I have been posting notes here for some years now since I retired as a teacher of English and as an Advising Examiner for English Higher Level for many years. What I have done here is bring all those links together in one post or blog to save you the trouble of constantly searching the internet each time you want to do some background work on a text or a poet or author. It’s my version of a ‘One-Stop Shop’ and you know the drill: just click on the link! My choice of texts is personal and obviously will not suit every teacher, every student, or every class. You can easily see where my own preferences lie by simply viewing the number of links provided for each text or poet!
YEATS SAID OF HIS OWN POETRY THAT IT WAS ‘BUT THE CONSTANT STITCHING AND RESTITCHING OF OLD THEMES’. CHECK THIS OUT FOR YOURSELF!
YOUR AIM SHOULD BE TO PICK YOUR OWN FAVOURITES FROM THIS SELECTION AND GET TO KNOW THEM VERY WELL.
However, Caveat Emptor! Leaving Cert Student Beware !! These are resources that you should use wisely. They are personal responses to the various texts and you should read and consider them if you find them useful. IN OTHER WORDS, MAKE YOUR OWN OF THEM, ADD TO THEM OR DELETE FROM THEM AS YOU SEE FIT. ALSO, YOU MIGHT SPREAD THE WORD, DON’T KEEP THEM ALL TO YOURSELF!
Single Text
Study Notes on A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Macbeth
Macbeth: Order violated, order restored.
Macbeth: From Centrality to Isolation
Macbeth: A Truly Aware Tragic Hero?
Comparative Section
Philadelphia, Here I Come!
Characters and Relationships in Philadelphia Here I Come!
The Theme of Communication in Philadelphia Here I Come!
The Theme of Escape in Philadelphia Here I Come!
Wuthering Heights
Major Themes in Wuthering Heights
The Depiction of Childhood in Wuthering Heights: Some Observations on Characterisation in the Novel
Imagery and Symbolism in Wuthering Heights
Grace Notes on Wuthering Heights
Silas Marner
Fairy-Tale Elements in Silas Marner
Silas Marner by George Eliot is a radically disturbing social document
Poetry
Elizabeth Bishop
Themes and Issues in the Poetry of Elizabeth Bishop
Elizabeth Bishop: The Poet’s Poet
These two at the end are not on your course but what the heck enjoy them anyway!
‘Roosters’ by Elizabeth Bishop: A poem whose time has come again?
Commentary on ‘Sandpiper’ by Elizabeth Bishop
Emily Dickinson
An Overview of the Poetry of Emily Dickinson
John Donne
An Introduction to Metaphysical Poetry
John Donne and Metaphysical Poetry
An Analysis of Some of my Favourite Poems by John Donne
Patrick Kavanagh
The Poetry of Patrick Kavanagh
Some Recurring Themes in the Poetry of Patrick Kavanagh
Analysis of Patrick Kavanagh’s Use of the Sonnet
An Overview of Patrick Kavanagh’s Poetry
Patrick Kavanagh is a very Religious Poet: Discuss
Patrick Kavanagh is a poet of the Ordinary: Discuss
Patrick Kavanagh’s Poetry is full of Honesty, Integrity, and Simplicity: Discuss
A sense of loss pervades much of Patrick Kavanagh’s poetry: Discuss
Stony Grey Soil by Patrick Kavanagh
Canal Bank Walk by Patrick Kavanagh
Derek Mahon
Adrienne Rich
Exploring the Poetry of Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012)
Hidden Riches in The Poetry of Adrienne Rich
William Butler Yeats
Study Notes on the Poetry of W.B. Yeats
YEATS: A POET OF OPPOSING TENSIONS.
Reviews Rants and Rambles 
You must be logged in to post a comment.