Understanding the poem 'Exposure'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Owen’s experiences shaped his attitudes towards war.
Key learning points
- Recruitment posters in World War One led to a belief that to fight in war symbolised honour and bravery.
- Owen enlisted in 1915 as he wanted to fight for his country. His horrific experiences changed his perspective.
- He wrote ’Exposure’ reflecting on a letter he wrote to his mother describing the conditions of the trenches in 1917.
- Owen suggests that nature is a more brutal enemy than the opposition, subverting many expectations about war.
- The poem may convey Owen’s critique against the government as soldiers were dying from trench and weather conditions.
Keywords
Enlist - voluntarily join the military.
Subvert - to undermine or go against.
Demoralise - cause someone to lose confidence or hope.
Futile - incapable of producing any useful result; pointless.
Common misconception
People's attitudes to war are stagnant.
Wilfred Owen's attitude towards war changed after he enlisted. His poetry explores this.
Teacher tip
There are a wealth of WW1 resources that you can show students before reading the poem - more propaganda posters, excerpts from WW1 letters and writings/transcripts on the harsh weather conditions at war. This can help them make predictions and be a 'hook' into the lesson.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the definition of the word 'subvert'?
Q2.When was World War I?
Q3.What is meant by the term 'propaganda'?
Q4.What method is being defined here: 'the recurrence of a word or phrase.'?
Q5.During WWI what message was often given to soldiers and those enlisting about fighting in the war?
Q6.What type of structure it being described here: 'the ending of the text is in some way linked to the beginning.'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In which year did Wilfred Owen enlist in WWI?
Q2.When did Owen write 'Exposure'?
Q3.In 'Exposure', what did Owen suggest is the real enemy to him and his fellow soldiers?
Q4.What is Owen’s most repeated line in ‘Exposure’?
Q5.What was Owen's attitude towards war as shown in 'Exposure'?
Q6.Complete the following quotation from 'Exposure': "Our brains , in the merciless iced east winds..."
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Exposure', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: Understanding the poem 'Exposure', 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 'Conflict' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.