Understanding 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'

Developing interpretations of ‘Remains’ with Simon Armitage

Analysing 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

Whose perspective is 'Poppies' written from?

Weir recognised the mother's perspective of war was lesser-recognised.

Weir wanted to show the patriotic feeling amongst mothers during WW1.

Why might Weir have chosen to write 'Poppies' from the perspective of a soldier's mother?

"without a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves"

Which quote is suggestive of the son’s death and mother and son’s peace in 'Poppies'?

"I rounded up as many white cat hairs as I could"

"the world overflowing like a treasure chest"

Which line from the poem 'Poppies' shows the mother's nostalgia?

the mother's contribution to the war effort

the mother's love for her domestic routine

the mother's longing to stay close to her son

What could the textile imagery in 'Poppies' symbolise?

From whose perspective is the poem 'Exposure' written from?

Starter Quiz

The poppy flower is a symbol of...