'Letters from Yorkshire' by Maura Dooley: Mr Bruff Analysis

[@user-wk5ws8iv4e]

year 11s in 10 years time are never gonna know what a lifesaver mr bruff was and how useful he is!!

[@ophelia686]

mal. 1989 I found him just in time while in quarantine I feel ready for 2021 gcse haha!!

[@elliejolley7431]

Me in yr 10 watching this annotating my GCSE english literature book 😂😂

[@bundleofstyx]

mr bruff is forever

[@hana-ov1ju]

6 years left to see the future year 11s struggling

[@mizyclifton2624]

'Our souls tap out messages across the icy miles' - interesting contrast of the metaphysical imagery of 'souls' (something intangible, felt perhaps to some degree but not able to be physically 'grasped' or 'realised') and the 'tap' of messages (something very literal and material); the consonance of 'tap' , creating a hard plosive sound that reflects the unsentimental, cold use of technology, juxtaposes the assonance of 'souls', which are flowing and unrestricted. Is Dooley saying that she wishes she were able to just drift as a soul might, unimpeded, towards the person she misses?

[@mrbruff]

+Miriam Clifton great!

[@lucascurtin5194]

Miriam Clifton it's not great it's fucking amazing

[@ellah353]

Miriam Clifton 'our souls tap out messages across icy miles'-The soul tapping reminds me of morse code. it's Intresting how the origins of morse code were from a man who missed the death of his wife due to lack of communication..

[@poppyella2205]

This is incredible, I wanted a way to analyse the usage of allusion to morse code further than a secretive, fleeting message, so thank you for a more in depth piece of context :)

[@mizyclifton2624]

thank you so much for the comment! Good luck in your exam, I hope it goes well for everyone... only a few weeks to go!

[@isabelladimanno6419]

Although she is 'feeding words' onto a 'blank screen', it still doesn't modify the fact hat he speakers life is monotonous, in contrast to the man ' out there in the cold'. Despite the continuous nourishment of words, the screen is still starving, suggesting that life is much more vibrant when two people conversate in person rather than in a letter. Perhaps this compensates with the man's feelings towards his job in the poem: 'You wouldn't say so' in response to the rhetorical question 'is your life more real?', implies that his job isn't much fun on his behalf either. Interestingly, this may connote that the complex relationship between the speaker and the man, is similar in terms of their feelings towards their contrasting jobs, regardless of the fact that they're both part of a different 'world'. In a way, this idea of two out of many people, in which are diversified between two universes through jobs alone, acts as a hyperbole to exaggerate the distance between the two. Even though his poem is in the present tense, the speaker here is shown to be reminiscing. On the other hand, 'it's not a romance' therefore what most readers would suggest are wrong. The ambiguous relationship allows the reader to develop their own interpretations, which is the beauty of the allegory here, as Dooley is a poet who prefers her work to appear mysterious rather than superficial and boring.

[@dailyhail7567]

waffle

[@aleeza9772]

@Armina Abdollahi waffle is what gets you grade 9 babe

[@aleeza9772]

this is so useful is asked about the contrast of there lives thank you

[@jalaaldous3511]

I always thought the enjambement was symbolic of the letters he sends her because it connects the stanzas together across the gaps of the page, like the letters connect them across the distance. Also with the moving from "he" to "you" making it like they have got closer, I would add she then puts "our", where they have actually joined together which further empathises this.

[@polyquadratus5304]

dammit I was 4 years too late

[@alixthompson5885]

I just want to take a moment to thank you for your work with these videos. "Letters From Yorkshire" was the only poem I could not analyse at all and as a consequence, I sort of despised it. However, I have come away from this video with a newfound respect and understanding, and, most important of all, a page crammed with notes ready for tomorrow's exam. As for "...icy miles.", I find that it contrasts quite severely with the sudden positivity presented in the final stanza. It has a decidedly ominous quality; almost as if the speaker, despite the newfound strength in their relationship, knows that the distance will remain a threat and thus the metaphorical ice can never be truly broken. The decisive full stop at the end leaves the reader with a lingering, melancholy feeling, even after the positivity of "light and air". Their souls may be free in the metaphysical sense, but the ice represents the difficulty that modern life and distance presents- it is, in other words, the bitter reality that physically she cannot return to Yorkshire.

[@GastricIssuesFartman]

Gimme your address. I will come and give you a hug

[@aleeza9772]

@@GastricIssuesFartman LMAO

[@user-qg4td6rg5x]

i literally love you

[@JeloMello]

THIS IS SO GOOD

[@bunker4620]

when you are trying to pass your mocks from home

[@arielelroy200]

this is one of the most shockingly boring poems I have ever read ngl

[@mrbruff]

Oh dear

[@benhart2278]

no way. letters from Yorkshire is an absolutely beautiful poem. lines like "it's not romance, simply how things are" and "is your life more real because you dig and sow" are incredibly beautiful and powerful and meaningful lines and are really just amazing. it is a truly thoughtful poem and the ideas expressed in it are simply amazing and beautiful

[@liamiddleton6054]

Not as bad as neutral tones blimey

[@theebillionairess3377]

@@liamiddleton6054 🤣🤣

[@muhammadibrahimuddin7681]

yh me too its just so ded

[@hz1044]

I came up with the understanding that the 'souls that tap out messages in icy miles' could suggest the couples on "Morse code" and that it is a hidden message between them and for them to only understand. As well as the idea that the messages bring warmth and thaw the sadness of her not actually being physically close to Yorkshire.

[@mrbruff]

good!

[@aimeeg2907]

Mr Bruff you are a genius thank you so much. Using these videos to hopefully pass my gcses because I cannot understand poetry at all

[@lydiahawker168]

if youre from my english class, congrats you are of the small minority actually doing the work :)

[@prantanilbhowmick1070]

doubt im in your class but now i feel special

[@lydiahawker168]

Me Who good on you bro 🙌

[@mrrobinsonenglish]

Thank you Mr Bruff from 10Y2 we loved your analysis in a platonic way!

[@UnderscoreZeroLP]

I play these at 1.5 speed to save time :P

[@mrbruff]

+Underscore Zero me too

[@a_pseudonymous3932]

I believe the last line is how they always message eachother even when the distance is far and the weather is bad.

[@esmel8303]

Maybe the ‘tap’ is like morse code and this symbolises the rhythm of the heartbeats of the two friends that continue to reach out to each other (maybe in harmony or in time with one another) despite the vast distance between them.

[@owainevans4875]

I think the 'icy miles' could represent that perhaps there is some kind of dispute or almost hate in the relationship, like an 'icy relationship'. And perhaps the 'light' in the envelope is him trying to thaw the ice and rekindle the relationship.

[@farhanrashid4832]

Could "pouring air and light into an envelope" not only be a metaphor for what you said but possibly a metaphor for himself? Almost as if he puts his 'soul[s]' into which contradict the physical distance between them as his 'soul[s]' (which is full of fresh, country "air" and "light" - kindness) . This could be backed up by him 'planting' 'digging' and the reflect the effort he puts into those letters and in other words, he puts his 'soul' into it. . Anyways really helpful video! my grades have improved drastically by 2 grades to an eight in the last assessment! Have a class mock on the unseen poetry tomorrow, it would be really kind of you to do one or two videos guiding us in the way to answer the unseen poetry question.

[@watchmedo635]

I love this poem so much, thanks Mr Bruff for helping me with my analysis!

[@mrbruff]

Great!

[@aashnasoares3813]

I absolutely love your videos it scares me when i wonder what i would have done for my gcses if it wasent for these videos..thank you so much!! great help!!

[@mrbruff]

+Aashna Soares thanks!

[@gamingtime9000]

Thank you just revising for my yr10 mocks

[@joeylee8847]

Excellent analysis, Mr Bruff. Particularly interesting how you obtained Dooley's own thoughts regarding the poem.

[@mrbruff]

Thank you!

[@annagabriellagroves2936]

Hi! i think that the sudden use of full rhyme between 'light' and 'night' on the last stanza juxtapose to show how even in the harshest of conditions, their love can break through and despite the distance, so that something as pure/fleeting/ life giving as 'light' can be captured and sent out to aid the other. This idea of helping the other person is reinforced by her use of 'tapping out messages', which are usually associated with SOS signals, showing how despite the barriers between them (maybe the 'icy' distance representing physical but also emotional issues) they are willing to overcome them.

[@parneets5207]

your work is phenomenal, thank you so much for sharing!!

[@mrbruff]

+Parneet S thanks! No problem

[@rubikscube6214]

you're a genius

[@mrtrobinson2802]

Thanks again sir from 10Y2 - you are an absolute legend!

[@rachelhart9795]

These videos are helping me so much. Thank you!

[@yusur1929]

Can I say that "reddened" and "singing" shows envy as the adjective "reddened" connotes harsh environment and hard work whereas the way she describes the side effects of it "singing" is implying a more positive feel? She contrasts the joy of the singing of his knuckles with the harsh conditions of the season. This might show envy as she is making the negatives sound like positives even though they might not be? or hyperbole of how pleasant his life is compared to hers?

[@abdulmettioui8585]

whats the best poem to compare it with in terms of relationships

[@franticranter]

This poem is so incredibly beautiful. I never understood how some said they disliked this poem, because it's just amazing and so thoughtful. Lines like "it's not romance, simply how things are" and "is your life more real because you dig and sow?" are so thoughtful and meaningful and beautiful that i just cannot stop thinking about this poem

[@scarletrowe6947]

Could the use of tercets possibly symbolise the distance between the two as if there is a third presence ( represented by the 3rd line) to the two ( as a couple ) which can cause difficulties in their relationship yet the fact that the structure stays right and controlled throughout empathises the strength of their love?

[@mrbruff]

+Scarlet Rowe yes

[@eleanor6271]

Does anyone have some ideas of context I could put into an analysis of this poem?

[@henryh1620]

Is it true we have to quote structure? I find that very difficult

[@bxau1376]

plz do a minecraft lets play

[@poppyella2205]

I'M LAUGHING

[@sage3449]

Loooooool,

[@Specific148]

Bxau 1 LOL

[@blxzezentiic3284]

Bxau 1 what a boooyyoooo

[@Specific148]

LenMc Lime XD

[@nidazahra2565]

so is it a friendship or relationship --urgenttt

[@lyraseerena70]

Would you say that there is contrast between light and night which could reflect that there are still some distances in the relationship despite the optimism?

[@hannahwells-f1x]

This was so so helpful and detailed thankyou so so much.

[@mrbruff]

Great!

[@taahakhalifa8072]

Quick question, when talking about context, do you have to talk about the factors that influenced the writer to write that or can you talk about anything that has happened at the time. It seems that you talk about things that has occurred after the poem is written. Thank you!

[@JarmezGD]

A very small thing, but to expand upon her negative imagery of her own actions, I've always though the 'h' alliteration in 'heartful of headlines' sounds like a sigh, like she's fed up of her monotonous job.

[@mrbruff]

Good idea!

[@jenniferlopes6808]

what would you talk about for context in this poem?

[@johnholme138]

How she was born in Cornwall, grew up in Bristol and worked in Yorkshire for a number of years. She also lived in London for the last 25 years. (Romantic poetry typically shows the love of rural landscapes against urban). In this poem, however, distance is the barrier between the narrator and the male... You could suggest that this is linked to the problems that the two characters face: distance.

[@jenniferlopes6808]

tysm

[@NomanKhan-bd4st]

if i copy this word for word in the exam(if it comes up) and the exam board finds out or anything can somethin happen to me?

[@GastricIssuesFartman]

Nothing would happen lmao. But it's good to sometimes create your own detailed annotations 👍🏽

[@fazalsyed8271]

Can you please do Animal Farm and also a video on a model level 9 answer when answering text questions (Macbeth, Jekyll and Hyde and Animal Farm) Thank you for your hard work I just bought the Macbeth e-book and its really useful

[@mrbruff]

hope to do it soon

[@kokoforever5483]

I am from Yorkshire!!!

[@forgottenwhatmynameisg4666]

Thankyou soooooo much it honestly really helped

[@Darth_Yoshi]

‘Black screen’ implies that there’s no feedback and that thus there’s no emotional reward to her in her job. Her ‘heartful of headlines’ highlights the fact that being in an urban society full of advertisements, fear mongering and news stories has consumed her and that she believes that her work is worth less than the man’s, as she simply feeds her words into a ‘black screen’ whereas he's out doing physical activity with more tangible effects such as ‘ploughing’

[@lilytemple971]

isnt the full rhyme of the nouns 'light' and 'night' also oxymorons , perhaps symbolising the positives and negatives in their relationship

[@liamiddleton6054]

Thank you!!!

[@mrbruff]

You're welcome

[@potatocut]

Is it bad that I'm doing this in year 9?

[@bunker4620]

yes as im in yr 11 and we ave just started this

[@potatocut]

@@bunker4620 wouldn't that mean that i am doing good?

[@bunker4620]

@@potatocut yeh or your school is pushing you to hard

[@potatocut]

@@bunker4620 lmao, you kidding this shit easy, expected grade 9 lmao

[@bunker4620]

@@potatocut OK chill smart boy

[@renjayc8817]

Thanks so much!

[@sanakadirzadeh8176]

who's ready to fail tomorrow? (;

[@jayavyas9374]

Would it be correct to say that the caesuras could suggest the boundaries in the relationship?

[@poppyella2205]

I believe that's completely correct. Mr. Bruff references that at 8:54, click on that and you can see what he says :)

[@mahimaparajuli29]

Could you please reiterate who were the critics and what they said, I'd like to use them in my exam. Thank you.

[@nayanidavies-patel5276]

i struggle on form like did i miss it in this video it was it not mentioned??

[@mizyclifton2624]

which poems do you think this compares well with in the anthology?

[@ameliasmith3321]

winter swans is probably the best

[@poppyella2205]

Winter Swans, but also Singh Song! I disliked Singh Song until watching Mr. Bruff's video on it, and now I really adore the poem, and was able to find a plethora of links between the two. Different worlds and cultures, imagery and symbolism, tone of voice between a conversational letter and song like poem with phonetic language, and also the use of half rhyme in the beginning of both poems and full rhyme at the conclusion of both Singh Song and Letters from Yorkshire are practically identical.

[@plsgoaway4551]

How can you be sure the analysis is a grade 9?

[@mrbruff]

+Imaan 1234 I can't, but I will tell you on results day what people got using these ideas

[@inthematrix7562]

mrbruff how did they do?

[@xghostgaming9279]

My teacher taught us that the speaker is a journalist who is bored of her city life, sitting in an office and writing ‘headlines’, which is why the letters bring her ‘air and light’. The man is constantly in nature, while she is in an office, so she experiences the beauty of nature through the letters?

[@xghostgaming9279]

Also she taught us that at the last line they are now using phones to ‘tap’ out ‘messages’ and no longer have to send letters.

[@veganvampire95]

v helpful!!

[@ramaboy10]

legend

[@joebuckley3701]

Me bruff you are my saviour!!!

[@avasosa1416]

Got my eng lit gcse tomorrow and know absolutely nothing about this poem PRAYING it doesn’t come up

[@rabiabibi2346]

Fr I’ll just start sobbing and walk out if this poem comes up none of the inferences or analysis for this make sense to me

[@rtz4839]

Hey up kingy

[@huzaifah4418]

49 694...

[@mrbruff]

+huzy iby I know!!!!

[@NomanKhan-bd4st]

?

[@Haveawildguess]

Hey MrBuff I need your help: can you do some videos about AQA As-level English Language's 2017 exams? I am so confused but I want to a high grade

[@mrbruff]

covered in my A Level English Language ebook at mrbruff.com

[@mscarrick-steele5657]

Great

[@josephjones3484]

Peachy buns , peachy buns , How well they taste in our tums, Tho they dissolve into crumbs , We all love Howard's peachy buns . Howard jogs day in , day out , There he goes running about , In Search of his custard no doubt , Contestants trying to get Howard out. Although Mary and Paul know him best , Lucy and Joe are truly blessed , To have seen Howard in that contest , As that is when they feel their best . "Howard's from bakeoff"

[@daisycarnegie288]

" Our souls tap out messages across the icy miles," I think this is about technology and relates to the reader as most people will send messages across the internet as in texting. This is less old fashioned then the "letter " the speaker is receiving and I think Dooley's intention is to say how distant and cold technology can be as we don't fell the same way when taking to someone then when we message them.

[@jadonfarguson4104]

TAP is like Morse code, so are they hiding their feelings?

[@briggsgrant6460]

My g

[@callumjeffers334]

...

[@user-kh5fr8gq4d]

First

[@huzaifah4418]

Hello 123 I was m8

[@Sdd753]

Amazing thank you

[@mrbruff]

no problem