Understanding the poem 'War Photographer'
I can explain what Duffy's ‘War Photographer’ is about and understand the underlying context for the poem.
Understanding the poem 'War Photographer'
I can explain what Duffy's ‘War Photographer’ is about and understand the underlying context for the poem.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The speaker may be based on Duffy’s friend, Don McCullin, a photojournalist who was moved by his time in warzones.
- In the poem, photojournalism is depicted as an important and necessary job.
- Many photojournalists wish for their photos to incite awareness and social action in the public.
- Duffy's 'War Photographer' seems to criticise our increasing indifference to the victims of conflict.
- The poem explores the lesser-explored experiences of psychological and moral conflict that war presents.
Keywords
Indifference - lack of interest, concern or sympathy
Ethical - in accordance with moral conduct
Conscience - a person’s moral sense of right or wrong
Common misconception
Pupils may not understand the concept of photo developing when initially reading the poem and thus not realise what the poem is about.
Explain the process of photo developing film photographs in a dark room - the dark room is because photographs are light-sensitive.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Understanding the poem 'War Photographer', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Understanding the poem 'War Photographer', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the 'Power and Conflict' unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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