![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_46fb2c05e18a4e1891b275774f464275~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_734,h_490,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/c2bbaf_46fb2c05e18a4e1891b275774f464275~mv2.jpg)
![Avatar of Claire, founder of the YouTube channel 'Claire's Notes,' featuring tutorials on English Literature and Language.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_7114d70e694b40ca868fdd1f8390fcf8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_164,h_170,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Avatar%20copy.png)
Claire's Notes
Online English tutorials
for GCSE and beyond
Please subscribe to my channel to stay up to date with my new video releases. It costs nothing but your support means everything.
Edexcel iGCSE
More videos coming soon!
Welcome to your ultimate guide to mastering the Edexcel iGCSE Poetry Anthology. In these comprehensive YouTube tutorials, Claire breaks down each poem with clear, engaging explanations, covering themes, literary techniques, and contextual backgrounds. Whether you're struggling with complex metaphors or need help understanding historical contexts, Claire's expert insights make learning accessible and enjoyable. Perfect for GCSE students aiming to enhance their literary analysis skills and achieve top grades, these videos are your go-to resource for excelling in your poetry studies. Subscribe now and unlock the secrets of the anthology with Claire's Notes!
![john-jennings-Aet6IBKXJSg-unsplash.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_d1a3fd31a588420e86d2a82f85956599~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_339,h_227,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/john-jennings-Aet6IBKXJSg-unsplash.jpg)
Piano
by D. H. Lawrence
![film reel-Thumbnail.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_b2c6d34619534db893a2607e28419041~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_343,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/film%20reel-Thumbnail.jpg)
COMING SOON!
"Piano" by D. H. Lawrence nostalgically recounts the speaker's childhood memories evoked by a woman's singing. The music transports him to a time when he sat under the piano, listening to his mother play and sing. The poem vividly portrays the warmth and security of these moments, highlighting the deep emotional connection to his past. As the speaker becomes overwhelmed by longing, he mourns the lost innocence and simplicity of his early years. Through rich imagery and reflective tone, Lawrence explores themes of memory, loss, and the powerful influence of music in rekindling emotions from one's youth.
Sonnet 116 ("Let me not to the marriage of true minds")
by William Shakespeare
![film reel-Thumbnail.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_b2c6d34619534db893a2607e28419041~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_343,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/film%20reel-Thumbnail.jpg)
COMING SOON!
"Sonnet 116" by William Shakespeare explores the steadfast nature of true love. The poet asserts that genuine love remains constant and unchanging, unaffected by time or external circumstances. He argues that true love does not alter when it encounters difficulties and remains steadfast until the end of time. Shakespeare uses metaphors such as the "ever-fixed mark" and "the star" to emphasize love's enduring quality. The poem concludes with a bold declaration: if his understanding of love is proven wrong, then no one has ever truly loved. Themes include the permanence of true love, the unwavering nature of commitment, and love's resilience.
Poem at Thirty-Nine
by Alice Walker
![film reel-Thumbnail.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_b2c6d34619534db893a2607e28419041~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_343,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/film%20reel-Thumbnail.jpg)
COMING SOON!
"Poem at Thirty-Nine" by Alice Walker is a reflective piece in which the poet reminisces about her late father and the impact he had on her life. Walker recounts memories of her father teaching her practical skills, such as managing money, and instilling in her a sense of independence and resilience. She expresses a deep sense of loss but also gratitude for his teachings, which have shaped her identity. The poem celebrates the legacy of her father's wisdom and love, emphasizing themes of memory, inheritance, personal growth, and the enduring influence of parental guidance on one's life.
The Tyger
by William Blake
![film reel-Thumbnail.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_b2c6d34619534db893a2607e28419041~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_343,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/film%20reel-Thumbnail.jpg)
COMING SOON!
"The Tyger" by William Blake is a powerful poem that contemplates the nature of creation and the duality of existence. The speaker marvels at the fierce and majestic tiger, questioning the creator who fashioned such a creature. Through vivid imagery and rhythmic questioning, Blake explores themes of beauty, danger, and the complexity of creation. The poem contrasts the tiger's fierce qualities with the innocence of the lamb, highlighting the coexistence of good and evil in the world. Ultimately, "The Tyger" reflects on the mysteries of existence and the profound questions surrounding the nature of the divine and the universe.
Half-caste
by John Agard
![film reel-Thumbnail.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_b2c6d34619534db893a2607e28419041~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_343,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/film%20reel-Thumbnail.jpg)
COMING SOON!
"Half-Caste" by John Agard challenges the derogatory term "half-caste" and confronts the prejudice associated with it. The poet uses vivid imagery and a conversational tone to highlight the richness of mixed heritage, likening it to artistic and natural combinations such as Picasso's paintings and the symphony of light and shadow. Agard questions societal attitudes that see mixed race individuals as incomplete or inferior. He emphasizes the beauty and strength found in diversity and mixed identities. The poem's themes include identity, racism, cultural hybridity, and the celebration of diversity, urging readers to reconsider and embrace the value of mixed heritage.
Do not go gentle into that good night
by Dylan Thomas
![film reel-Thumbnail.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c2bbaf_b2c6d34619534db893a2607e28419041~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_343,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/film%20reel-Thumbnail.jpg)
COMING SOON!
"Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas is a passionate plea against the inevitability of death. The poem urges defiance in the face of mortality, encouraging individuals to resist passively accepting their fate. Thomas uses intense imagery and powerful language to portray various stages of life—youth, age, and frailty—and the different reactions people have towards death. Themes of rebellion, courage, and the fight for life permeate the poem, emphasizing the importance of living fully and resisting the quiet acceptance of death. Ultimately, Thomas celebrates the strength and spirit of human resilience in the face of inevitable endings.