Poetry

19th century poetry

Break, Break, Break' by Alfred Lord Tennyson | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 7'59''

Sheila Hancock explores an early poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Keats's 'Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art' | Poetry: Between the Lines

BBC Two | 2015 | 5'45''

Akala presents a reading and discussion of Keats's poem.

Robert Browning's 'The Laboratory' | The Power of Poetry

BBC Two | 2010 | 3'43''

A contemporary dramatisation of Browning's poem, with the poisoning set in a nightclub.

Hardy's early life | The Heart of Thomas Hardy

BBC One | 2008 | 5'15''

Griff Rhys Jones discusses Hardy's early life and its effect on his poetry.

William Blake's 'London' | Poetry: Between the Lines

BBC Two | 2015 | 5'48''

Akala presents a reading and discussion of 'London' from Blake's Songs of Experience.

Wordsworth and the Lake District | A Poet's Guide to Britain

BBC Four | 2009 | 2'46''

An introduction to Wordsworth's life and his love for the Lake District.

Reading and analysis of Wordsworth's 'The Prelude'. | Poetry: Between the Lines

BBC Two | 2015 | 5'52''

Akala discusses and analyses the 'Boating' extract from Wordsworth's 'The Prelude'.

Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802' | A Poet's Guide to Britain

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'55''

A reading and introduction to William Wordsworth's poem 'Composed upon Westminster Bridge, S...

Analysis of 'Composed upon Westminster Bridge' | A Poet's Guide to Britain

BBC Four | 2009 | 1'59''

Owen Sheers explores the atmosphere, structure, punctuation and vocabulary used by Wordsworth in '...

20th century poetry

Siegfried Sassoons influence on Anthem for Doomed Youth | Wilfred Owen: A Remembrance Tale

BBC One | 2007 | 5'12''

Jeremy Paxman looks at original manuscripts and discovers how integral Siegfried S...

A Reading of 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' | Songs of Praise

BBC One | 2018 | 2'46''

Dame Patricia Routledge discusses how Wilfred Owen captured the horror of war in his poetry before reading Anthem fo...

Dulce et Decorum Est | English File

BBC Two | 1995 | 4'08''

Dramatisation of the meeting between Owen and Sassoon, and a reading of Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est.

Philip Larkin's writing style | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'39''

Robert Webb explores Philip Larkin's poetic writing style.

Praise Song for My Mother' by Grace Nichols | Poets in Person

BBC Two | 2011 | 4'31''

Grace Nichols discusses the poem she wrote about her mother, 'Praise Song for My Mother'.

Malorie Blackman and Grace Nichols | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'31''

Malorie Blackman talks about her family and upbringing in relation to the poem 'Wherever I Hang' by Grace Nichols.

20th century American poets

Sylvia Plath | Great Poets in Their Own Words

BBC Four | 2014 | 4'57''

Sylvia Plath in her own words.

i carry your heart with me' by E. E. Cummings | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 1'57''

Robert Webb discusses the poem that was read at his wedding, 'i carry your heart with me' by E. E. Cummings.

The complexity of T. S. Eliot | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 3'05''

Robert Webb discusses the complexities of T. S. Eliot's poetry with an old teacher.

T. S. Eliot and modernism | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 3'16''

Robert Webb discusses modernism, youth and Paris in 'The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock'.

The Waste Land' by T. S. Eliot | Great Poets in Their Own Words

BBC Four | 2014 | 4'02''

A reading and analysis of T. S. Eliot's modernist poem 'The Waste Land'.

20th century Scottish poets

Jackie Kay | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'00''

Jackie Kay talks about the inspiration for her writing.

The importance of poetry | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 1'49''

Jackie Kay and Malorie Blackman talk about why poetry is so important.

Jackie Kay reads 'Old Tongue' | Blethering Scots

BBC Two | 2011 | 3'50''

Jackie Kay discusses her love of the Scots language and reads her poem 'Old Tongue'.

Jackie Kay's role as the Makar | Beyond Burns

BBC Scotland | 2021 | 2'59''

Jackie Kay talks about being the Scots Makar, the National Poet for Scotland

Jackie Kay on Scottishness and her influences | Beyond Burns

BBC Scotland | 2021 | 1'50''

Jackie Kay considers her influences and the influence she has had on others.

A Childs Sleep, Unemployment Figures and Telephoning Home | Carol Ann Duffy: Secular Prayers

BBC Four | 2009 | 3'48''

Carol Ann Duffy reads her poems A Child’s Sleep, Unemployment Figures and Teleph...

Pilates Wife, Woman Seated in the Underground, 1941 and Prayer | Carol Ann Duffy: Secular Prayers

BBC Four | 2009 | 5'01''

Carol Ann Duffy reads her poems Pilate’s Wife, Woman Seated in the Undergro...

Woman Seated on the Underground' by Carol Ann Duffy | Intermediate English: Poetry

BBC Two | 2009 | 5'17''

Carol Ann Duffy discusses her poem 'Woman Seated on the Underground' and the painting by H...

Education for Leisure' by Carol Ann Duffy | Intermediate English: Poetry

BBC Two | 2009 | 5'17''

Carol Ann Duffy discusses the inspirations for her poem 'Education for Leisure'.

A View of Scotland/ Love Poem' by Liz Lochhead | Intermediate English: Poetry

BBC Two | 2009 | 3'52''

Liz Lochhead reads her poem 'A View of Scotland/ Love Poem'.

The Man in the Comic Strip' by Liz Lochhead | Intermediate English: Poetry

BBC Two | 2009 | 2'53''

Liz Lochhead reads her poem 'The Man in the Comic Book'.

Liz Lochhead's groundbreaking poetic voice | Beyond Burns

BBC Scotland | 2021 | 4'36''

Liz Lochhead and her poetry considered in terms of class and feminism.

Robert Burns

Origins of ''Ae Fond Kiss'' | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 5'54''

The popular poem "Ae Fond Kiss" was born from an affair conducted over letter where Burns and Agnes spoke in re...

''To a Mouse'' contextualised | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 3'05''

A performance of "To a Mouse" by Robert Burns, followed by an analysis by Professor Gerad Carruthers.

Context of ''Tam o' Shanter'' | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 1'23''

"Tam o' Shanter" was a way for Burns to face his demons and is a true echoing of his thoughts.

Summing up Burns | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 4'13''

A summing up of Burns' relevance to today. Featuring a fitting performance of "A Man's a Man".

Phrenology and diagnosing Burns | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 3'27''

Burns' grave was moved and in doing so his skull detached. Now widely disputed, scholars then were encourag...

Burns addressing politics | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 2'24''

The 1790's was a turbulent time for politics and Burns was wary to shroud his leanings in his work, committing to...

Burns and depression | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 2'32''

Modern scholars agree that Burns was treated for "melancholia" and discuss how profound an affect this would have had ...

Burns as a ''fornicator'' | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 3'17''

After getting a farmgirl pregnant, Burns was made to do penance in front of the church congregation, much to his ...

Burns, fatherhood and family | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 1'36''

Despite the law and church being against his illegitimate child, he proclaimed that all that mattered was his ...

Burns, racism and the slave trade | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 4'28''

Burns considered going to work in the slave trade, which was at odds with his later documented abolitioni...

Burns, ''The Merry Muses'' and sexuality | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 5'31''

Burns' "The Merry Muses of Caledonia" is a collection of bawdy songs that scholars say were actual...

Burns and adultery | Inside the Mind of Robert Burns

BBC Scotland | 2022 | 1'57''

Seemingly Burns' wife Jean Armour was aware of Burns' extra-marital affairs as he wrote in code about his exploits.

Seamus Heaney

Heaney on learning to love poetry | Seamus Heaney: Out of the Marvellous

BBC Four | 2014 | 1'59''

Heaney reads sections from his poems and talks about developing a love for poetry.

Ancient history in Heaney's poetry | Kirsty Wark Talks To

BBC Four | 2004 | 3'17''

Seamus Heaney talks to Kirsty Wark about the influence of ancient history on his poetry.

Seamus Heaney's early poetry | Great Poets in Their Own Words

BBC Four | 2014 | 3'24''

An exploration of Seamus Heaney's early poetry.

Out of the Bag' | Seamus Heaney and the music of what happens

BBC Two | 2019 | 1'05''

A reading of Heaney's poem 'Out of the Bag'.

Clearances | Kirsty Wark Talks To

BBC Four | 2004 | 1'02''

Seamus Heaney reads a section from his book 'Clearances'.

Requiem for the Croppies | Kirsty Wark Talks To

BBC Four | 2004 | 1'57''

Seamus Heaney discusses his poem 'Requiem for the Croppies'.

Simon Armitage

Harmonium' | Simon Armitage: Writing Poems

BBC Two | 2012 | 4'55''

Simon Armitage explores the influences for his poem 'Harmonium'.

The Manhunt' | Simon Armitage: Writing Poems

BBC Two | 2012 | 5'06''

Simon Armitage explores his response to war poetry, 'The Manhunt'.

A Vision' | Simon Armitage: Writing Poems

BBC Two | 2012 | 4'37''

Simon Armitage explains the background to his poem 'The Vision'.

The Clown Punk' | Simon Armitage: Writing Poems

BBC Two | 2012 | 3'41''

Simon Armitage explores the influences for his poem 'The Clown Punk'.

Give' | Simon Armitage: Writing Poems

BBC Two | 2012 | 4'40''

Simon Armitage discusses his poem about homelessness, 'Give'.

Out of the Blue' | Simon Armitage: Writing Poems

BBC Two | 2012 | 4'55''

Simon Armitage discusses his poem about 9/11, 'Out of the Blue'.

John Donne

Introduction to the life and work of John Donne | Simon Schama's John Donne

BBC Two | 2009 | 3'36''

Simon Schama introduces the life and work of John Donne.

To His Mistress Going to Bed' | Simon Schama's John Donne

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'31''

A reading and analysis of John Donne's poem 'To His Mistress Going to Bed'.

The Canonization' | Simon Schama's John Donne

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'13''

A reading and analysis of John Donne's sonnet 'The Canonization'.

The Good-Morrow' | Simon Schama's John Donne

BBC Two | 2009 | 5'16''

A reading and analysis of John Donne's poem 'The Good-Morrow'.

Holy Sonnet XIV' | Simon Schama's John Donne

BBC Two | 2009 | 4'10''

A reading and analysis of John Donne's sonnet 'Holy Sonnet XIV'.

Britishness and belonging

Checking Out Me History' by John Agard | Poets in Person

BBC Two | 2011 | 5'01''

John Agard discusses his poem 'Checking Out Me History'.

John Agard's poem Half-caste | English File

BBC Two | 1999 | 7'28''

John Agard discusses and reads his poem 'Half-caste'.

Moniza Alvi's 'Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan' | English File

BBC Two | 1999 | 6'21''

Moniza Alvi discusses and reads her poem 'Presents from my Aunts in Pakistan'.

Malorie Blackman reading 'The British' by Benjamin Zephaniah | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 1'29''

Malorie Blackman talks about why she loves Benjamin Zephaniah's poem 'The British'.

Benjamin Zephaniah | My Life in Verse

BBC Two | 2009 | 5'52''

Benjamin Zephaniah talks about racism in Britain and his journey to becoming a poet.