Understanding the poem 'War Photographer'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what Duffy's ‘War Photographer’ is about and understand the underlying context for the poem.
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.
Teacher tip
Share an interview with Don McCullin or the Guardian article 'Shaped by War' with pupils to help them better understand the context and themes of the poem.
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
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a 'mass' in Christianity?
Q2.What does 'dispel' mean?
Q3.How would you stereotypically describe the job of taking pictures of war zones?
Q4.The title 'War Photographer' alludes to big ideas of...
Q5.What does ethics refer to?
Q6.Which action shows indifference?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Starting with the first, put the events in the poem 'War Photographer' in chronological order.
Q2.Who might Duffy have based the poem 'War Photographer' on?
Q3.‘War Photographer’ was published ten years after…
Q4.Why is there a critical tone in the last stanza of 'War Photographer'?
Q5.On line 17 of the poem 'War Photographer', the job of war photography is depicted as...
Q6.What evidence is there that the war photographer is traumatised?
To help you plan your 11 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 11 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 Poetry anthology (Assessment from summer 2027) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.