Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · English Literature
Course version: 9ET0 · Version from Sept 2015
Poetry – Section A: Post-2000 Poetry – Poems of the Decade: An Anthology…
Full specification wording
Component 3: Poetry – Section A: Post-2000 Poetry – Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011: Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn Tim Turnbull
Tim Turnbull’s ‘Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn’ is a satirical yet poignant homage to John Keats’s Romantic masterpiece, ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9ET0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 20 of 20
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Tim Turnbull’s ‘Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn’ is a satirical yet poignant homage to John Keats’s Romantic masterpiece, ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’. Turnbull replaces Keats’s classical figures with contemporary working-class youth, inspired by the provocative ceramic art of Grayson Perry. The poem explores the intersection of class, beauty, and time by immortalising modern urban life—complete with ‘crap estates’ and ‘Burberry clad’ teenagers—within a traditional poetic framework. By juxtaposing a strict classical form, including iambic pentameter and a complex rhyme scheme, with modern colloquialisms, Turnbull challenges traditional aesthetic values. He questions what society deems worthy of artistic preservation, ultimately suggesting that all human experience holds intrinsic value and beauty.
What earns the marks
- Analyse the juxtaposition of classical poetic form, such as the ode structure and iambic pentameter, with contemporary colloquial language.
- Evaluate the intertextual relationship between Turnbull's poem and Keats's 'Ode on a Grecian Urn'.
- Discuss the representation of social class and youth culture, specifically focusing on the subversion of modern stereotypes.
- Explore the theme of time and the immortalising power of art, reflecting on how the urn freezes a moment of modern life.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming the poem merely mocks the working-class youth depicted.
Put it right: Recognise that while satirical, the poem ultimately elevates and immortalises these figures, finding beauty in their existence.
Ignoring the specific reference to Grayson Perry's artwork.
Put it right: Acknowledge how Perry's ceramics, which blend classical vase shapes with modern social realism, directly inspire the poem's thematic contrasts.
Overlooking the formal structure of the poem.
Put it right: Analyse how the strict stanzaic form and rhyme scheme deliberately mimic Keats to create a jarring, effective contrast with the modern subject matter.
Exam tips
- Compare Turnbull's use of colloquial language with the elevated diction of other poets in the anthology to discuss shifting poetic voices.
- Use specific quotations, such as 'Shirley Temple manqué', to demonstrate Turnbull's blending of high and low culture.
- Link the poem's concluding philosophical statement on beauty and truth directly back to Keats's original ending to show strong contextual understanding.
Try the lesson
The start of the Component 3: Poetry – Section A: Post-2000 Poetry – Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry 2002–2011: Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn Tim Turnbull lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Tim Turnbull's 'Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn' is structurally and thematically modelled on which famous Romantic poem?
Listen
Tim Turnbull’s ‘Ode on a Grayson Perry Urn’ is a satirical yet poignant homage to John Keats’s Romantic masterpiece, ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’. Turnbull replaces Keats’s classical figures with contemporary working-class youth, inspired by the provocative ceramic art of Grayson Perry. The poem explores the intersection of class, beauty, and time by immortalising modern urban life—complete with ‘crap estates’ and ‘Burberry clad’ teenagers—within a traditional poetic framework. By juxtaposing a strict classical form, including iambic pentameter and a complex rhyme scheme, with modern colloquialisms, Turnbull challenges traditional aesthetic values. He questions what society deems worthy of artistic preservation, ultimately suggesting that all human experience holds intrinsic value and beauty. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Analyse the juxtaposition of classical poetic form, such as the ode structure and iambic pentameter, with contemporary colloquial language. Evaluate the intertextual relationship between Turnbull's poem and Keats's 'Ode on a Grecian Urn'. Discuss the representation of social class and youth culture, specifically focusing on the subversion of modern stereotypes. Explore the theme of time and the immortalising power of art, reflecting on how the urn freezes a moment of modern life. A common slip: Assuming the poem merely mocks the working-class youth depicted. Instead, Recognise that while satirical, the poem ultimately elevates and immortalises these figures, finding beauty in their existence. Exam tip: Compare Turnbull's use of colloquial language with the elevated diction of other poets in the anthology to discuss shifting poetic voices.
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Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Social class and identity
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The nature of art and beauty
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Time and mortality
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Tradition versus modernity
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Social class and identity
- The poem explores the intersection of class, beauty and time by immortalising contemporary working-class youth within a traditional poetic framework.
- The nature of art and beauty
- The poem questions what society deems worthy of artistic preservation, suggesting that all human experience holds intrinsic value and beauty.
- Time and mortality
- The urn freezes a moment of modern life, reflecting the immortalising power of art.
- Tradition versus modernity
- A strict classical form, including iambic pentameter and a complex rhyme scheme, is juxtaposed with modern colloquialisms, challenging traditional aesthetic values.
Label the diagram
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1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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