intense sorrow usually associated with the death of something or someone

to keep something under control and not let it come to the surface

concern more with the desires and needs of others rather than one’s own

Analysing the poem 'Poppies'

English

An introduction to themes in the Power and Conflict poetry anthology

Understanding the connections between Romanticism and Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

Analysing the concept of power in Shelley's 'Ozymandias'

Understanding the poem 'London'

Analysing ideas of power and conflict in Blake's 'London'

Writing introductions and topic sentences for poetry comparison

Understanding the poem 'Extract from the Prelude'

Analysing the poem 'Extract from The Prelude'

Comparing Romantic poets' attitudes to nature

Power and Conflict poetry: developing comparative essay writing skills

Understanding the poem 'My Last Duchess'

Analysing the poem 'My Last Duchess'

Comparing the presentation of power in 'My Last Duchess' and 'Ozymandias'

Understanding the poem 'Charge of the Light Brigade'

Analysing the poem 'Charge of the Light Brigade'

Understanding the poem 'Exposure'

Analysing the poem 'Exposure'

Understanding the poem 'Bayonet Charge'

Analysing the poem 'Bayonet Charge'

Comparing conflict in war poems from the Power and Conflict anthology

Understanding the poem 'Storm on the Island'

Analysing the poem 'Storm on the Island'

Understanding the poem 'Remains'

Analysing the Poem 'Remains'

Understanding the poem 'Poppies'

Understanding the poem 'War Photographer'

Analysing the poem 'War Photographer'

Comparing 'Poppies' and Duffy's 'War Photographer'

Understanding the Poem 'Kamikaze'

Analysing the Poem 'Kamikaze'

Comparing 'Power and Conflict' war poems

In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of power and conflict. In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In 'A World at War: Poetry', pupils explore how poets presents the atrocities of World War One through their poetry. In 'AQA Power and Conflict Poetry', pupils analyse how a variety of different wars have been presented through poetry.

In this unit, pupis explore 12 of the 15 poems from the 'Power and Conflict' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in three groups, and they pause after each group to compare how those poems present common themes.

Poetry anthology: first study

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

how she represses her grief when saying goodbye to her son

how she found it easy to say goodbye to her son

In 'Poppies', Weir describes how the the mother "steeled" her face. What could this reflect?

the mother releasing her son's childhood pet

The act of "releasing" the bird in 'Poppies' could represent...

the conflict between the mother and her son

how the mother tries to contain her grief

In 'Poppies', the two sestets either side of long stanzas could reflect…

"The word “stitch” could further reflect how the mother tries to keep her grief neat and tidy." This response to the poem 'Poppies' contains...

choose the first analysis that comes to your head

consider alternative interpretations of something in the poem

What is one way to ensure a nuanced answer when writing essays about poems?

to encourage the reader to wear a poppy every year

to encourage the reader to reflect on the grief that lies within the symbol

to criticise the sheer loss of life in war

to emphasise the many mothers that experience the same grief as the speaker

Why might Weir have chosen the title "Poppies"?

Who is 'Poppies' written from the perspective of?

in the poem 'Poppies', Weir describes how the mother "smoothed" her son's shirt "collar". How does the mother seem?

Throughout the poem 'Poppies', Weir uses frequent...

Which symbol in the poem 'Poppies' best links to the idea that the mother may be at peace with her son's death?

Look at these words: "steeled", "blockade", "reinforcements". All of these words fit the semantic field of...

Weir compels the reader to acknowledge the mother's quiet trauma.

Weir places significance on the soldier's pain.

Weir shows the patriotism of mothers of boys at war.

Through the dramatic monologue form used in 'Poppies'...

Starter Quiz