Understanding why people write about war
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Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why people might choose to write about war, exploring the viewpoints of different writers who have chosen to write about war themselves.
Key learning points
- War literature can be impactful because it has the power to tell individual stories.
- War literature can be impactful because it tries to explain the experiences of war to those who have not experienced it.
- War literature can be used to expose the reality of war and serve as a warning to future generations.
- Arguably, war literature helps humans empathise with the pain of others.
Keywords
War literature - a text which focuses on and explores war and conflict
Profound - deep or meaningful
Specific - particular, precise, exact
Empathise - to share the feelings of another person; a stronger feeling than sympathy
Annotate - to make short notes commenting on something of interest in a text
Common misconception
It isn't important to consider the ethics of writing about war. It is a topic just like any other.
There are important questions to be asked when considering writing about any harrowing experience, particularly war.
Teacher tip
This lesson contains summaries of different writers' accounts of war. You may wish to look at some of these accounts in more detail with your class. Information about these accounts has been provided in the speaker notes.
Equipment
You need access to a copy of the story ‘Propping Up the Line’ by Ian Beck from the 2014 Orchard Books collection ‘Stories of World War One’ edited by Tom Bradman.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
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