This document provides guidance for answering an exam question on poems by W.B. Yeats. It allocates 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete two essays. For each essay, students should plan in detail, exploring themes, imagery, language and connections to other Yeats poems. They are advised to find the poems online and write concisely, aiming for 2.5-4 sides per response. Revision cards summarizing themes, links and quotations from poems are also recommended.

1. Yeats: 1 hr 30 marks
Tip: Try to find the poem online and so you have no notes!
Dominant AO = analysis (15 marks)
Marks for context ao4 (10) – literary context = other poems
Marks for ao1 (5) – fluent and clear argument
For top band (ao2) – consider the effectiveness of the language
Structure: L/S/F
OR Thematic – different things that Yeats suggests about the key word in the question eg. Love
OR Go through the poem
Length – 2.5-4 sides.
Plan = synonyms for the key word (1 min)
Mind map all the ideas/quotes and then number them (8-10 mins)
Write it (link your paragraphs – end of one should link to the next – use connectives... In addition, Yeats forces the
reader to...) 45 mins
Read it and make changes ( 3-5 mins)
Essay 1:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents conflicting views in ‘September 1913’
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
Essay 2:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents love and memory in ‘Broken Dreams’
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.

2. Essay 3:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents fate in ‘An Irish Airman Forsees his death’
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
Essay 4:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents nature and memory in ‘Wile Swans at Coole’
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
Essay 5:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents power in ‘Leda and the Swan’.
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
Essay 6:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents disorder and chaos in ‘The Second Coming’.
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
Essay 7:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents Art and Culture in ‘Sailing to Byzantium’
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
Essay 8:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents nature in ‘The Cat and the Moon’
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.

3. Essay 10:
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents political revolution in ‘Easter 1916’
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
Discuss the ways in which Yeats presents violence and war in ‘Easter 1916’
In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, and verse form, and consider how this poem relates to
other poems by Yeats that you have studied.
Tasks:
1. Plan 2 essays IN DETAIL
2. Write two essays (by hand) – preferably with clean copies of the poems (use internet to find the poem) in 1 hr
(including your planning time in the second one!)
3. Create revision cards for all poems done so far:
Title: X
Themes: X
Links: (and why) X
Key stylistic features: X
6 gem quotations (that you can link to the rest of the poem and other poems by Yeats): X