic form/techniques are used in ‘History’?

Answer 3

• Lyric
• Elegaic
• Free verse
• Erratic structure
• Enjambment
• To mirror a sense of instability and the, scattering of memory in a post-9/11 world

Question 4

History or The Gun?

Answer 4

The Gun