So - I'm trying to plan for A2 Lit...Can anyone help?

[specialsmasher]

In my department we have been alloted a type of love for the 'Love Through the Ages' unit. We have to find a selection of extracts to look at and to compare. I have been given passionate love (fine) but also spiritual love.

The specification makes it clear that love of God is out of bounds, so I need to find examples of poetry, prose and drama which show spiritual love between humans.

I have just done Sons and Lovers, so can use Miriam's love for Paul, I suppose, but it would be good to find something different, and I'm really stuck on drama. Someone else in the dep't is doing 'romantic / idealistic love' so I need somehow to avoid this too, whilst showing something not temporal.

I know I haven't explained that very well - sorry!

Any tips would be gratefully received.

Oh no - I'm going to have to press on alone! I suppose it is Saturday

sigh

I wonder if you can use something from "Catcher in the Rye". There are various types of love in there. Holden's love for his sister Pheobe and for his (dead) brother Allie might be of use somehow?

My son's doing A2 English Lit in the summer.

I think the problem is in the specification..it's a vague remit isn't it?Most good love poems are about the relation between body and spirit - hard to find one that's just about the spirit, as we are, after all, bodied creatures...

How about Donne, 'The Ecstasy'; Auden, 'Lullaby'; Elizabeth Bishop, 'Breath', Yeats, 'When You Are Old'

How about The Crucible for Drama? Look at the difference between John Proctor's love for Abigail (passionate) and the relationship between him and Elizabeth, which could be described as more spiritual?? Tricky one though.

Darn, that's hard.

Ok, maybe:
Chaucer's Knight's Tale
Shakespeare sonnets eg 118 'Let not the marriage of true minds... and 18 'Shall I compare thee..'
Romeo and Juliet first sonnet
First Love - John Clare

Equus? When I studied it for A level, I was never entirely sure how to interpret that sort of love!

I've just seen that you all replied! So kind of you all - some really useful suggestions. It is a tricky one!

I'll let you know what I pick.

Animals are out too, Runoutofideas! Well is specifies 'not love for a pet...'