the emotional response to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience

showing no strong feeling or emotion; detached and impartial

expressing or influenced by tender feelings or emotions, often excessively

informal language or speech, used in everyday conversation

the everyday language spoken by people in a particular region or group

British English CC

Developing interpretations of ‘Remains’ with Simon Armitage

English

Exploring and responding to the Eduqas poetry anthology

Understanding ideas of war and isolation in Owen's ‘Disabled’

Analysing ideas of war and isolation in Owen's ‘Disabled’

Understanding the Poem 'Kamikaze'

Analysing the Poem 'Kamikaze'

Comparing ideas of identity and isolation in ‘Disabled and ‘Kamikaze’

Understanding the poem 'Remains'

Analysing the Poem 'Remains'

Understanding ideas of war in Hardy’s ‘Drummer Hodge’

Analysing ideas of war and inevitability in Hardy’s ‘Drummer Hodge’

Comparing ideas of war in Hardy’s ‘Drummer Hodge’ and Armitage’s ‘Remains’

Understanding the poem ‘Sonnet 29’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Analysing the poem 'Sonnet 29' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Understanding the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti

Analysing the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti

Understanding ideas of love and obsession in Kay's 'Dusting the Phone'

Analysing ideas of uncertainty and intensity in Kay's 'Dusting the Phone'

Comparing ideas of love in ‘Sonnet 29’, ‘Cousin Kate’ and ‘Dusting the Phone’

Understanding ideas of youth and nature in Blake’s ‘The Schoolboy’

Analysing ideas of youth and nature in Blake’s ‘The Schoolboy’

Understanding ideas of youth and nostalgia in Heaney’s ‘Blackberry Picking’

Analysing ideas of youth and nostalgia in Heaney’s ‘Blackberry Picking’

Comparing ideas of youth and nature in ‘The Schoolboy’ and ‘Blackberry Picking’

Understanding the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke

Analysing the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke

Understanding ideas of love and relationships in Ewing’s ‘Origin Story’

Analysing ideas of love and relationships in Ewing’s ‘Origin Story’

Comparing ideas of love and identity in ‘Catrin’ and  ‘Origin Story’

Analysing extended responses to the Eduqas poetry anthology

Planning a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology

Writing a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology

Reviewing a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology

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 11 of the 15 poems from the Eduqas poetry anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in a thematically linked order so they can complete comparative and thematic lessons during the unit.

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 or discussion of serious mental health issues including eating disorders, self-harm, suicide or attempted suicide, or the aftermath of such an event.

Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

"The bullet passed through the man's body"

"I see every round as it rips through his life"

Which image does Armitage describe as being “lodged in Rob’s mind” and “striking”?

It refers to the soldier’s remains left on the battlefield.

It refers to the emotional and psychological “remains” in Rob’s mind.

It refers to the physical body left behind.

It refers to the aftermath of war in the community.

What is the significance of the title 'Remains'?

To avoid becoming too emotionally involved with the subject.

Why does Simon Armitage describe his writing process as being “dispassionate”?

What word beginning with 'v' describes language that is the everyday language spoken by people in a particular region or group?

It reflects the rigid structure of military life.

What does the final couplet of the poem 'Remains' achieve, according to Armitage?

It shows he writes detached from personal emotion to protect his objectivity.

It shows he prefers to write about scientific subjects.

It indicates he uses extensive research before writing.

It shows he writes about subjects he finds comfortable and familiar.

How does Armitage’s description of writing "under laboratory conditions" relate to his poetic approach in 'Remains'?

Is the statement true or false? The poem 'Remains' appears in a collection of poetry written by Simon Armitage, called 'The Lost Dead'.

The soldier's wife describing his condition after returning from war.

A soldier describing his personal experience.

Who is the speaker in Simon Armitage's poem 'Remains'?

The poem 'Remains' is written in which tense?

It highlights the public nature of the killing.

It indicates the speaker's desire to move on.

It shows the speaker's belief in justice.

It emphasises the lasting psychological impact.

In the poem 'Remains', how does the line "his blood-shadow stays on the street" reflect the speaker's trauma?

the speaker uses formal, structured language to convey emotions.

the speaker uses casual, everyday language to reflect an authentic experience.

the speaker uses poetic and lyrical language to reflect inner thoughts.

the speaker uses complex, academic language to explain his trauma.

The language in 'Remains' can be described as colloquial. This means...

It conveys a sense of detachment from the violence.

It emphasises the soldier’s meticulousness in handling the body.

It shows the soldier’s disgust at the situation.

It reflects the soldier’s intense emotional reaction to the violence.

In the poem 'Remains', which of the following best describes the effect of the words "tosses" "guts" and "body"?

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Developing interpretations of ‘Remains’ with Simon Armitage

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.